India

The Republic of India is a nation located in south Asia. It spans from the Himalayas in the north to the Indian ocean. The name "India" came from the word "Hindu" which was used to describe the Sindhu river (now known as the Indus). It borders China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar. India is the 7th largest country in the world in terms of area and 2nd largest in terms of population.

Home to the Indus Valley Civilization, the history, culture and tradition of India is more than three thousand years old. India is place where four of the major world religions were founded: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Although over 80% of Indians identify themselves as Hindu, India has large vibrant communities of Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and Buddhists.

In terms of purchasing power parity, its economy is the second largest in Asia. India is one of the fastest developing economies in the world with an annual growth rate of over 8%.

See World History Lecture Three for more information on Ancient India.