India Before the British Raj

Sixth Century BCEA Patchwork of States

• Aryan kingdoms in the north – almost constantly at war• Towards the south, independent Dravidian Kingdoms• Far south, Tamil Land

Fourth Century BCEGreek conquest

• Alexander the Great was the first ruler that we know of who tried to unite all Indians under one government

• Alexander encountered elephants for the first time, he had to change his battle plans

• Alexander crushed one Indian prince after another and encouraged intermarriage between his troops and the Indians

• Eventually Alexander’s men mutinied, they had travelled thousands of kilometres and were afraid of tales of fierce peoples and beasts in unknown lands

• While he did not achieve all his aims, Alexander showed the weakness of a country divided into petty states

4th Century BCE – 2nd Century BCE

Mauryan Empire• Led by Chandraguptya Maurya• According to legend, he visited Alexander and asked

how he could acquire a kingdom of his own• He attacked some of the garrisons left by Alexander• He became king of Magadha• Within a decade he was the master of the Punjab and

Indus Valley• At the height of his power, Chandragupta controlled 80%

of India• He became extremely wealthy• He developed bureaucracy, irrigation, road networks and

standing army

Looking at the evidence

“With increasing strength, make war; when you have a clear advantage over a neighbour, march against him; do not disturb the customs of a newly conquered people… Government is the science of punishment”

Ashoka during the Mauryan Empire

• Grandson of Chandragupta• After a bloody invasion into Kalinga, Ashoka became a

devout Buddhist• His edicts were carved into pillars and rocks around India• “All men are my children and just as I desire for my

children that they may enjoy every kind of prosperity and happiness, both in this world and the next, so also I desire the same for all men”

• He established hospitals and schools, free rest houses, inns, kitchens and wells

• India became fragmented soon after Ashoka’s death

320-535 CEGupta Empire

• Founded by Chandragupta I (not known if he was related to Chandragupta Maurya)

• Height of power under Chandragupta II• He became a peace loving ruler like

Ashoka• Empire declined when the White Huns

invaded – terrorised India• India was again divided

Muslim conquest

• After the Huns, Arabs were next invaders

• Fanatically devout – launched a holy war in 632 CE after the death of Muhammad

• Mainly dominated the north-west India, converting many Hindus and Buddhists to Islam

• Several brutal battles with Hindus

16th Century CEMogul India

• India invaded by Muslim leader Babur – seeking plunder• Weapons were cannons and superior cavalry• Akbar (Babur’s grandson) added to conquests – by the time he died

his empire rivalled the Mauryan Empire• Reached greatest extent under Aurangzeb (great-grandson of

Akbar) • Moguls ruled for more than 2 centuries• Introduced government, administration, language, religion, art and

architecture• Built the Taj Mahal – built to house remains of Mumtaz Mahal, wife

of emperor Shah Jahan• India divided into provinces and administered by a governor• Declined after death of Aurangzeb• India again split into small states and provinces