India and the Indian Ocean Basin Chapter 15

India and the Indian Ocean Basin Chapter 15

I: Islamic and Hindu Kingdoms • Post-Gupta: regional kingdoms – no Post-Classic empire • North: competing states with periodic invasions by nomads (some integrated into caste system) • Attempts were made to unify, but unsuccessful (Harsha – Buddhist, hospitals, patron of scholars)

I: The Introduction of Islam to N. India • Several process: • Military: 711, Muslims conquered Sind -> Umayyid province -> Abbasid province (but only in name) – Most remained Buddhist or Hindu; lots of fighting between Arab admin. and local elites

I: The Introduction of Islam to N. India • Merchants: Persian and Arab, small communities along coasts, married local women => more effective • Migration/invasion: 10 th century, Turkish nomadic Muslims (migrated all over), founded state in Afghanistan (under Mahmud); raided N. India (didn’t rule, plundered and built mosques)

I: The Sultanate of Delhi • Late 12 th century: Mahmud’s successors wanted to conquer N. India under Islamic rule • 1206 -1526: Delhi Sultanate – Powerful army – Mosques, shrines, fortresses – Patrons of the arts and literature – Destroyed Hindu temples and charged jizya • Couldn’t spread into S, no permanent bureaucracy, some converted

I: The Hindu Kingdoms of S. India • Politically divided, but much less war and invasions • The Chola Kingdom: 850 -1267 – semi-unified, – built on trade profits, – strong navy, – not tightly centralized (local autonomy in exchange for order and tax revenues) – Decline: revolts -> back to small states

I: The Hindu Kingdoms of S. India • Kingdom of Vijayanagar: 1336 -1565 – dominated much of south • Southern India: no strong centralized political entities, but coherent and distinctive society (trade-based, common social structures and cultural traditions)

II: Production and trade in the Indian Ocean Basin • Similar trends as in Islamic Empire and China • Increasing agricultural productivity – > increase in trade and manufacturing – > economic development, regional links, LD links

II: Agriculture in the Monsoon World • Due to seasons, irrigation required during dry months – In North: irrigation had been used since Harappan – In South: drier, with few rivers = with increasing population, increased need for irrigation • Built dams, reservoirs, canals, wells, tunnels; some largescale and required lots of labor • Population increase -> urbanization (capitals, ports, trading centers)

II: Trade and the Economic Development of Southern India • Internal trade: most regions were self-sufficient in staple foods • Not in other resources (metal, spices, specialized crops) -> regional specialization • -> many areas benefitted from internal trade

II: Trade and the Economic Development of Southern India • Temples served as economic and social centers – organized agricultural activities, irrigation, surplus, – provided education, – owned land, employed many, – collected taxes for political authorities, – acted as bankers (loans , investments)

II: Cross-Cultural Trade in the Indian Ocean Basin • Increases in volume and value with larger ships and improved commercial organization • Ships: dhows (Indian, Persian, Arab sailors) and junks (Chinese and SE Asian sailors) – Used monsoon winds

II: Cross-Cultural Trade in the Indian Ocean Basin • Emporia = trading centers – common in India and Arabia (= central locations) – = cosmopolitan cities with people of various religions and ethnicities living and working together • Emporia + sea lanes = maritime silk road (transportation, communication, and exchange) – Increased with Abbasids and Tang/Song

II: Cross-Cultural Trade in the Indian Ocean Basin • Increasing specialization in commodity production: – India: fine cotton textiles (required more agri. and artisans), sugar, leather, carpet weaving, etc. – China: silk, porcelain, lacquerware – SE Asia: fine spices – SW Asia: incense, horses, dates – E. Africa: gold, ivory, slaves • Specialization influenced economic and social structure

II: Cross-Cultural Trade in the Indian Ocean Basin • Trade also supported political development • The Kingdom of Axum: N. Ethopia, Christian – traded in Red Sea, acted as go-between for southern Africa and Egypt – 7 th-8 th centuries: unconquered by Arabs; maintained commercial ties to India and SE Asia and Muslim neighbors

II: Caste and Society • Caste system was adaptable to changes (migrations, Islam, economic development, urbanization) • Became more complex (esp. as merchant and manufacturing jatis developed) and helped maintain order in local communities (through Hindu temples) – Established codes of conduct within and between castes and helped form group identities – Spread to southern India

III: The Meeting of Hindu and Islamic Traditions • Jains and Buddhists decreased in numbers (but, Buddhism flourished in E. , C. , and SE Asia) • Hinduism dominated the south and Islam dominated the north (very different) • Why? Turks destroyed Buddhist monasteries and stuppas (killed or exiled monks)

III: The Development of Hinduism • Growth of devotional cults to Vishnu or Shiva – Vishnu – preserver of the world – Shiva – god of fertility, the destroyer • Esp. popular in the south: promised salvation through offerings, meditation, building temples and shrines to gods • Hinduism also influenced philosophy

III: Islam and its Appeal • Spread mostly through merchant communities and via sufis (personal, emotional approach) • Many converted, especially those in lower castes • The Bhakti movement: cult of love and devotion that tried to merge Hinduism and Islam -> not really very successful

IV: The Influence of Indian Society in Southeast Asia • India had political and cultural impact on S and SE Asia via merchant trading communities • rulers used profits from spice trade to build and consolidate power – Borrowed elements from India: kingship with courts and rituals, Hinduism and/or Buddhism, Indian lit. – But, not the caste system and maintained native religions

IV: The States of Southeast Asia • For example: Funan: kingdom in Mekong delta, – Adopted Indian political, cultural, and religious traditions: “raja”, divine sanction, admin. and bureaucrats, sanskrit for official business, ceremonies and rituals, Hindu deities • For example: Angkor: kingdom in Cambodia – Hinduism, with later shift toward Buddhism – Capital = Angkor Thom

IV: The Arrival of Islam • 10 th century: Muslim merchants from Arabia, Persia, and India • First, port cities and later, rulers, traders, and others converted – Elite converts often continued to honor Hindu, Buddhist, and native traditions – Islam helped rulers deal with merchants and gain divine sanction

IV: The Arrival of Islam • Kingdom of Melaka, 15 th century • Excellent location to control trade – Navy protected sea lanes and forced ships to call at port and pay taxes • Sponsored missionaries to spread Islam throughout SE Asia