The Real History of South Asia

[Lalith Ramesh]

1900 BC- the Indus Valley Civilization, after centuries of decline resulting from droughts and other natural disasters, finally collapses.
1500 BC- nomadic tribes of Indo-European speakers from the steppes of Central Asia migrate to South Asia, bringing with them superior weapons technology in the form of the horse-drawn chariot. The Dravidian speakers who formerly made up the population of the Indus Valley Civilization are overwhelmed. This conquest bears a striking resemblance to the conquest of China by the Mongols.
1000 BC- the Indo-Europeans complete their conquest of South Asia. Anywhere they went, they forbade the Dravidian peoples whom they conquered from reading. This resulted in a loss of any records documenting this invasion, with the exception of the Sramanic (ascetic) tradition. Emphasizing vegetarianism and austerity, the Sramana movement provided a place where social outcasts could enjoy protection from Vedic caste discrimination.
500 BC- the Sramanic religions (Buddhism and Jainism) begin challenging the authority of the Brahmins and the Vedas. At one point, Hinduism becomes a minority religion in South Asia.
500 AD- several forms of Hindu revivalism culminate in the Gupta Period, during which several Hindu Puranas were composed. Buddhism and Jainism have been declining for several centuries-- partly due to the rise of devotional Hinduism, and also due to persecution by native and foreign rulers.
712 AD- Islam finally reaches South Asia.

 

[Lalith Ramesh]

Note: this is by no means a complete history.

 

[Lalith Ramesh]

Note #2: Temple worship, unknown to either the Indus Valley inhabitants or the Indo-Europeans, was primarily responsible for the revival of Hinduism between the birth of the Buddha and the Gupta period. The construction of temples created jobs for the lower castes of Hindu society, who were previously relegated by the Vedas to helping the upper castes.

 

[Lalith Ramesh]

Link to a source documenting Jainism in the Indus Valley: https://jainworld.jainworld.com/JWEnglish/Harappa _ Jainism.pdf

 

[Lalith Ramesh]

(cont. from first post)

Tantrism, which arose sometime between 500-900 AD, also contributed to the revival of Hinduism in South Asia. Practices that were once forbidden by the Vedic religion, such as animal sacrifices to goddesses, were adopted by this movement. As detailed by Professor Kancha Ilaiah, these religious practices are widespread among lower-caste Hindus even to this day.

 

[sayak83]

1900 BC- the Indus Valley Civilization, after centuries of decline resulting from droughts and other natural disasters, finally collapses.
1500 BC- nomadic tribes of Indo-European speakers from the steppes of Central Asia migrate to South Asia, bringing with them superior weapons technology in the form of the horse-drawn chariot. The Dravidian speakers who formerly made up the population of the Indus Valley Civilization are overwhelmed. This conquest bears a striking resemblance to the conquest of China by the Mongols.
1000 BC- the Indo-Europeans complete their conquest of South Asia. Anywhere they went, they forbade the Dravidian peoples whom they conquered from reading. This resulted in a loss of any records documenting this invasion, with the exception of the Sramanic (ascetic) tradition. Emphasizing vegetarianism and austerity, the Sramana movement provided a place where social outcasts could enjoy protection from Vedic caste discrimination.
500 BC- the Sramanic religions (Buddhism and Jainism) begin challenging the authority of the Brahmins and the Vedas. At one point, Hinduism becomes a minority religion in South Asia.
500 AD- several forms of Hindu revivalism culminate in the Gupta Period, during which several Hindu Puranas were composed. Buddhism and Jainism have been declining for several centuries-- partly due to the rise of devotional Hinduism, and also due to persecution by native and foreign rulers.
712 AD- Islam finally reaches South Asia.

History is subject to debate which is difficult to do in the DIR section. Anything that claims as "real" history will need to be discussed and debated. Further, unless you are putting up a resource, there needs to be a question or a point of discussing that the opening post must mention. Otherwise how can there be a conversation?
In my view this thread is more appropriate in general debate or same faith debate or something like that

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Lalith Ramesh]

Thank you sayak83!