India: The Development Of Civilisation In The Subcontinent

Civilisation in India has existed for several millennia, taking many different forms as it is constantly being influenced by external and internal factors. From the Indus Valley ‘Harappan’ Civilisation originating around 3000 BCE all the way until today’s modern Indian society, the various peoples that have invaded and settled in India have grafted their own cultures into India, having a profound effect on the knowledge, religion, values, and practices present in modern day India. Amongst all influences, the most significant include the Aryans, Moghuls and, who have made extremely impactful changes to Indian society and culture.

The Earliest civilisation established in the subcontinent of India was that of the Harappans, in the northwestern parts of India and eastern Pakistan, which thrived on the banks of the Indus River. The first evidence of civilisation dates back to around 3300 BCE, and the society reached its zenith from 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE (Yadav, 2019), persisting all the way until the early first millennium BCE. The first invasion to Indian society is believed to have been from the Aryans, who moved south-east from Persia (modern day Iran) into the Indus sometime around the 9th century BCE. Quickly, the Aryans integrated into the upper class of society, causing a clash of cultures. The result was an amalgamation of religious practices, from which the beginning foundations of Hinduism were formed. Most notably this coincided with the appearance of an early ‘caste system,’ in which distinction was made between the fair-skinned Aryans and the darker hued, indigenous people. This divide developed into an occupational matter and then a spiritual matter as society developed. This is possibly the most important change made to Indian culture, as the caste system is now a distinctive feature of the modern social structure in India. It causes much friction between the castes due to the disparity in the social standing of high castes like Brahmins (priests) and low castes like Shudras and untouchables. Ultimately, the creation of a social hierarchy in India and the introduction of Hindu practices have had significant lasting impacts on Indian society to this day.

Over a number of centuries, the arrival of numerous Muslim peoples eventually resulted in India being seized by the Delhi Sultanate, who ruled India as the religious minority. This resulted in a huge cultural influence from the early Muslim leaders, who encouraged but did not demand conversion, and showed respect for Hindu religious rituals. The effects of the Delhi Sultanate can be most easily observed in the ambitious architectural projects that they underwent, such as The Friday Mosque, in Delhi. The most significant changes in this millennia, however, were made by the Moghul Empire, which took power in 1526 CE, when Moghul Emperor Babur defeated the Lodi Kingdom at the Battle of Panipat. By the early 17th Century, the Moghuls led by Akbar the Great, had developed an imperial structure that aimed to benefit all promoting religious and cultural equality, allowing all society to flourish and locals coexisted in relative peace regardless of race and religion. This created a culture that was essentially an amalgamation of the Persian, Mongolian (Mughal) and Indian cultures. Additionally, along with the expansion of the Mughal empire came a cultural expansion, as the education of all citizens improved under Akbar’s rule, promoting poetry, the arts and writing. Muslim architecture also became more prominent, creating a unique style of building in Mughal territory, creating historic monuments such as the Taj Mahal and Humayun’s Tomb. Towards the end of Mughal rule, during Aurangzeb’s reign, India’s rapid economic growth and expanding trade led to the Empire becoming too large to administer, which along with a number of other factors led to the Empire’s rapid decline in the 18th century.

The decline of the Mughal empire under Bahadur Shah created a power vacuum that was inevitably filled by the growing presence of in India. Without a doubt, East India Company had some of the most profound effects on Indian Society of any outside influence. As the Mughal Empire lost the ability to control all their territories, they allowed the BEIC to establish bases on Indian land. These bases were eventually fortified, and as the Company grew, the company became immersed in Indian affairs, supporting both economically and militarily, those who helped to expand the trading company. Eventually, the power of the trading company increased to the point where they had more sway than even the rulers in India. During the resulting de facto rule Indian society underwent many changes. For example, took a keen interest in educating Indians as it meant that they could have a cheaper and better educated workforce. This resulted in the creation of a number of universities in Calcutta, Madras and Bombay in 1857 (Marshall, 2019). While this policy did not by any means reach the masses, it did help to transform India into a more modern, liberal and democratic country. The mere presence of culture and trade also brought with it ideas of freedom, equality, liberty and human rights, and the resulting socio-religious, reform movements in the 20th century had a great impact on Indian society. The efforts of Indian society to resist rule, including a number of non-violent protests led by figureheads such as Mahatma Gandhi, eventually resulted in Indian independence in 1947. Despite this, the effects of on the society were irreversible, and can still be seen in their society today.

Throughout the millennia, India has been subject to numerous invasions and settlements, that have heavily influenced the development of civilisation in the subcontinent. The invasion of the Aryans in the 9th Century BCE, led to serious religious changes, while the later Muslim dynasties led to a cultural revolution, especially in terms of the arts. Finally, the more recent revolution led to a variety of cultural changes and socio-religious reforms which have led to the society that now exists.

Bibliography:

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