Fall of Gupta empire

Death of Harsha in 648 The Delhi Sultanate

Islam then spread eastward by Indian and Arab traders

…long period of disunion and conflict

…medieval centuries of conflict and disorder

… comparable to Dark Ages in Europe

… true to the northern half of the continent

…culminated in 1526 with the Mughal Empire (new flowering of unity and cultural brilliance)

Early Islamic Influence

Part of the explosive Islam expansion

Harsh and intolerant version of the new religion

Not just Islamic but also Iranian culture

Literate and educated Iranians (scribes), administrators, artists, writers and other elites

Early Islamic Influence

In time was established in the North

Attractive than the barren and mountainous Central Asia

plunder and

converts

pillaging of India’s wealth and slaughtering the infidel

Idolatry, pantheism, lack of precise scriptural creed (sacrilege)

1 – Sindh2 – Delhi3 – Bengal4 – Afghanistan5 – Ghazni6 – Rajasthan7 – Jumna8 – Punjab9 – Nalanda10 – Banaras 11 – Maharashtra12 – Ceylon / Sri Lanka13 – Gujarat14 – Pallava15 – Chola16 – Pandya

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Islamic Advance

648

1526

1202 1206

7th century

8th century

Middle East and Africa

Sindh was conquered

Newly converted Turks from Central Asia advanced

Islamic Advance

Mahmud of Ghazni (971-1030)• “Sword of Islam” – 17 plundering expeditions

– Destroyed temples, sack cities, force conversions…

• Nomadic heritage (cavalry tactics, bow, horn, etc)

Rajputs of Rajasthan (Central Asian origin)

A Minaret in Ghazni,capital of Sultan Mahmud

• 12th century – Punjab and Hindustan (Ganges

Valley) incorporated – Turco-Afghan empire with Delhi as the capital.

• Southwest – range of hills thru the Jumna river for protection

• Northward – Himalayas • Westward – Thar Desert• Eastward – Ganges valley

– Yet Delhi should be secured first from northwest invaders (repeated entry via Punjab)…

– 1202 – Bengal was overrun (center of Buddhism)

» University and monastery in Nalanda, Hindu centers in Banaras – end of Buddhism on the land of its birth

» Survivors fled to Nepal and Tibet» Because the north is hopelessly divided (Alexander’s

time)

– 1206 – Delhi sultanate innaugurated (320 yrs.)

1 – Sindh2 – Delhi3 – Bengal4 – Afghanistan5 – Ghazni6 – Rajasthan7 – Jumna8 – Punjab9 – Nalanda10 – Banaras 11 – Maharashtra12 – Ceylon / Sri Lanka13 – Gujarat14 – Pallava15 – Chola16 – Pandya

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Delhi Sultanate

• Successive Turco-Afghan rulers• More tolerant to the remaining vast majority of

Hindus in the Indian populace – Can’t kill or convert all Indians– Treated as 2nd class citizens

» Pay a head tax called jizya to protect Non-Muslims referred to as dhimmis.

• Hinduism – accepted as a religion than simply as paganism – also monotheistic

• Hindu rulers and petty rajas allowed to remain in control of their domains (sultanate-Indian order)

– India as object than being a subject– Rulers try to govern rather than just exploit

• Attack into the mountain-protected Deccan• Never one a permanent position

– Delhi, Mughal, Guptas, Mauryas, and Aryans– Sapped resources and led to the downfall

• Well-protected– Double mountain ranges – Vindhyas and Satpura– Narbada and Tapti rivers w/c run b/w the two ranges– Deccan – steep ravines and river valleys with easily

defended hills

• Defenders – Marathas of Maharashtra in northwestern Deccan

• Weakened by internal struggles• And political intrigues – from Central Asia• Sultans were absolute rulers (do or die), ruthless

– Many died of assassination, poisoning… coup– Politics was only centered in Delhi (Ok na basta naa tax)

• Mameluke armies (lifetime mercenaries)

Notable Sultans

• Ala-ud-din Khalji (1296-1316)• Repelled the Mongol invasion – very rare case

– Turco-Afghan rulers are already Indianized– Mameluke troops augmented by indigenous support

• Usurped power after the death of Jalal-ud-din– His uncle whom he allowed to get killed in a raid– Bought loyalty of his army officers

• Neither read nor write– No tolerance for intellectuals, sophistication, etc.– Abolished regular stipends to Muslim nobles

» For them to be dependent on him – no political power

– Outlawed wine parties – possible plot breeder

• Policies– Hindus not to possess weapons and ride horses– Loyalty and decree conformance ensured thru spies– Imposed wage and price control– No private hoarding of gold and silver– Licensing of merchants and taxing profits

– After his death• Empire died with him• First son murdered by his own soldiers

… fierce determination and arbitrary power• Prevented Hindustan from being sacked by the

Mongols

Tughluks• After Delhi Sultanate• Muhammad Tughluk (reigned 1325 - 1351)

• Reign of strict Islam piety and carrying it southward-guilt expiation

• 1335-1342-drought and famine– He failed to respond-busy fighting-revolts

• 1338-Bengal declared independence

• Firuz Tughluk (ruled till death in 1388)• Proved to be productive ruler

– Rebuilt Delhi (hospitals, mosque, dams, etc)– Cut the system of spies and informers, abolished torture– Yet alienated people

» Insistence of the payment of the jizya tax by infidels

... Tamerlane’s (1336-1405) catastrophic invasion… ravaged Central Asia and Middle East… 1398 – he entered Delhi and slaughtered the

inhabitants

– The sultanate never fully recovered

…1401 Gujarat declared independence … flourished under their ruler

– Capital in Ahmedabad– Depended on maritime trade

Sikander Lodi (1489-1517)• Lodis

• Afghan clan (ruled the remaining Delhi sultanate)

• Sikander• Origin is indicative of the Indianization

– Orthodox Muslim with a Hindu mother and fell in love with a Hindu princess

• Reign– Saw the blending of Sufism with the Hindu equivalent

• Bhakti (devotion) Hinduism – slowly spread– Ramananda preached the message of divine love

» Attracted Hindus and Muslims (Sufi message also)» Increased appeal of a more humane and at the same

time more mystical Islam

Sikander Lodi’s Tomb in Lodi Gardens. Delhi, India.

South India

• Ancient kingdoms of Pallava, Pandya and Chola

• Hindu monarchies on semi-feudal basis• Great Indian tradition of monumental architecture

and sculpture flourished during these times…– Tells us of the South’s wealth

» From agriculture, and from extensive trade overseas and domestic trade

» Orderly society and government

» … maritime trade in Southeast Asia

Temple Builders

• History of South India• Recorded largely in building temples and their

records and inscriptions» Temples were hewn out of solid rock and consist of a

series of adjoining caves, ornately decorated and with ceilings supported by carved stone pillars

• 27 caves at Ajanta in the central Deccan (5th-• 34 similar cave temples at Ellora … 6th to 8th century

• Other freestanding temples at Mandurai by Pandyan kingdom and those at Tanjore built by the Cholas

Rashtrakuta architecture, Kailasanatha Temple, in Ellora Caves, Maharashtra.

The Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram built by the Pallavas - a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Brihadeeswarar temple at Thanjavur is one of the largest monolithic temple complexes in the world - a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cholas

• Feudatory dependency of Pallavas• Emerged to power• Absorbed the earlier Pandya kingdom and capital of Mandurai

• System of excavated tanks or reservoirs to hold monsoon rains-distribute during dry periods

• Maritime trade and navy– Defeated Sri Vijaya in 1025– Invaded the Northern half of Ceylon

» Later driven out by the Sinhalese kingdom

• 11th century – power faded – normal fragmentation– Tamil culture was patronized though reduced– Bronze casting enhanced sculpture

» Dancing many armed Shiva

Vijayanagara• Empire of Victory – 1336 Hindu kingdom

• United to resist the sultan’s incursions in the south• Depended on a huge a huge excavated reservoir

• Textbook on government• Last king Kirshna Deva Raya (1509-1529)

• Empire’s success:• If the king grows angry with them (minority

subjects), he cannot wholly destroy them, but if he wins their affection by kindness and charity they serve him by invading the enemies’ territory and plundering his forts.

– Destroyed 1565 – coalition of Northern Deccan sultans and Mughals

Vijayanagara architecture, Stone chariot in Vittala temple, Hampi, Karnataka

Badavilinga Temple

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