History of South Asia

Early South AsiaEarly Civilizations

3500 BC Along the Indus River valleyHarappa and Mohenjo-Daro (Pakistan)

Well developed citiesUsed strings of symbols for written recordsMysteriously ended after 1000 years

Early South AsiaAryans move to India 1500BC

Came from Central AsiaHad a lasting impact on India

Caste System: division of social classesLiteracy: Used a language called Sanskrit

Religious TraditionsHinduism (more so a way of life)

No Founder, No holy book, no central core of beliefs

Believe in reincarnation (Rebirth of your soul into another body)Reincarnation is based off of Karma from what you

did in the previous lifeFulfill the dharma so that you can be reborn into a

better bodyTry to achieve Nirvana

Religious TraditionsBuddhism

Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)

Believe people suffer due to worldly desiresTo end suffering, one must give up worldly desires

Know the FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS and Follow the EIGHT FOLD PATH

Modern South AsiaBritish in South Asia

1600sAD British setup up colonies in IndiaWanted textiles, timber, and tea

India rebelled in 1857 and lost and Britain took control over the entire South Asia regionBuilt schools, roads, railways, and ports

Independence1885 Supporters for India’s independence

created an INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS pressured Great Britain to give up control of India (RAJ)Boycotted British goods

IndependenceMahatma Gandhi

Part of the (INC)Studied law in South AfricaFought for India’s independence

Used Civil Disobedience (nonviolent resistance) to fight British

India became free in 1947

India and PakistanSouth Asia is split between Muslims and HindusBritain helped to divide South Asia

Pakistan (Muslim) and India (Hindu)East Pakistan became Bangladesh after a civil war