There exist many written historical documents that provide information on the history of India. Some of the primary and secondary historical sources on the history of India include the following. For instance, Dharmasutras which was a law book of ancient India, forms part of these sources. The book which is a primary historical document on India contains information on the code of duties for administrators, kings, and the people. The book also provides information on punishment that was meted on those who broke the laws. Kautilya’s Arthasastra is another primary historical source of the history of India. The source provides information on aspects of polity and socioeconomic systems of India. Additionally, Kalhana’s Rajatarangini is another primary historical work which contains information on the order of the kings in ancient India. On secondary historical sources, India Wins Freedom is one of an important document in the history of India. The book written by Abdul Kalam Azad provides information on the struggle and the attainment of freedom by India from the British colonial rule in 1947.
What are five of the most important geographical features of India and why are they important to a study of Indian history?
The following are the five most important geographical features of India and their importance to the study of Indian history. The Indus plains provide historical information on the Indian civilization. The Indus River is a historical sight of understanding the ancient Indian Civilization. Another geographical feature is the Gangetic plain which is important in understanding Indian colonization as it is where the imperial power structure was based. The river Ganges has a religious significance of the people of India and is thus is essential in studying the social history of the people of India. The Himalayan Mountain is another important geographical feature of India provides information on the sailing from middle-East to India as they are the primary source of the moon soon winds. The great desert an important geographical feature provides information necessary to understanding the economic history of India.
What is the “Historical Significance” of the Ganges River in Indian history?
The Ganges River provides history on the social aspects of the Indian history, particularly on their religion. The river has religious significance on the people of India as it is considered as holy. The river has thus shaped the history of the culture and the people of India. The river is also closely to Indian civilization and the region around has witnessed many of the key religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam.
What is the Caste System?
Refers to the four social classes in which the Indian society is divided based on ascribed social status. The classes are based on work (Karma) and religion (Dharma). The four social classes include Brahmins, Vaishyas, Kshatriyas, and the Shudras. The first social class of Brahmins is made up of teachers and priest. The Kshatriyas, which is the second social class, is of rulers and warriors. The third social class of Vaishyas is composed of the farmers, merchants, and traders. The last social class Shudras is that of the laborers.
Discuss the concept of karma
The concept of Karma in Indian religions is based on causality where good deeds follow an individual, and so do evil deeds. The effects of one’s actions may not be immediate but may follow in the life after through reincarnation. Also, the bad or good fortune an individual may be experiencing in their present lives might be as a consequence of bad or good deeds performed in the past. The state of karma of a person influences how they will be reincarnated in the later life. Bad Karma leads to the reincarnation of non-human life or animals while good karma causes reincarnation of human life. Karma is administered by a personal god according to the actions of an individual’s soul. The concept thus emphasizes the importance of doing good and avoiding engaging in evil deeds.
What was the Mughal Empire?
The Mughal Empire is the dynasty that ruled in Pakistan and India in the 16th and 17th century. The Mughals were Muslims and played a significant role in spreading and consolidating the religion, culture, and art. The empire was established by Turkic prince named Babur, a descendant of Genghiz Khan.
What was the Indus Valley Civilization
The Indus valley civilization refers to an ancient civilization that occurred around the banks of the Indus River and the surrounding regions. Some of the aspects of civilizations associated with Indus river civilization include the development of the art of writing. The civilization was at its peak in the year 2500 and 2000 BCE and began to decline around 1800 BCE.
Maurya Empire: The Empire was established between 320-185 B.C.E. The Empire is among the leading historical dynasties established in India. The dynasty emanated from the consolidation of Northern India leading to the formation of Magadha state. During the time of the invasion of the northwest India by Alexandra the great, Chandragupta Maurya formed the Maurya Empire. The empire was successful in conquering many regions and acquiring territories in parts of South Asia but later collapsed after the death of Chandragupta grandson Ashoka in 232 B.C.E.
Why are spices important to a study of Indian history
The spices formed part of the primary commodity of trade and influenced India’s colonization. It was one of the first commodities to be traded globally. The high demand of spices originated from the premium placed on spices on the medieval cuisine. Additionally, their attribution to medicinal value increased the demand and trade on spices. Spices were globally traded and one of the main sources of these spices was India. Their quest contributed to colonization and globalization through the creation of economic networks. The pricing and increased demand increased the allure of discovering how they were cultivated fueling the quest of establishing colonial empires by the Europeans.
What is the historical significance of cotton in Indian history?
Cotton was one item of trade that was obtained from India. The expensive nature of the commodity influenced other regions of the world to start growing their cotton. Therefore, cotton indicates the significant impact India had to the outside world through their cultivation and trade in cotton. The origin of cotton growing particularly in Africa is traced to have been resulted from Indian influence.
Discuss an important scientific discovery or technological development associated with the history of India
An important scientific discovery linked with the history of India before British colonization is the science of metallurgy. The development and usage of steel and other metals such as steel to make different products can be traced to India. The metals were used to make different commodities such as tools and utensils. These commodities would be used locally, and others used to trade with other societies.
Some of the other important historical trade items from India that were desirable to European countries
Other desirable trade goods from India that were attractive to European countries include cotton and ivory. Cotton was cultivated whereas ivory was obtained from wild animals. The commodities were desirable due to their utility in making various products. Cotton would be used to make cloth which would later be used to make clothes by the Europeans. Ivory, on the other hand, was used to make ornaments.
Type of transportation methodology, system or technology used in India – before the British ruled the country
The kind of transportation method system employed in India involved the following. Walking on foot was one of the most common of methods of communication. People would walk long distances on foot. Additionally, they used human beings also to carry goods which were either done using their heads or shoulders from one place to another. The Indians also used animals such as the ass and the horse to transport goods from one location to another. Moreover, the use of the wheel enabled them to use the rickshaws and the Bullock carts to transport their commodities from one place to another. People could also pull the carts manually with goods on them. Furthermore, waterways through the use vessels such as of boats and logs were also employed as a methodology of transportation.
Write a summary of Chapter 12 of the textbook
Twilight of the Mughal Empire (1707-64)
The chapter focuses on the decline of the Mughal Empire in India from 1707 after the death of Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb policy of governing the empire based on religion played a crucial role in minimizing any form of resistance during his reign. The author states that after massive success by the empire to conquer many regions by the previous emperors, the empire started to gradually decline in the 16th century due to the many weaknesses of the leader that ascended to lead the empire and other external factors. One of the external factors mentioned by the author is the Marathas resurgence which managed to take some of the territories that were initially under the Mughal Empire. Additionally, there arose internal dissatisfaction by the people on the weaknesses that were being demonstrated by this dynasty and at times leading to unrests such as from the peasants. Their defeat was exemplified in many battles which they lost. The author identifies the Battle of Karnal in 1739 as one of the battles in which they were crushingly defeated exacerbating their decline. Moreover, the many more battles that they fought they were subdued due to the weakening of the empire causing further decline. The authority of the emperor kept on declining and towards the fall of the empire the last emperor had limited power over one city. The Marathas who had finally taken over the emperor were also defeated by Ahmed Shah Abdali. The remnants of the empire were finally consolidated to the British Empire. The final act of the British marked the end of the Mughal Empire.
Water is a universal theme. Every person in the world needs water to survive as it is used by human beings for essential activities such as cooking, drinking, and washing. Water from River Ganges and Indus play a crucial role in the history of India as it was not only used for domestic purposes but also religious significance. Also, water played a major role in the ancient India civilization. The second universal theme is war. War is a universal theme in that it is an experience that has been witnessed in various parts of the world directly or indirectly. The expansion wars were used by the various emperors to establish their emperors before the colonization of India. Additionally, the British conquered India through wars of conquest. The third universal theme is religion. Religion is a practice that many people of the world practice. Many religions are practiced in India such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam. In understanding about the social history of the Hindu community, the study of religion is an important aspect. The fourth universal theme is family. Every person in the world belongs to a family which is either nuclear or extended. When studying the social history and culture of the Indian community, the family is an important aspect that a person needs to understand. Peace is the fifth universal theme. The world needs peace for survival and every person longs for peace. Peace is an essential element of political stability which influences economic activities such as trade and interactions. When studying about trade in India one has to examine whether peace through political stability affected commerce. The sixth universal theme is love. Love is a universal theme because every person in the world desires it. In studying the social history of India, there is the need to identify if culture promoted mutual harmony through love. Faith is the seventh universal theme. Faith is an important aspect of every religion practiced by people in the world thus making it a universal theme. When studying the history of the major religions in India one has to focus on the beliefs of these religions. Faith is thus an important aspect of India history as it influences how the Indians worshiped both in ancient times and the present. The eighth universal theme is wealth. Many people in the world work for wealth or accumulate wealth. When studying about trade in India, one of the factors that influenced the trade was wealth among some group of individuals. In economic history, one has to study how wealth influenced trade. The ninth universal theme is the environment. Every person in the world lives within a particular environment. In studying about the economic history of India, one has to understand how the environment influenced economic activities of the people of India. The last universal theme is transportation. Every part of the world has different modes of transportation. When studying about the history of communication and transport in India, one has to study about the various modes of transportation that have been used in India in the past.
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