Indian History Vocabulary Flashcards

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and figures related to Indian history during the British colonial period.

Sepoys

Indian soldiers in the British army.

Jewel in the Crown

What the British called India as their most profitable and valuable colony.

Sepoy Mutiny

A rebellion that began on May 10, 1857, due to the British using meat grease on gun cartridges, violating the sepoys' religious beliefs.

Sati

A cultural practice that involved a widow self-immolating on her husband's funeral pyre; abolished by the British.

Thugee

A term used to describe a group involved in banditry and murder; also abolished by the British.

Raj

The term used when the British ruled India under the crown of a monarch.

Rowlatt Acts

Laws passed by the British government allowing them to jail protesters without trial for at least two years.

Amritsar Massacre

A 1919 incident where British troops fired on a crowd of 10,000 Indians, resulting in 400 deaths and 1200 injuries.

Civil Disobedience

A deliberate public refusal to obey an unjust law, embodying non-violence as the means to gain independence.

Salt March

A peaceful protest led by Gandhi defying British salt acts, involving a 240-mile march to collect seawater for salt.

Congress Party

India's national political party founded in 1885, initially led by Jawaharlal Nehru.

Muslim League

An organization founded in 1906 to protect Muslim interests, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Partition

The division of India into separate Hindu and Muslim nations, leading to massive migrations and conflicts.

Mughals

Rulers of the Mughal Empire in India until its collapse in 1707.

Robert Clive

An East India Company official known for leading Britain through major battles.

The East India Company

A British company that controlled trade and territories in India, led by British officials.

Ram Mohun Roy

An influential Indian reformer who advocated for modern thinking and progressive changes in Indian society.

Mohandas K. Gandhi

Leader of the Indian independence movement known for his nonviolent civil disobedience.

Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk)

The founder of modern Turkey who sought to modernize the nation.

Reza Shah Pahlavi

Shah of Iran who aimed to modernize the country and expand women's rights.

Ibn Saud

The founder of Saudi Arabia who unified the country and modernized its practices.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Leader of the Muslim League and the first governor-general of Pakistan.

Sikhs

A religious group known for their loyalty to the British during colonial rule.

Jawaharlal Nehru

The first Prime Minister of India and a key leader of the Congress party.

Indira Gandhi

The first female Prime Minister of India, known for her controversial leadership.

Benazir Bhutto

The first woman to head a democratic government in a majority Muslim nation, serving as Prime Minister of Pakistan.