India+History

India's History

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= A Time Line of India's History =

**2500 B.C.:**  The Indus Valley civilization develops around the valley of the Indus River (now in Pakistan). Its trade is based on crops grown on the fertile river plains. It reaches the height of its power and is larger than any other ancient empire, including that of Egypt. **2000 B.C.:**  The Indus Valley civilization collapses, possibly due to severe floods or a change in the course of the Indus River. **Around 1500 B.C.:**  The Aryan people, who come from the region between and including India and Europe, invade India from the north. They spread through the Indus Valley and down into the Ganges Valley. **326 B.C.:**  Alexander the Great of Macedon (northeastern Greece) crosses the Indus River into India. **A.D. 50:**  Trade flourishes between India and the Roman Empire. Romans eagerly buy Indian pearls, ivory, silk, spices, cloth and precious stones. **320-550:**  After centuries of being split into small kingdoms and republics, India is ruled by the Gupta Empire. Under the rule of the Gupta kings, Hinduism becomes the major religion of the empire. Literature, art, architecture and science flourish during this "classical age" of peace and prosperity. **1526:**  The rule of the Mogul Empire begins, unifying much of south India with the north for the first time. **1600s:** <span style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Eager to gain access to India's spices, rice, silk, tea and jewels, Holland, Great Britain and France establish key trading posts in India. <span style="color: #474747; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;">**1638:** <span style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Mogul Emperor Shah Jahan begins construction of the Taj Mahal in memory of his wife Mumtaz. <span style="color: #474747; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;">**1858:** <span style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"> The British overthrow the Moguls and take control of India. <span style="color: #474747; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;">**1915:** <span style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"> After studying law in Britain and fighting for Indian rights in South Africa, Mohandas Gandhi launches a campaign of nonviolent resistance against British rule in India. Gandhi is called Mahatma, meaning "Great Soul." <span style="color: #474747; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;">**1947:** <span style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"> India gains independence from the British and is divided into two countries, India and Muslim-controlled Pakistan. <span style="color: #474747; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;">**1948:** <span style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Mahatma Gandhi is assassinated. <span style="color: #474747; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;">**1966:** <span style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Indira Gandhi (not related to Mahatma) becomes Prime Minister and one of the first women elected to lead a nation. <span style="color: #474747; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;">**1983:** <span style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"> India wins the cricket world cup. <span style="color: #474747; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;">**1998:** <span style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"> India tests its first nuclear weapon, one of only seven nations to have done so. <span style="color: #474747; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;">**2000:** <span style="color: #474747; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"> India's population exceeds 1 billion.

([|Time for Kids])

= The People of India = For thousands and thousands of years, mankind lived near the Indus River Valley in India. They hunted, gathered, farmed, raised families, and practiced their religious beliefs. Around 1500 B.C., the Aryans entered this region. They were fair skinned and used their greater technologies to conquer the peoples of the Indus River Valley. After conquering the peoples of the Indus River Valley, they pushed to get more territory. They moved towards the southeast and conquered the Ganges Plain. They eventually spread throughout much of South Asia. The Aryans were divided into tribes and each tribe had a chief (rajah). Early Aryans were nomadic, moving from place to place for shelter and food. Later Aryans were farmers of the Indus River Valley and had more permanent settlements. The Aryan world was ruled by men. Women were considered property. The most important indicator of wealth is the number of cattle that an individual owned. The more they owned, the wealthier they were. Around 1200 B.C., the Aryans finally developed a written language. Their oral traditions were not being recorded in books called Vedas, or "Books of Knowledge". The Aryan religion slowly evolved and became what is known today as Hinduism. Hinduism is still a practiced religion today in India. The 500 B.C.’s were a period of religious reform in the Indus River Valley, and surrounding regions. Many religious leaders began to question the long standing Hindu values and teachings. New teachers began to travel, teaching new ideas, and forming new sects and religions. The most influential of these teachers was a prince by the name of Siddhartha Gautama. His followers began calling him Buddha. The Buddha spent 45 years traveling throughout India teaching. Through his efforts, he was able to gain a large following of several thousand disciples. After his death, the Buddha’s followers continued to travel, preaching the new religion throughout the Asian Continent, into China, Japan, Korea, and eventually throughout the World. Other empires include the Kingdom of Magadha, The Mauryan Empire, and the Gupta Empire ([|Kids Past]).

= The Independence of India = Indian citizens celebrate August 15th every year with pride and patriotism. August 15th, 1947 was when India was declared a free and independent nation. The Indian independence movement was comprised of nationwide campaigns against the British rule over India. Everyone of all ages worked and walked their way to freedom. The British tried violence to stop the Indians but they kept marching non-violently. They were whipped and put in jail but finally the British had no other choice then to free India. They achieved their independence through non-violence! One of the main leaders of these campaigns was Mahatma Gandhi ([|Kids Past]).

Other national holidays celebrated are the Republic Day and Gandhi Jayanti. = The Indian Tale: Krishna's Birth =

Old King Ugrasena of Mathura had two children, Prince Kamsa and Princess Devaki. While King Ugrasena was a good king, Prince Kamsa was a ruthless tyrant. Now Princess Devaki was to wed a nobleman named Vasudeva. Kamsa out of the love he bore for his sister decided to be the bride and groom's charioteer for the day. While Kamsa drove the chariot bearing Devaki and Vasudeva out of the wedding hall, a voice from the heavens boomed informing Kamsa that Devaki's eight child would be his slayer. Kamsa being the superstitious type would take no chances. He wanted to strike down Devaki that very moment. Vasudeva intervened, he begged Kamsa not to slay Devaki and show her some mercy. He further promised Kamsa that he would hand over any child born to them, if he would let Devaki live. Now Kamsa not wanting to have the blood of his sister on his hands agreed and instead placed them under house arrest. Every time a child was born, the guards would inform Kamsa and he would take the child and kill it. Six of Devaki and Vasudev's children met their death this way. It so happened that the seventh child was born at night, and Devaki and Vasudeva seeing the opportunity decided to try to save the child. The guards were asleep, so Vasudeva easily slid out of the palace undetected. He went to neighboring Gokul and left the child with his second wife Rohini and quickly returned to the palace (this child was named Balrama). In the morning he sent word to Kamsa that the child was still born. Kamsa was pleased, he knew the next child was prophesized to be his slayer. Not wanting to take chances with the birth of the eight child, Kamsa had Vasudeva and Devaki thrown into the dungeon chained. The eight child was born on the eight night of the month of Shravan. It was raining heavily and the skies thundered as if the Gods were trying to pay homage to the new born child. Then the miracle happened, Vasudevas chains fell off and the prison door opened by itself. Vasudeva found the guards to be asleep, so he decided that he would escape with the child and leave him at his friend Nanda's place in Gokul. Picking up the child, Vasudeva placed him in a basket. He then carried the basket on his head and made his way to Gokul. Now Gokul was on the opposite bank of the river Yamuna. Because of the thundering and the rain, the river Yamuna was in a state of turmoil. Vasudeva, wondering how he would cross the river prayed for a miracle. Then it happened!.The waters of the Yamuna parted and made way for him. Vasudeva then crossed the Yamuna and reached Gokul. On reaching Nanda's house in Gokul, Vasudeva realised that Nanda's wife Yashoda had given birth to a baby girl. While Nanda and Yashoda were asleep, he placed his child in the cradle and took Nanda's daughter instead. He presumed that since it was a baby girl, Kamsa would not kill her. He then made the journey back to Mathura and he took the baby girl with him. As soon as Vasudeva reached the dungeon, the dungeon doors closed behind him and the baby girl started to cry. Awakened by the cries, the guards rushed to tell Kamsa of the birth of the eight child. Hearing the news, Kamsa rushed to the dungeon and picked up the child and was about to dash it to the ground. Vasudeva begged Kamsa not to kill the child as it was only a girl and that a girl could do him no harm. The wicked Kamsa paid no heed and dashed the baby to the floor. As the baby was about to hit the floor, it suddenly flew up and told Kamsa that the one who was born to kill him still lives and is in Gokul. Then she disappeared ([|India Parenting]).