South Asian History

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HISTORY OF
SOUTH ASIA

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MAURYAN EMPIRE🡪 3rd century B.C.,
helped spread Buddhism around Asia.

•Buddhism🡪 formed
in northern India by
about 500 B.C.

Multiple Choice

Which empire helped spread Buddhism around Asia in the 3rd century B.C.?

• Gupta Empire

• Mauryan Empire

• Mughal Empire

• Chola Empire

Multiple Choice

When was Buddhism formed in northern India?

• About 500 A.D.

• About 400 B.C.

• About 500 B.C.

• About 600 B.C.

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Muslim Invade around A.D. 1000 and
brought Islam into the northwest

•Sikhism🡪 15th
century, Muslim culture
and teaching mixes with
Hinduism.

Multiple Choice

When did Muslim invasions around A.D. 1000 bring Islam into the northwest?

• 14th century

• 15th century

• 16th century

• Around A.D. 1000

Multiple Choice

What does Sikhism represent in terms of cultural and religious mixture?

• A mixture of Buddhism and Islam

• A mixture of Christianity and Hinduism

• A mixture of Muslim culture and teachings with Hinduism

• A mixture of Jainism and Islam

Multiple Choice

In which century did Sikhism emerge?

• 14th century

• 15th century

• 16th century

• 17th century

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1526, the Mogul Empire gained

control over India, Muslim

rule--last invasion.

Multiple Choice

Which empire gained control over India in 1526?

• The British Empire

• The Ottoman Empire

• The Mogul Empire

• The Maurya Empire

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EUROPEAN COLONIALISM

• 16th century, Europeans arrived in India to trade and set up trading sites

• Portuguese🡪 wanted to spread Christianity and open new trade ports🡪

empire spreading.

• Dutch🡪 Controlled East Indies spice trade.

• Britain & France🡪 India was good for resources

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• 1740s British gains control over India after conflicts in

Europe.

• By 1858 majority of Indian subcontinent officially part of

the British Empire (present India, Pakistan, Bangladesh,
Sri Lanka). Indian subcontinent called “jewel in the
crown” of British Empire.

• India shipped cotton, tea, indigo, coffee, and jute to Britain.
• Railroads, roads, and ports were built in India by the British.
• English left impact by bringing their ideas of language, law,

education, and political system.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following was NOT shipped from India to Britain?

• Cotton

• Tea

• Spices

• Indigo

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INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT

• Early 1900s a desire for

independence rose up in India led
by Mohandas Gandhi

• Gandhi believed in “nonviolent

noncooperation” as a method to
bring political and social change🡪
boycotts, marches, and fasts.

• 1947 India gained independence

from Britain ending the colonial era
in India

• British divided the region between

Muslims and Hindus to avoid conflict.

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Muslims went to Pakistan, Hindus
and Sikhs left Pakistan for India
• 1948 Gandhi was killed by a

Hindu extremist

• 1971 Pakistan broke into East

Pakistan and West Pakistan

• East Pakistan became

Bangladesh

• West Pakistan became

modern Pakistan🡪 an Islamic
Republic

•Religious and ethnic
divisions still are a problem
in South Asia.

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HISTORY READING

• South Asia has a rich and complex history that dates back thousands of years. The region is home to some of the earliest civilizations in the world, including the Indus Valley civilization, which flourished around 2500 BCE. The Indus Valley civilization was characterized by its advanced urban planning, sophisticated engineering, and a writing system that is yet to be fully deciphered.

• In the centuries that followed, South Asia saw the rise and fall of several powerful empires, including the Mauryan Empire, the
Gupta Empire, and the Mughal Empire. These empires left a lasting impact on the region's culture, politics, and architecture.

• During the 18th and 19th centuries, South Asia was colonized by European powers, with the British establishing control over the
region. The British colonial period had a profound impact on the region, shaping its political, economic, and social structures.

• In the early 20th century, South Asia saw a wave of nationalist movements that sought to overthrow colonial rule and establish independent nation-states. The most prominent of these movements was the Indian independence movement, led by figures such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. In 1947, India gained independence from British colonial rule, while Pakistan was created as a separate Muslim-majority state.

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HISTORY READING

•Since gaining independence, South Asia has experienced significant political, social, and economic changes. The region has seen the rise of democracy and the establishment of new political systems, as well as the growth of industries and modernization. However, South Asia continues to face challenges such as poverty, inequality, and political instability.
•In conclusion, the history of South Asia is rich and complex, shaped by powerful empires, colonialism, nationalism, and independence movements. The region continues to evolve and face new challenges as it strives towards social, economic, and political progress.

Multiple Choice

What type of rule was established in India after the last invasion in 1526?

• Hindu rule

• British rule

• Muslim rule

• Sikh rule

Multiple Choice

What decade did the British gain control over India after conflicts in Europe?

• 1750s

• 1740s

• 1760s

• 1770s

Multiple Choice

By what year was the majority of the Indian subcontinent officially part of the British Empire?

• 1858

• 1860

• 1848

• 1875

Multiple Choice

What was the Indian subcontinent called in relation to the British Empire?

• Diamond of the British Empire

• Crown of the British Empire

• Jewel in the crown

• Pearl of the British Empire

Multiple Choice

What infrastructure was built in India by the British?

• Railroads, roads, and ports

• Airports, highways, and bridges

• Canals, dams, and tunnels

• Schools, hospitals, and libraries

Multiple Choice

Which of the following did the English NOT introduce to India?

• Language

• Law

• Religion

• Education

Multiple Choice

Who led the desire for independence in India in the early 1900s?

• Jawaharlal Nehru

• Subhas Chandra Bose

• Mohandas Gandhi

• Bhagat Singh

Multiple Choice

What method did Gandhi believe in to bring political and social change?

• Armed revolution

• Violent protests

• Nonviolent noncooperation

• Political debates

Multiple Choice

Why did the British divide the region between Muslims and Hindus?

• To create separate nations

• To promote trade between communities

• To avoid conflict

• To establish educational institutions

Multiple Choice

What happened in 1971 regarding Pakistan?

• Pakistan was established

• Pakistan and India signed a peace treaty

• Pakistan broke into East Pakistan and West Pakistan

• Pakistan became a democratic republic

Multiple Choice

What type of divisions are still a problem in South Asia?

• Political and economic divisions

• Religious and ethnic divisions

• Geographical and demographic divisions

• Linguistic and cultural divisions

Multiple Choice

What was the Indus Valley civilization characterized by?

• Its advanced urban planning and sophisticated engineering

• Its colonial period under British control

• The wave of nationalist movements in the early 20th century

• The establishment of Pakistan as a separate state

Multiple Choice

What has been established in South Asia with the rise of democracy?

• New political systems and modernization

• Decrease in poverty and inequality

• Political instability and economic decline

• Only new political systems

Multiple Choice

What challenges does South Asia continue to face?

• Economic prosperity and stability

• Poverty, inequality, and political instability

• Rapid industrial growth and modernization

• Decline in national movements