16. India and The Ocean Basin - LPSwp.lps.org/tlarson/files/2013/08/Chapter-16.pdf · The Bhakti...

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16. India and The Ocean Basin

India and the Indian Ocean Basin


India after the Fall of The Gupta Dynasty

n  Invasion of White Huns from Central Asia beginning 451 CE

n  Gupta State collapsed mid-6th c. n  Chaos in northern India

q  Local power struggles q  Invasions of Turkish nomads, absorbed into Indian

society


King Harsha (r. 606-648 CE)

n  Temporary restoration of unified rule in north India n  Religiously tolerant

q  Buddhist by faith n  Generous support for poor n  Patron of the arts

q  Wrote three plays n  Assassinated, no successor able to retain control


Introduction of Islam to Northern India

n  Arabs conquer Sind (north-west India), 711 n  Heterodox population, but held by Abbasid

dynasty to 1258


Merchants and Islam

n  Arabic trade with India predates Islam n  Dominated trade between India and the west to

15th century n  Established local communities in India

q  E.g. Cambay


Mahmud of Ghazni

n  Raids into India, 1001-1027 n  Plunders, destroys Hindu and Buddhist temples

q  Often builds mosques atop ruins


The Sultanate of Delhi

n  Consolidation of Mahmud’s raiding territory n  Capital: Delhi n  Ruled northern India 1206-1526 n  Weak administrative structure

q  Reliance on cooperation of Hindu kings n  19 out of 35 Sultans assassinated


Hindu Kingdoms of Southern India

n  Chola Kingdom, 850-1267 q  Maritime power q  Not highly centralized

n  Kingdom of Vijayanagar q  Northern Deccan q  Originally supported by

Sultanate of Delhi q  Leaders renounce Islam in

1336 q  Yet maintain relations with

Sultantate


Agriculture in the Monsoon World

n  Spring/summer: rains, wind from south-west n  Fall/winter: dry season, wind from north-east n  Seasonal irrigation crucial to avoid drought,

famine q  Especially southern India

n  Massive construction of reservoirs, canals, tunnels


The trading world of the Indian Ocean basin, 600-1600 C.E.


Population Growth in India

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

600 CE 800 CE 1000 CE 1500 CE

Millions


Trade and Economic Development in Southern India n  Indian regional economies largely self-sufficient n  Certain products traded throughout subcontinent

q  Iron, copper, salt, pepper n  Southern India profits from political instability in

north


Temples and Indian Society

n  More than religious centers n  Center of coordination of irrigation, other

agricultural work q  Some Temples had large landholdings

n  Education providers n  Banking services


Cross-Cultural Trade in the Indian Ocean Basin n  Trade increases in post-classical period n  Larger ships

q  Dhows, junks n  Improved organization of agricultural efforts n  Establishment of Emporia

q  Cosmopolitan port cities serve as warehouses for trade n  Specialized products developed (cotton, high-carbon

steel)


The Kingdom of Axum

n  Example of trade-driven development n  Founded 1st c. CE

q  Adopted Christianity n  Displaces Kush as Egyptian link to the south

q  Axum destroys Kushan capital Meroë c. 360 CE q  Major territorial expansion to late 6th c.


Obelisk at Axum


Challenges to Caste and Society

n  Migrations n  Growth of Islam n  Urbanization n  Economic development

q  Development of Jati (subcastes) q  Similar to worker’s guilds

n  Caste system expands from north to south n  Promoted by Temples, educational system


Decline of Buddhism

n  Buddhism displaced as Turkish invasions destroy holy sites, temples

n  1196 Muslim forces destroy library of Nalanda q  Thousands of monks exiled


Development of Hinduism

n  Growth of devotional cults q  Esp. Vishnu, Shiva

n  Promise of salvation n  Especially popular in southern India, spreads to

north


Devotional Philosophers

n  Shankara, Brahmin philosopher of 9th c. CE q  Devotee of Shiva q  Synthesized Hindu writings in Platonic form q  Preferred rigorous logical analysis to emotional devotion

n  Ramanuja, Brahmin philosopher 11th-early 12th c. q  Challenges Shankara’s emphasis on intellect q  Laid philosophical foundations of contemporary Hinduism


Conversion to Islam

n  25 million converts by 1500 (1/4 of total population)

n  Possibilities of social advancement for lower-caste Hindus q  Rarely achieved: whole castes or jatis convert, social

status remains consistent


Sufis

n  Personal, emotional, devotional approaches to Islam

n  Important missionaries of Islam to India n  Some flexibility regarding local customs


The Bhakti Movement

n  Attempt to bring Hinduism and Islam closer together

n  12th c. southern Hindu movement, spread to north n  Guru Kabir (1440-1518)

q  Taught that Shiva, Vishnu, Allah all manifestations of one Deity

q  Largely unsuccessful


Indian Influence in Southeast Asia

n  Influence dates from 500 BCE n  Evidence of Indian ideas and traditions

q  Kingship q  Religions (Hinduism, Buddhism) q  Literature

n  Caste system not as influential


Early States of Southeast Asia

n  Funan q  Lower Mekong River,

1st-6th c. CE

n  Kingdom of Srivijaya q  Centered in Sumatra,

670-1025 CE

n  Kingdom of Angkor q  Cambodia, 889-1431 CE q  Magnificent religious city

complexes


Later states of Southeast Asia: Angkor, Singosari, and Majapahit, 889-1520 C.E.


Islam in Southeast Asia

n  Early populations of Muslim traders n  Increasing popularity with Sufi activity n  Many convert, retain some Hindu or Buddhist

traditions


State of Melaka

n  Founded late 14th c. CE by rebellious prince of Sumatra

n  Dominated maritime trade routes n  Mid-15th c. converts to Islam

16. India and The Ocean Basin - LPSwp.lps.org/tlarson/files/2013/08/Chapter-16.pdf · The Bhakti...

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