INDIA HISTORY 

ANCIENT INDIA CULTURE

ü  The earliest people who lived in India were hunters and gatherers.

ü  Hunting and gathering gave way to a settled lifestyle when people learned agriculture.

ü  Many farmers and herders lived in groups called tribes.

ü  Women did most of the agricultural work, including preparing the ground etc.

ü  Children could often look after plants and drive away animals.

ü  Men were leaders taking roles such as warriors, or priests.

ü  Tribes had rich and unique cultural traditions such as having their own gods and goddesses.

You can’t study about India’s history and leave Indus valley civilization behind

ü  Indus Valley Civilization was the first major civilization in South Asia

ü  It spread across in present-day India and Pakistan

ü  This was the beginning of city life.

ü  There was trade and importation

Indus valley society and culture

ü  They had systematic method of weights and measures.

ü  Equal status to men and women compared to modern day India

ü  There was economic Inequality

ü  Textile industry – Spinning and weaving

 

COLONIZATION

Portuguese were the first to establish colony in India, they controlled the seas and focused with South India

In 1602, the Dutch East India Company was formed, and the people from the Netherlands were empowered by their government to make war, conclude treaties, acquire territories and build fortresses.

The question is how did British who came to India for trade colonize India;

 

ü  In 1600, the East India Company acquired a charter from the ruler of England, Queen Elizabeth I, granting it the sole right to trade with the East. Then onward no other trading group in England could compete with the East India Company.

ü  However, the royal charter didn’t prevent other European powers from entering the Eastern markets.

ü  The Portuguese had already established their presence on the western coast of India and had their base in The Dutch too were exploring the possibilities of trade in the Indian Ocean. Soon the French traders arrived on the scene.

ü  The problem was that all the companies were interested in buying the same things. So the only way the trading companies could flourish was by eliminating rival competitors. The urge to secure markets, therefore, led to fierce battles between the trading companies.

ü  Trade was carried on with arms and trading posts were protected through fortification.

 

CHANGES BROUGHT BY BRITISH COLONIZATION

ü  Policies- they changed the policies to benefit them

ü  Society; British policies towards education, language and culture resulted in significant transformation in Indian society. While the positive changes were welcomed by Indian society, the oppressive measures resulted in revolts and rebellions.

ü  They introduced railways

ü  Establishment of villages

ü  Establishment of new towns

ü  Urbanization

ü  Rise of religious reforms movements

 

INDEPENDENCE

The late nineteenth century saw the emergence of Indian nationalism. Indians felt like one and they tried to overthrow the foreign rule. This led to the Indian freedom struggle and finally independence.

India’s ancient history is mostly told through Visual Arts (Paintings, Architecture, Sculpture), Performing Arts (Music, Dance, Drama etc), Religions (Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism)

 

IMPACT OF BRITISH COLONIZATION TODAY

ü  Some changes brought by British were a result of interaction between the Indian and the western

cultures.

ü  After colonization a large number of British and Europeans stayed in India bringing cultural transformation.

ü  Some of the cultural and legal changes that took place as a result of British rule continue to affect India today.

ü  The rails, the club life, the imperial buildings like the Parliament are reminiscent of the British rule in India.

ü  Many food items like bread, tea and cake that are consumed today are a direct result of interaction with Europeans during the British rule.

ü  a large number of costumes prevalent in urban India were adopted during the British rule, for example, trousers, coats and ties.

ü  The Indian armed forces still retain many aspects of European training and culture.

ü  The Language of instruction or learning predominantly becoming English. The Supreme Court and the High Court pass their judgments in English. English language itself is a legacy of the British rule.