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: 10th 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 12th 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 large-scale

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 – 7th-8th 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• 10th 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, 15th 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