"Incredible INDIA – An Ancient Land In All Seasons"

Prasad S. BurangeMay 23, 2007

DISCLAIMER

• People from India = INDIAN

• I do NOT have intention to hurt any kind of feelings or beliefs. It would be a mere coincidence if it is accidentally related to some one.

Where is India?

Nepal

Bangladesh

China

USA

Pakistan

MiddleEast

North-east

EastMyanmar

West

A sovereign country in South Asia

Sri Lanka

South

Bay of Bengal(East)

Arabian Sea(West)

Indian Ocean(South)

The Republic of India

- 28 states- 7 union territories- 1.1 Billion population

(2007 estimate)- 3.28 million Km2 –

Area- 7,516 Km – Coastline

• 23 official languages (including Hindi and English)• 325 languages spoken

- 800 different languages- ~ 2000 dialects

WorldsWorlds - Largest English speaking nation - 2nd most populous country - 7th largest country (geographical area) - Most populous liberal democracy - 2nd largest pool of scientists and engineers - 4th largest economy - 4th largest in purchasing power - 3rd largest standing army force

Timeline of Indian History Stone Age 70,000–3300 BC

· Mehrgarh Culture · 7000–3300 BC

Indus Valley Civilization 3300–1700 BCLate Harappan Culture 1700–1300 BC

Vedic Period 1500–500 BC

· Iron Age · 1200–500 BC

· Vedic Kingdoms · 1200–700 BC

Maha Janapadas 700–300 BC

Magadha Empire 684 BC–AD 550

· Maurya Empire · 321–184 BC

Middle Kingdoms 230 BC–AD 1279

· Satavahana Empire · 230 BC–AD 199

· Kushan Empire · 60–240

· Gupta Empire · 240–550

· Pala Empire · 750–1174

· Chola Empire · 250 BCE –1279

Timeline of Indian History

Islamic Sultanates 1206–1596· Delhi Sultanate · 1206–1526

· Deccan Sultanates · 1490–1596

Hoysala Empire 1040–1346

Kakatiya Empire 1083–1323

Vijayanagara Empire 1336–1565

Mughal Empire 1526–1707

Maratha Empire 1674–1818

Sikh Empire 1799–1849

Colonial Era 1757–1947

Modern States 1947 onwards

Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh (9000-7000 BC)

Stone age rock shelters and

paintings

New Cave Paintings Discovered in Tapti Valley, Central India

Mehrgarh Culture (7000-3300 BC)UNESCO World Heritage Site

Early farming village in Mehrgarh with houses built with mud bricksc. 7000 BCE

A figurine from Mehrgarh

c. 3000 BCE

The Indus Valley Civilization (c. 3300–1700 BC, flowered 2600–1900 BCE)

• An ancient riverine civilization

• Flourished in the Indus and Ghaggar-Hakra river valleys

• Is now Pakistan and northwestern India

• Another name for this civilization is the Harappan Civilization, after the first excavated city of Harappa

Indus Life

Seals with the Indus Script

Swastika

Bullocks

Indus Valley excavation -

Harappa

Mohen Jo Daro (Mound of the dead) UNESCO World Heritage Site

• Built around 2600 BC • The largest city of Indus Valley• Mohenjo Daro was one of the world’s first cities• 25 km southwest of Larkana,Sindh Province of

Pakistan• Center of Indus Valley Civilization 2600 BC-1700 BC• Contemporaneous with ancient Egyptian and

Mesopotamian civilizations• Sometimes referred to as "An Ancient Indus Valley

Metropolis"

Archaeological Ruins at Mohenjo-daro UNESCO World Heritage Site

Mohenjo-daro (2600 BC)

"Priest King” statue

Mohenjo-daroWearing Sindhi

Ajrakca. 2500 BC

National Museum, Karachi, Pakistan

The “Dancing Girl of Mohenjo Daro"

Similarities to Greek mythology

Hercules fighting the Lernaean Hydra

Lord Krishna fighting the Kaliya Serpent

Did the Indians travel as far as Easter Island?

The Easter Islands located in the Pacific Ocean, were situated far away from any civilization

The sign script of the Easter Islands almost equals the ancient scripts of Indus Valley

Indus Saraswatisymbols

Easter Islandsymbols

Were the Ancient Vedic civilisation of Indus Saraswati valley Trans-Oceanic seafarers?

The Great Stupa in Sanchi, Madhya Pradeshcommissioned by the emperor Ashoka the Great in

3rd century BCE