CCOT South Asia (India, etc.)
8000 – 600 CE
600 – 1450 CE
Politics
Harappan society 5000
Dravidians 3000
Aryan migrations 500 BCE
Mauryan Dynasty 320 BCE
(Ashoka) First centralized rule
Gupta Dynasty 375 CE. Smaller &
less centralized
Harsha returns empire 606-648
Regional states until 1200
Sultanate of Delhi (1200) Mahmud of Ghazni, Afghan Turks
Chola kingdom in south 850 CE
Vijayanagar in south 1300 CE
Model states in SE Asia, ie Funan
Economy
Harappans had early cities –
Harrapa & Mohenjo. Traded within
Indus valley, land & sea routes part
of earliest world trade
Aryans more pastoral, less trade
By Mauryan, several trade hubs
Export pepper, cotton, gems
Maritime trade well developed
Economic specialization. Export
pepper, cotton, sugar
Water storage & irrigation boost ag,
sustain urban growth
Economic development leads to
subcastes (jatis) by occupation
Religion
Harappans – Fertility
Aryans – various gods. Indra,
Varura. Legends in the Vedas.
After contact w/ Dravidians,
Upanishads held to discuss religion.
Jainism => Buddhism => Hinduism
Social Class/Gender
Aryans brought caste system,
determined by race
Evolved as more complex societies
arose. Brahmins (priests),
Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas
(artisans), Shudras (peasants),
untouchables
Ag. spread from Mesopotamia.
Brought by Aryans along w/ horses
& chariots.
Iron tools
Writing slow to develop
As econ grows, education system
expands. Create modern numerals
Islam introduced in north. Many
convert hoping to improve class
standing
Hinduism remains dominant in
south. Cults – Vishnu, Shiva
Bhakti movement to blend the two.
Buddhism virtually gone.
Caste system is stability amidst
political turmoil
Immigrant groups integrated
Caste expands to south India
Many in north seek to escape caste
by conversion to Islam
Subcastes (jatis)
Science/Inventions
Art/Architecture
Geography
Ag. advances – water storage &
irrigation boost productivity
New ships – Dhows & Junks.
More stable, can carry large
loads on the open seas.
Venus figurines
Early writings – Vedas,
Lawbook of Manu (gender
roles)
Heavy tie to religion
Artisans on rise; Indian goods
gain global demand.
Philosophical debates.
Ramanuja (devotion) vs.
Shankara (Plato logic)
Harappan society begins on
Indus River
India becoming clearinghouse
for trade, at the center of the
ancient world
Maritime trade well developed,
works to integrate Indian Ocean
basin. States emerge in SE
Asia modeled after India –
result of trade relations.
1450-1750 CE
1750 – 1914 CE
1914 - Present