India

=**India** = = =

=Background Information =

====India, also called the Republic of India, is a country in Southeast Asia. India is a republic consisting of 28 states and 7 union territories. The government in India is a parliamentary system of democracy. This country also has 28 different states and 7 union territories. India also has the 12th largest economy in the world and went through reforms in 1991. Although India has a successful economy it suffers from illiteracy, disease, and malnutrition. Starting in the early 18th century India was colonized by Britain and started to be annexed. Later in the 19th century British government regulated the __East India Company__. This company ruled India with little interference from the government. The British also considered India to be the "jewel in the crown" or most valuable country because of the large population for potential buyers. ====

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=**Geography** =



====India is a country that is surrounded by oceans on the east, west, and south areas. This country is also home to the Himalayas which are the tallest mountains in the world. These are located in northern India. India sits atop the Indian Tectonic Plate which is still moving today. The climate in India is different in a lot of places throughout the nation. India's unique geography have a large impact on the climate. This especially apparent in the Himalayas because these mountains act as a barrier from cold winds so therefore Northern India is kept warm for most of the year. The climate can range from desert to rain forest to alpine tundra. India also has an estimated population of about 1.2 billion and has endured rapid growth in the last 50 years due to major health improvements. In 2001 India was said to have the largest cities in the world with about 35 million in each. 70% of the Indian population still live in rural places such as Mumbai. ====

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=Pre-Imperialism = = = The first traces of civilization began in the Stone Age about 9,000 years ago. This eventually developed into the Indus Valley Civilization. This was then followed by the Vedic period of time and Hinduism began during that period. Many kingdoms during 500 BC were developed including the Mahajanapadas. From the third century, during the Gupta dynasty, India's Golden Age flourished. Following invasions from central Asia during the 10th, 11th, and 12th centuries, much of India came under the rule of the Mughal Empire. Under the rule of Akbar the Great, India enjoyed much cultural, economic, and religious progress and harmony.



Western Country
 As the Mughal Empire declined, Britain seized Indian territories and soon it controlled almost the whole subcontinent. The British East India company ruled India until the 1850's. It had its own army led by British officers and staffed by Sepoys(Indian soldiers). India was known as the "Jewel in the Crown" to Britain and was the most valuable colony to them. Initially Britain used Indirect control to dominate India and set up restrictions that prevented the Indian economy from operating on its own.

= Imperial Effects =  Farmers and merchants were forced to produce raw materials for British manufacturing and the indigenous people were then forced to buy British products. The British restricted Indian-owned industries such as cotton textiles from competing with the British goods. The emphasis on cash crops resulted in a loss of self-sufficiency for the people and this conversion to cash crops reduced food production,resulting in the famine of late 1800s. The British officially adopted a hands-off policy regarding Indian religious and social customs but the increased presence of missionaries and the racist attitude of most British officials threatened traditional Indian life.

India's Struggle for Independence
 As economic problems increased for Indians, so did their feelings of resentment and nationalism. Around 1857,rumors spread among the Sepoys that the cartridges of their new rifles were greased with beef and pork fat. To use the cartridges, soldiers had to bite off the ends. Both Hindus, who considered the cow sacred, and Muslims, who did not eat pork, were outraged by the news. Commanders were shocked when 85 of the 90 Sepoys refused to accept the cartridges. The soldiers who had disobeyed were jailed, and the next day they rebelled. Some historians have called this outbreak the **Sepoy Mutiny**. The uprising spread throughout northern India and both Sepoys and British tried to slaughter each other's armies. The East India Company took more than a year to regain control and the British government sent troops to help them.This Mutiny marked a turning point in Indian history and as a result of it, in 1858 the British government took direct command of India. The part of India that was under the rule was now called the "Raj". To reward the many princes who had stayed loyal to Britain, the British promised to respect all treaties the East India company had made with them. They also promised that the Indian states that were still free would remain independent. There were two main stages for India’s struggle for independence, nonviolent and militant philosophy. The first militant movement took place in Bengal. It later turned into a political stage and was formed by the “Indian National Congress”. Leaders of this group simply wanted more rights. This group believed in armed revolution against the British, because they were tired of the British colonial authority in South Asia. The last stage began in the 1920’s, they adopted the non-violence policy led by Mohandas Gandhi. Another leader of this group was Subhash Sahajanand Saraswati, he not only wanted political freedom, but also economic freedom for the peasants. Then the Quit India Movement was launched. Gandhi wanted to negotiate with the British government for their independence and made a speech, but within 24 hours of that speech, almost the entire Indian National Congress was jailed. And the greater amount of Congress leaders were sent to spend the rest of World War II in confinement. These movements were recognized in the formation of the Dominion of India, and the Dominion of Pakistan. But India was still a Dominion of the Crown until 1950, when it finally adopted their own constitution and they finally became a Republic.



= = **Country Today**- ====<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Today India has a Federal Republic Government, which is a federation of states with a republican form of government. India is working on becoming an open-market economy, but some of their old autarkic policies remain. In their old autarkic economy, they were self-sufficient and did not cross the border for trade. Now they are becoming an open-market economy where they make bonds and have a competitive market. There are many attractions to visit in India, one of the most famous, would be the “Red Fort” more locally known as “Lal Quila”. This massive stone walled fort in Delhi was built to keep out invaders. This massive attraction is a wonderful place for visitors to come and see. But the most famous attraction is probably the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is in Agra, India and it is one of the eight wonders of the World. The building was built by the Muhghals and is made entirely of white marble, which makes it glow in the moonlight. Today, India is a stable country, they are getting rid of their old autarkic ways, becoming more successful and fixing the issues that they had. ====

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=<span style="color: #ff9700; font-family: Georgia,serif;">** Fun Facts ** <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #ff9700; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">- = <span style="color: #257e3f; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> #1.India is the second most populated country in the world, and they have one of the eight wonders in their country. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">
 * 1) 2. The number system was created by India
 * 2) 3. India has the most post offices in the world
 * 3) 4. Chess was invented in India
 * 4) 5. India was the only source for Diamonds in the world
 * 5) 6. India is the largest democracy in the world
 * 6) 7. India is the 6th largest country in the world
 * 7) 8. India has the largest number of mosques
 * 8) 9. India has a population of about 1.1 billion people
 * 9) 10. Bollywood makes more featured films then the United States, France, China and Italy all combined



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=<span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #ff9700; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Citations- = <span style="color: #008000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">"India Attractions." //Adventure Travel & World Travel | IExplore//. Web. 10 Apr. 2010. <http://www.iexplore.com/world_travel/India/Attractions> = = <span style="color: #008000; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> //India//. Wikimedia Foundation Inc., 8 Apr. 2010. Web. 10 Apr. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India>.

//Modern World History//. Evanston, IL: McDougal Litell, 2005. 563-67. Print.

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