Skin bleaching is a global industry, and its roots lie partly in colonialism and slavery. Preferences for paler skin existed in many ancient cultures, often tied to class, since the wealthy avoided outdoor labour. European colonisers and slave-owners then turned colour into a hierarchy of status, privileging lighter skin in Africa, the Caribbean and South Asia, and the preference outlasted empire. Today creams and treatments, some containing harmful ingredients such as mercury or strong steroids, are widely sold. The pressure falls particularly on women, and health authorities have restricted some products.

Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, with more than 1,600 surviving remains spread over 4,100 hectares. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. Travellers from Persia and Portugal described it as a prosperous, wealthy and grand city with temples, markets and farms along the Tungabhadra River. By 1500 it was estimated to be the world's second-largest city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at the time. In 1565 a coalition of Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, its capital was conquered and destroyed, and the city was left in ruins. Hampi remains a religious centre, with the active Virupaksha Temple at its heart.