Invasion of White Huns from Central Asia beginning 451 CE.Gupta State collapsed mid-6th c.Chaos in northern India.Local power struggles.Invasions of Turkish nomads, absorbed into Indian society
King Harsha (r. 606-648 CE)
Temporary restoration of unified rule in north India.Religiously tolerant.Buddhist by faith.Generous support for poor.Patron of the arts.Wrote three plays.Assassinated, no successor able to retain control.
Introduction of Islam to Northern India
Arabs conquer Sind (north-west India), 711.Heterodox population, but held by Abbasid dynasty to 1258.
Merchants and Islam
Arabic trade with India predates Islam.Dominated trade between India and the west to 15th century.Established local communities in India.E.g. Cambay
Mahmud of Ghazni
Raids into India, 1001-1027.Plunders, destroys Hindu and Buddhist temples.Often builds mosques atop ruins.
The Sultanate of Delhi
Consolidation of Mahmud’s raiding territory.Capital: Delhi.Ruled northern India 1206-1526.Weak administrative structure.Reliance on cooperation of Hindu kings.19 out of 35 Sultans assassinated.
Hindu Kingdoms of Southern India
Chola Kingdom, 850-1267.Maritime power.Not highly centralized.
Kingdom of Vijayanagar
Northern Deccan.Originally supported by Sultanate of Delhi.Leaders renounce Islam in 1336.Yet maintain relations with Sultantate.
Agriculture in the Monsoon World
Spring/summer: rains, wind from south-west.Fall/winter: dry season, wind from north-east.Seasonal irrigation crucial to avoid drought, famine.Especially southern India.Massive construction of reservoirs, canals, tunnels.
The Essay on The Status Of Women In India
India is a large country that makes up most of South Asia, and has been inhabited by settlers for many millennia, even before Aryan tribes from the northwest infiltrated the Indian subcontinent around 1500 B.C. . Throughout this enormous time period, many changes have occurred in their way of life, with the roots of discrimination against women lie in the religious and cultural practices of India ...
Trade and Economic Development in Southern India.
Indian regional economies largely self-sufficient.Certain products traded throughout subcontinent.Iron, copper, salt, pepper.Southern India profits from political instability in north.
Temples and Indian Society
More than religious centers.Center of coordination of irrigation, other agricultural work.Some Temples had large landholdings.Education providers.Banking services.
Cross-Cultural Trade in the Indian Ocean Basin.
Trade increases in post-classical period.Larger ships.Dhows, junks.Improved organization of agricultural efforts.Establishment of Emporia.Cosmopolitan port cities serve as warehouses for trade.Specialized products developed (cotton, high-carbon steel).
The Kingdom of Axum
Example of trade-driven development.Founded 1st c. CE.Adopted Christianity .Displaces Kush as Egyptian link to the south.Axum destroys Kushan capital Meroë c. 360 CE.Major territorial expansion to late 6th c.
Challenges to Caste and Society
Migrations.Growth of Islam.Urbanization.Economic development.Development of Jati (subcastes).Similar to worker’s guilds.Caste system expands from north to south.Promoted by Temples, educational system.
Decline of Buddhism
Buddhism displaced as Turkish invasions destroy holy sites, temples.1196 Muslim forces destroy library of Nalanda.Thousands of monks exiled.
Development of Hinduism
Growth of devotional cults.Esp. Vishnu, Shiva.Promise of salvation.Especially popular in southern India, spreads to north.
Devotional Philosophers
Shankara, Brahmin philosopher -of 9th c. CE.Devotee of Shiva.Synthesized Hindu writings in Platonic form.Preferred rigorous logical analysis to emotional devotion.
Ramanuja, Brahmin philosopher -11th-early 12th c.Challenges Shankara’s emphasis on intellect.Laid philosophical foundations of contemporary Hinduism.
Conversion to Islam
25 million converts by 1500 (1/4 of total population).Possibilities of social advancement for lower-caste Hindus.Rarely achieved: whole castes or jatis convert, social status remains consistent.
The Term Paper on Indian Caste System part 1
Indian Caste System The social function of the caste system in Indian culture was too ensure that the wealthy and powerful maintained their high social status and standard of living by making sure that the wealth was unevenly distributed. The members of the upper castes were lucky to inherit a perfect system that was started by the Nomadic Aryans who headed south into what is know as India today. ...
Sufis
Personal, emotional, devotional approaches to Islam.Important missionaries of Islam to India.Some flexibility regarding local customs.
The Bhakti Movement
Attempt to bring Hinduism and Islam closer together.12th c. southern Hindu movement, spread to north
Guru Kabir (1440-1.518)
Taught that Shiva, Vishnu, Allah all manifestations of one Deity.Largely unsuccessful..
Indian Influence in Southeast Asia
Influence dates from 500 BCE.Evidence of Indian ideas and traditions.Kingship.Religions (Hinduism, Buddhism).Literature.Caste system not as influential.
Early States of Southeast Asia
*Funan- Lower Mekong River, 1st-6th c. CE
*Kingdom of Srivijaya- Centered in Sumatra, 670-1025 CE
*Kingdom of Angkor-Cambodia, 889-1431 CE.Magnificent religious city complexes.
Islam in Southeast Asia
Early populations of Muslim traders.Increasing popularity with Sufi activity.Many convert, retain some Hindu or Buddhist traditions.
State of Melaka
Founded late 14th c. CE by rebellious prince of Sumatra.Dominated maritime trade routes.Mid-15th c. converts to Islam.
