History of India Homework - issued 3/3, due on 3/5

History of India

 

The culture of India has many layers.  More than 200 languages are spoken in India.  At least 24 of them are spoken by more than a million people.  Each state has its own language, making 16 official languages.  Hindi is the national language, but only 30% of the people speak it.  Tamil, Urdu, and English are important languages too. 

 

Almost 25% of the people in India belong to a large ethnic minority called the Dravidians.  Most other people are descended from the Aryans.  In the north are pockets of people related to the Afghans, Turks, and Moguls of Central Asia.

 

The Dravidians were probably the first settlers in the country now called India.  The Dravidians built a civilization along the Indus River at least 5000 years ago.  Aryan invaders took over some time after 1500 BC.  The Dravidians fled south to the tip of India where their descendents still live today. 

 

The Aryans borrowed some ideas, mixed them with their own, and developed Hinduism.  This complex religion has been at the heart of Indian culture ever since.  The Aryans also brought the Sanskrit language to India.  Most of India’s modern languages come from Sanskrit.  Although no longer spoken, Sanskrit is still taught and read because many Hindu texts are written in this ancient language.

 

Muslims from Central Asia started attacking India around AD 1000.  Previous invaders had melted into Hindu society, but the Muslims wouldn’t mix.  North India became a patchwork of Hindu and Muslim kingdoms.  Then, in the 1500’s, Turko-Mogul warriors conquered most of the subcontinent and started the Mogul empire.  For the next 200 years, Muslim Moguls ruled a mostly Hindu nation.  The great Mogul emperor Akbar tried to combine Hinduism and Islam into one new religion but failed.   Today, Muslims remain a large, separate minority in India. 

 

Muslims did add many features to the culture of India.  Their support made Urdu a major language.  The Taj Mahal, tomb of Mogul queen, is often called the world’s most beautiful building.  The next outsiders to rule India were the British.  Starting in the 1700’s, they added yet another layer to the culture of India.  For example, English is still the language of business throughout the country.  The laws and government of India are modeled on those of Britain.  British sports such as squash and cricket remain popular in India, and thanks to the British, India has the world’s most extensive railroad system. 

 

Guided Reading:

1.  More than ____________________ languages are spoken in India.
2. List 3 languages spoken in India.
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3. The ethnic minority in India is called _______________________________________.
4. List 3 other groups related to people in India.
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5. Why did the Dravidians flee to the southern tip of India?
6. How was Hinduism created?
7. Why is Sanskrit still taught and read?
8. ___________________________________________ invaded India around AD 1000.
9. How were the Muslims different than previous invaders?
10. Were Emperor Akbar’s attempts to combine Hinduism and Islam successful?
11. What is one contribution of the Muslims to the culture of India?
12. What is the Taj Mahal?
13. Why is English the language of business throughout India?
14. The laws and government of India are modeled on those of _________________________.
15. India has the world’s most extensive ____________________________________________.