These are the slides for the Udemy course: A Brief History of India. https://www.udemy.com/a-brief-history-of-india
I will walk you through 5000 years of Indian history and explain how the various events in India are connected.
Crea il tuo assistente AI con lo Stregatto (open source python framework)
A Brief History of India.
1. A Brief History of India
Balaji Viswanathan, NalandaU.com
Full Course: https://www.udemy.com/a-brief-history-of-india
2. Lecture 0: A Brief introduction.
Balaji Viswanathan
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3. Water
Of the 26 river basins in
the world, 4 are in India
and China. Majority of the
remaining 22 is in frigid
regions or stuck in rain
forests.
Balaji Viswanathan
NalandaU.com
4. River valleys just above the Tropic of Cancer
produced the 4 ancient civilizations.
1
2
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3
4
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5. Key Rivers that shaped
Indian civilization
2
1
4
3
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7. Cultivated Land
The reason for high population could be partly
explained by the vast availability of agricultural land.
Although it is only the 7th largest country, it ties
with the US when it comes to having the world’s
largest agriculture land.
Balaji Viswanathan
NalandaU.com
8. India had a strong economy for
most part of human history.
Balaji Viswanathan
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9. Only two major routes to enter into India from West. This
fort-like geography shaped India’s history.
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10. India is named a Subcontinent. 6 different climatic zones
exist making it hard to rule the entire subcontinent.
Balaji Viswanathan
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20. 5300 years ago: Discovery of Bronze
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21. Lecture 2: Indus Valley Civilization
(3300 BC - 1500 BC)
“...the structure of their cities were so far advanced that it was not surpassed
until the late nineteenth century in Europe...”
Balaji Viswanathan
NalandaU.com
22. In 1827 a wandering traveler at the East India
Company finds mysterious brick mounds near
Harappa.....
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34. Global Trade of Indus Valley
Gold &Jade from Southern India. Copper from Afghanistan. Turquoise from Iran.
All paid with cotton and pottery.
Development of transportation systems: boats (with docks) & bullock carts.
Balaji Viswanathan
NalandaU.com
36. 1700 BC: End of Civilization around Indus.
Global climactic changes
Weather
got cooler
and drier
Monsoon
Patterns
Changed
River
Courses
Changed
Trade
Floundered
People migrated to Gangetic plains and southern India.
Balaji Viswanathan
NalandaU.com
37. Timeline of Indus Valley Civilization
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44. 6th Century: Turning Point
Siddhartha Gautama:
563 BC to 480 BC
Buddhism
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Vardhamana Mahavira:
599 BC to 527 BC
Jainism
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46. Haryanka Dynasty of Magadha:
Second known dynasty of India
Bimbisara
Starts expanding Magadha.
Early supporter of Buddha
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Ajathasatru
Builds a highly powerful and
fearsome Magadha force.
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48. Nanda Empire
Ajathasatru was succeeded by Shishunga dynasty
and then the Nanda dynasty.
Nandas were extremely unpopular and were
reportedly cruel. They denied help to other
Indian kings besieged by alien invasions.
Balaji Viswanathan
NalandaU.com
49. Kingdoms of Ancient Magadha
Brihadratha
Haryanka
Shishunga
Nanda
Unknown
6th century
5th century
4th century
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51. Extent of Cyrus the Great of Persia.
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52. 400 BC. Takshashila: India’s first University at the
crossroads of Persia and India.
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53. Taxila: Students entered at 16 and learned a variety of arts
- from archery to physics and religion from masters.
Charaka
Panini
“Father” of Medicine
Grammarian
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Chanakya
Military Strategist
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54. 326 BC: Alexander Attacks India
Ambi - the ruler of Taxila submits to Alexander.
Balaji Viswanathan
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55. Battle of Hydaspes.
King Porus (Purushotam) of Purushapura (Peshawar) resists
Alexander although losing the battle.
Excellent Video documentary in:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WvgzOa2rko
Balaji Viswanathan
NalandaU.com
56. Alexander’s army refuses to go further east,
fearing the mighty Nanda Empire.
“For they were told that the kings of the Ganderites and Praesii were awaiting them with eighty thousand
horsemen, two hundred thousand footmen, eight thousand chariots, and six thousand fighting elephants.”
Balaji Viswanathan
NalandaU.com
60. Battle of Kalinga (261 BC)
turns Ashoka to a pacifist.
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61. Heartbroken by a brutal war with Kalinga, Ashoka
turns Pacifist. Spreads Buddhism all over old world.
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62. A golden age for India.
40% of world population and close to 50% of world GDP
was from Ashoka. Continues the great work of his father
Bindusara & grandfather Chandragupta.
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63. Ashoka’s Legacy
Stupas & other
buildings
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Moral Symbols
First major
written language
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64. Mauryan Emperors Try Different Religious Sects
Chandragupta
Jainism
Bindusara
Ajvika
Ashoka
Buddhism
Ashoka’s Mauryan successors go directionless.
Balaji Viswanathan
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65. 185 BC: Within 50 years of Ashoka’s death, Pushyamitra
Sunga does the first military coup in India assassinating
Mauryan emperor Brihadratha.
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66. Lecture 5: Classical Age.
(200 BC - 1100 AD)
Greatest works of Indian art would be created.
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67. India faces Globalization
End of Mauryas causes confusion all over
India. Without a strong emperor, India is
attacked by Central Asian nomads.
From 230 BC to 320 AD, India is ruled by
many kings and there is an huge interchange of
art and culture all over Asia and Greece.
Balaji Viswanathan
NalandaU.com
68. Migration of the Yuezhi to India.
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69. Invasion of northern India by Kanishka(from central
Asia) causes an explosion of art interactions among
Greece, Persia, Bactria and India.
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70. Satvahanas: Consolidation of
Middle India. 230 BC to 220 AD.
Created the present world heritage sites of
Ajantha, Ellora and Amaravati.
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72. India at the time of Christ
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73. Chandrgupta - I
Yet another Chandragupta
emerges to fight alien powers
in India. Marries a Lichchhavi
princess & gets Magadha
kingdom as dowry. Starts
massive expansion.
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74. Gupta Dynasty
Age of Innovations (320 - 520 AD)
Chess
Place value
system
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University
Sex
Education
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76. Top scientists of Gupta era
Varahamihira
Trignometry, Optics,
Arithmetic and
calculation of equinox.
Aryabhatta
Shushruta
Approxmated Pi, decimal system
(0), algebra, heliocentrism,
explanation of eclipses.
Father of modern surgery. Author
of Shushtrua Samhita.
Other great scientists: Brahmagupta (first to use 0), Bhaskara - I.
Balaji Viswanathan
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77. 4th century Nalanda University: Heights of Indian
Education System.
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78. The two Chinese Scholars who helped
document India’s classical era.
Xuanzhang
6th century
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Faxian
4th century
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79. After two centuries of attacks, Hunas
finally end Gupta Empire in 530 AD
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81. Emperor Harsha Vardhana drives
away the Hunas and tries to
reunite India after 100 years of
disintegration. After 40 years of
rule, his empire disintegrates at
his death.
Balaji Viswanathan
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82. Battle of Rajasthan: 738 AD.
An alliance of Hindu rulers led by Vikramaditya - II
defeat Arabs and ends Islamic expansion towards east.
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83. First Democratic election
in India: 750 AD
Gopala gets elected and builds
the Pala empire starting from
Bengal. For 400 years his
dynasty will rule parts of
northern & eastern India.
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84. Meanwhile in South India...
South India, especially Tamil region had a parallel
history. It had 4 main dynasties - Chola, Chera, Pandya
and Pallavas (probably from north).
Balaji Viswanathan
NalandaU.com
85. Pallava Dynasty (2nd - 9th
century AD): Period of
extraordinary architecture.
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86. Raja Raja Chola and his son Rajendra build a massive
empire. Unlike most other Indian empires, they were
strong seafarers. Circa 1000 AD.
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87. 1192 AD: Second Battle of Tarain.
An inspired Prithiviraj could not contain a relentless Ghori.
Islam enters India after the second battle.
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88. In 1193 Nalanda University was
destroyed by an invading Afghan ruler.
Hindu empires simultaneously collapse all over
India due to independent reasons.
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92. 1221: Genghiz Khan
retreats back from the
Indus river.
Alaudin Khilji of Delhi
was strong and Khan
didn’t want to take a
chance.
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93. 1000s of historic Hindu & Buddhist sites are
ravaged during the period.
Sun temple of Anantnag, Kashmir
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94. 1398: Timur of Samarkhand plunders Delhi
and leaves 100,000 dead in 1 day.
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95. 1336: Rise of Vijayanagara Empire
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96. Samrat Hemu Chandra Vikramaditya (Hemu) fights
back the Afghans and takes back Delhi
Wins 22 battles against Afghans. Loses
against Akbar due to a stray arrow
hitting him in the eye in the Second
Battle of Panipat (1556).
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97. 1526-1757: Mughal Dynasty.
Akbar’s lucky
victory against
Hemu starts a
200 year Mughal
dynasty that ruled
a big chunk of
north India.
Balaji Viswanathan
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98. Aurangzeb: Last of the Mughal Emperors
goes harsh on native Hindu population.
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99. By 1707 most of India is consolidated by
the Mughal rulers.
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100. Marathas of Central India: Bhosle Era (1674 - 1759)
Shivaji introduces guerilla warfare against the Mughals. Hindu rulers
fight back again.
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101. By 1761, Marathas take control of most
of north India.
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102. 1761: 3rd battle of Panipat. Marathas lose against
the combined strength of Afghans and Persians.
In 1818 a weakened Maratha Empire is
completed defeated by the East India Company.
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103. Lecture 7: Entry of Colonial Powers in
India (17th - 19th centuries)
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104. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, European
sailors start looking for alternative routes to Asia.
Vasco da Gama reaches India in 1498.
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105. Europe starts building strong trade
routes to India. Goa is colonized.
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107. East India Company is one the first modern
Corporation. It entered India as a trading
company in 1612 after Jahangir allowed them.
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108. The Company gets a lot of natural harbors that are
unutilized by the native rulers who ignore navy.
In 1668 England got Bombay as a dowry from Portugal
(after the royal wedding of Charles II). The company
gets permission to setup factory in Madras after
Vijayanagara kings give permission.
Balaji Viswanathan
NalandaU.com
109. Carnatic Wars: European rivalries enter
India. France nationalizes French India
Company.
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110. Robert Clive - an
officer at the East
India Company has
grand plans.
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111. In 1756, the new Nawab of Bengal
captures Calcutta from the Company.
The Black Hole of
Calcutta - where the
Nawab held English
prisoners creates huge
flutter in England.
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112. 1757: Battle of Plassey
Clive buys out Bengali aristocrats: Jagat Seth & Mir Jafar
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113. By 1800, the only impediment to the Company
was a loose confederation of Marathas.
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114. Tippu Sultan of Mysore uses Rocket Warfare for the
first time in human history. The defeat of his ally
Napoleon in Waterloo messes up with his plan.
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115. Most Indian kingdoms slowly fall, unable to
tackle the industrial prowess of the Company
Ahom kingdom
1226-1820
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Sikh Empire
1799-1849
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116. 1772: Capital shifted to
Calcutta by Warren Hastings
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117. Consequences of Company Rule
Millions perish in
dozens of famines.
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118. Some positives: Social
Reforms takes off too.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy (father of
modern India) and others lead
social reforms in India to abolish
Sati (Widow burning) and allow
widow remarriage.
Balaji Viswanathan
NalandaU.com
120. By 1857 most of India
is under the company
or company’s
dependents.
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121. In 1857, Indians would strike back...
ending the company forever...
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122. Lecture 8: First War of Indian
Independence (1857).
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123. 10 May 1857. Sepoys Mutiny in Meerut
Suspect there might be beef or pork coating in the cartridge.
Compounded resentment from serving on overseas battles.
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124. 11th May. Mutiny spreads to Delhi.
Indian troops capture Delhi.
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125. Rani Laxmibai: Denied throne on basis of the
“Doctrine of Lapse”. Widespread hatred in royalty.
Awadh, Jhansi, Kanpur
and Lucknow were
soon up in rebelling.
Tatya Tope of Maratha
territory was trying to
coordinate the attack.
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126. A large number of Indian states join the
sepoy mutiny.
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127. India’s native rivalries and
suspicious soon dominate
•
Sikhs were angry at the eastern Indians for
not helping them out during their war with
the English. Also, they feared the resurrection
of Mughals. Thus they sided the British.
•
With the help of Sikh, Gurkha and Pathan
regiments, East Indian company ends the first
war of Indian Independence.
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NalandaU.com
133. 1857-1914
Indians are pragmatic in this period.
Dadhabhai Naoroji becomes first Indian to
be an MP in Britain. Indians enter civil
service and legal service.
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134. In 1885 Indians come together to form
the Indian National Congress.
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135. Turn of 20th century: Congress splits
between moderates and radicals
Radicals (wanted full
freedom)
Lala Lajpath Rai
Bal Ganghadhar
Tilak
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Moderates (wanted to
secure more rights)
Motilal Nehru
Gopal Krishna
Gokale
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136. 1914: Return of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
perfected
“Satyagraha” or
truth movement in
South Africa. He is
now ready for India.
Balaji Viswanathan
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145. 16th Aug 1946: Muslim League under
Jinnah leaves a trail of violence to press
for a separate nation for Muslims.
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146. Lord Mountbatten: Last
Viceroy of India sets
India’s freedom date for
15th August 1947 and
decides to partition the
country into two - India &
Pakistan.
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NalandaU.com
147. Lecture 10: India after
Independence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wUcw8Ufx_Y
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148. Jan 30, 1948. Assassination of the
Mahatma
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150. India’s iron man- Sardar Patel and first
prime minister Nehru fight to keep
India as a single union.
Taking over Hyderabad,
1948
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Fight to keep Kashmir,
1948.
Take over Goa from
Portugal, 1960.
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151. Kashmir Puzzle
The territory of Kashmir was bought by Hindu Maharajahs in 1860. The
Maharajah joined India, while the populace was majority Muslim.
Balaji Viswanathan
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152. 1956. Indians states reorganized on
linguistic lines.
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153. 1962: India and China battle on high
mountains for a month.
Balaji Viswanathan
NalandaU.com
163. Taxila: Students entered at 16 and learned a variety of arts
- from archery to physics and religion from masters.
Charaka
Panini
“Father” of Medicine
Grammarian
Balaji Viswanathan
Chanakya
Military Strategist
NalandaU.com
165. Gupta Dynasty
Age of Innovations (320 - 520 AD)
Chess
Place value
system
Balaji Viswanathan
University
Sex
Education
NalandaU.com
166. 1526-1757: Mughal Dynasty.
Akbar’s lucky
victory against
Hemu starts a
200 year Mughal
dynasty that ruled
a big chunk of
north India.
Balaji Viswanathan
NalandaU.com
167. 1757: Battle of Plassey
Clive buys out Bengali aristocrats: Jagat Seth & Mir Jafar
Balaji Viswanathan
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168. First War of Indian Independence (1857).
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169. 1930: Gandhi takes Indians on Civil Disobedience.
Breaks laws on making salt in Dandi, Gujarat.
Balaji Viswanathan
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171. Key battles that changed the face of India.
327 BC: Battle of Hydaspes. Porus vs. Alexander.
Ends Greek Expansion in Asia.
261 BC: Battle of Kalinga. Kalinga vs. Ashoka.
Turns Mauryas to pacifism and Buddhism.
738 AD: Battle of Rajasthan. Umayyad vs. Chalukyas.
Checks Islamic expansion east.
1192 AD: Battle of Tarain. Prithiviraj Chauhan vs. Ghori.
Ghori wins in second battle and brings Islam to India.
1556 AD: 2nd Battle of Panipat. Hemu vs. Akbar.
Akbar wins through a scattered arrow. Mughal empire begins.
1757 AD: Battle of Plassey. East India Co. vs. Bengal.
Brings India under East India Company & European rule.
1761 AD: 3rd Battle of Panipat. Marthas vs. Afghans.
Marathas are pushed back and last of Indian empires bites dust.
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172. India needs to rediscover Nalanda.
It is the period where India’s science grew to
great heights. It is time to bring back that era.
Balaji Viswanathan
NalandaU.com