Post-Classical India

Political HistoryModern Indian states

Political HistoryI. Post-Classical A. Kingdom of Harsha (606-

648) 1. occupied northern India a. Magadha, Kashmir,

Sind, and Gujarat 2. Devout Buddhist, but tolerant of other faiths. 3. Forged alliances with

local rulers.

4. After his death, the empire returned to decentralization.

Kingdom of Harsha

II. Regional Kingdoms A. Kingdoms in North & South

1. Region not unified 2. small regional kingdoms were standard

B. Large Kingdoms (Delhi Sultanate, Chola, &

Vijayanagar) Decentralised 1. no centralized bureaucracy 2. lots of regional autonomy for states

Political History

Foreign & Maritime Trade

Trade extended from Africa to Melaka (Malaysia) & China Indian port cities (Cambay,

Calicut) become major marketplaces (emporia)

Dhow (India) & Junk (China) primary vessels religion, culture diffused

across Indian Ocean

replaces Silk Road as major trade conduitChinese junk

Lateen Sails

Monsoons Monsoons -- Seasonal rains followed by drought

necessitated irrigation programs -- esp. in South North had established irrigation dating to Harappan

Monsoon currents & winds dictated maritime trade Merchants traveled to minimise time in port cities Indian cities become hub of Asian Maritime trade -- esp..

Cambay Cities developed foreign quarters for merchants (ex.

Chinatown in SF)

Agriculture & Demographic Changes

South India few rivers, undeveloped hydro-technology dams, reservoirs,

canals costs agricultural output

food population population

urbanizationFormation of guilds necessitate restructuring of the caste system

Internal Trade & Temple life

expansion of internal trade regional specialisation goods made in one region

traded in other parts of India

$$$ from trade & agriculture $$$ devoted to religion & temple construction power of temples (social,

economic & political) size of land & #people

working temple lands similar to Medieval

monasteries in Europe

Brihadeswarar temple

Specialization & Caste

urbanisation specialization

new occupations for artisans, merchants, peasants guilds

Problem caste not equipped to handle diverse occupations

develope sub-caste (jatis) w/in the varna new occupations = jatis jatis organised hierarchically w/in

varna non-Hindu in occupations

absorbed into jatis strengthened caste in S. India

Caste with jatis

Production & Trade Monsoons regimented maritime trade

affected weather patterns in South

Irrigation & impact of agricultural goods restructuring of caste

internal trade & influence of Temples

foreign maritime trade ChinaMelaka India Africa & E. Asia

Dhow in modern India

Islam & the Sind Umayyad Arabs extend

empire to Sind (modern Pakistan & Afghanistan) later under Abbasid control largely self-governing tribute state

Rapid spread of Islam into region

merchants & Sufi mysticssome conflict between Hindu & MuslimsSufi Kwajad Khidr traveling to bring the

words of the Prophet to India

Diffusion of Belief Systems

SocialI. The Spread of Islam A. military force 1. Arab conquest of Sind-711 2. impact of conquest

B. merchants to region - gradual

1. north more than south a. why? 2. impacted society &

caste a. how?

SocialC. migrations of 10th century 1. Turkish speaking

peoples from Central Asia

2. Mahmud of Ghazni a. nature of invasion b. impact on Buddhism c. degree of success

http://wps.pearsoncustom.com/wps/media/objects/2426/2484749/chap_assets/flash/ch7/index.html

The Diffusion of Religion

Mahmud & the Ghazni Turks

Ghazni Turks invade India (1001-27) from Caspian Sea led by Mahmud come to plunder temples &

palaces

devout Muslims intolerant to other religions destroyed Buddhist & Hindu

temple not popular

later develops into Delhi SultanateMahmud receives gift of a robe from the Abbasid caliph

Merchants & Islam

Merchants bring Islam to coastal India influential in Gujurat &

coastal cities like Cambay

Turkish migrations & invasions bring Islam Anatolia, Caspian & Aral

Sea

Persian merchants dining (Ajanta Caves)

Delhi Sultanate

(1206-1526 C.E. )

Period of greatest Muslim expansion in India use of jizya spurred

conversion by many Hindu & Buddhists to Islam

Controlled N. India little central authority no perm. bureaucracy relied on regional Hindu kings

to keep power in north heavy resistance from C.

India many Sultans fell to

assassins

Southern India -- Hindu thru & thru

Chola Kingdom-most prominent (850-1267 C.E.) expanded into Sri Lanka & SE

Asia (Burma, Thailand, Cambodia)

De-centralised w/regional autonomy local rulers expected to collect

taxes & maintain order Vijayanagar Empire (1336-1565

C.E.)

brothers converted from Islam to Hinduism

De-centralised rule religious tolerance

Shiva Mural from Vijayanagar Temple

Hindu & Islamic Interaction

Southern India (Chola) most dynamic spread of major movements from South North Temple life & influence greater major religious thinkers

Cult of Vishnu & ShivaHindu thought -- Shankara & RamanunjaKabir & bhakti - reconciling Islam & Hinduism

Hinduism & Devotional Cults

importance of Buddhism Hinduism & Islam replace

devotional cults in Hinduism promised salvation, esp..

Vishnu & Shiva Vishnu - preserver Shiva - fertility & destroyer

Originally in south moves north

Shankara - Shiva devotee life is illusion, beyond senses must rely on logic to

understand God Ramanuja - Vishnu devotee

personal relationship w/God paramount

Chola-Dancing Shiva

Chola-Cosmic Vishnu with 18 Arms

Islam & the Bhakti Movement

Islam appeals to lowers castes & harijan

Sufi mystics most effective missonaries allowed elements of old faiths

to continue (syncretism) stressed piety & devotion

attractive to devotional Hindu

Bhakti movement eliminate distinction btw. Islam & Hinduism Guru Kabir Vishnu, Shiva,

Allah=one, universal deity Like Sufism, Bhakti movement

promoted values to bridge differences

Kabir -- Blind Poet, Weaver & Guru of Bhakti movement

Diffusion of Indian Society in SE Asia

Indian influence in SE Asia Funan & Angkor

Islam in SE Asia Melaka

Angkor Wat (Cambodia) -- Devas Vasuli & Asparas (Indian deities). Shows distinct Indian influence

India as a model in SE Asia

Indian merchants common in SE Asia since 4th century B.C.E.

Local rulers adopt Indian political & cultural traditions Indian model of kingship sponsor Hinduism, later

Buddhism eschewed caste system

Funan (c. 2nd-6th century) used Sanskrit & adopted

Hinduism Srivijaya (c. 670-1025 C.E.)

powerful navy - used to collect taxes from passing ships

to India

Portage across Isthmus of Kra

to India

Collected tolls from passing ships

Angkor (889-1431 C.E.)

Largest kingdom in SE Asia capital Angkor Thom

Embraced Buddhism still retained ancient deities

Built temples incorporating Hindu & Buddhist elements (Angkor Thom & Angkor Wat)

Khmer abandon Angkor after Thai invasions in 15th century

Angkor Thom -- Temple entrance

Temple of Vishnu at Angkor Wat (Cambodia)

Islam in SE Asia (13th-16th century)

Muslim merchants from India most common transmitters some from Persia & Arabia Sufi missionaries

Local converts often Hinduism, Buddhism &/or kept local deities

Melaka-once pirate state, forms powerful legitimate state. ruling elite converts to &

sponsors expansion of Islam control of seaways eases

expansion of Islam to Sumatra, Java & north to the Philippines

Putrajaya Mosque - Melaka (Malaysia)

Summary of Postclassical India

Major Trade & Cultural centre for Asia connects Africa & W. Asia w/China

Regional Kingdoms De-centralised N. IndiaMuslim rule & Influence S. IndiaHindu rule & Influence spreads to North syncretism (bhakti movement)

Diffusion of Indian culture & politics to SE Asia Funan & Angkor Syncretic fusion of local & Indian religions

SE Asia control trade btw. China & India Melaka controlled trade, charged tolls Conversion to Islam sponsored expansion

PART 1 – Questions for Analysis1. How did India manage to exert such a significant influence on other cultures in the Indian Ocean basin during this era without ever establishing any long-term centralized political institutions?

2. Compare the influence India had on Southeast Asia to other influential societies studied earlier (e.g., Greece, China, Byzantium, etc.). Are there any similarities? In what ways was Indian influence different?

PART 2 – Making Connections a. Shankara & Cicero (ch.11) b. the caste system & Islam