India and the Indian Ocean Basin 1

India After the Fall of the Gupta Dynasty Invasion of White Huns from central Asia beginning 451 C.E. Invasion of White Huns from central Asia beginning 451 C.E. Gupta state collapsed mid- sixth century Gupta state collapsed mid- sixth century Chaos in northern India Chaos in northern India  Local power struggles  Invasions of Turkish nomads, absorbed into Indian society 2

King Harsha ( r C. E.) Temporary restoration of unified rule in north India Temporary restoration of unified rule in north India Religiously tolerant Religiously tolerant  Buddhist by faith Generous support for poor Generous support for poor Patron of the arts Patron of the arts  Wrote three plays Assassinated, no successor able to retain control Assassinated, no successor able to retain control 3

Introduction of Islam to Northern India Arabs conquer Sindh (northwest India), 711 C.E. Arabs conquer Sindh (northwest India), 711 C.E. Sindh stood at the fringe of the Islamic world Sindh stood at the fringe of the Islamic world Heterodox population, but held by Abbasid dynasty to 1258 C.E. Heterodox population, but held by Abbasid dynasty to 1258 C.E. 4

Merchants and Islam Arabic trade with India predates Islam Arabic trade with India predates Islam Dominated trade between India and the west to fifteenth century Dominated trade between India and the west to fifteenth century Established local communities in India Established local communities in India  Port city of Cambay 5

Mahmud of Ghazni Leader of the Turks in Afghanistan Leader of the Turks in Afghanistan Raids into India, Raids into India, Plunders, destroys Hindu and Buddhist temples Plunders, destroys Hindu and Buddhist temples  Often builds mosques atop ruins 6

The Sultanate of Delhi Consolidation of Mahmud’s raiding territory Consolidation of Mahmud’s raiding territory Capital: Delhi Capital: Delhi Ruled northern India Ruled northern India Weak administrative structure Weak administrative structure Nineteen out of thirty- five sultans assassinated Nineteen out of thirty- five sultans assassinated 7

Hindu Kingdoms of Southern India Chola kingdom, C.E. Chola kingdom, C.E.  Maritime power  Not highly centralized Kingdom of Vijayanagar Kingdom of Vijayanagar  Mid-fourteenth century to 1565  Northern Deccan  Originally supported by sultanate of Delhi  Leaders renounce Islam in 1336  Yet maintain relations with sultanate 8

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Agriculture in the Monsoon World Spring/summer: rains, wind from southwest Spring/summer: rains, wind from southwest Fall/winter: dry season, wind from northeast Fall/winter: dry season, wind from northeast Seasonal irrigation crucial to avoid drought, famine Seasonal irrigation crucial to avoid drought, famine  Especially southern India Massive construction of reservoirs, canals, tunnels Massive construction of reservoirs, canals, tunnels 10

11 The Trading World of the Indian Ocean Basin, C. E.

Population Growth in India 12

Trade and Economic Development in Southern India Indian regional economies largely self-sufficient Indian regional economies largely self-sufficient Certain products traded throughout subcontinent Certain products traded throughout subcontinent  Iron, copper, salt, pepper Southern India profits from political instability in north Southern India profits from political instability in north 13

Temples and Indian Society More than religious centers More than religious centers Center of coordination of irrigation, other agricultural work Center of coordination of irrigation, other agricultural work  Some temples had large landholdings Education providers Education providers Banking services Banking services 14

Cross - Cultural Trade in the Indian Ocean Basin Trade increases in postclassical period Trade increases in postclassical period Larger ships Larger ships Improved organization of agricultural efforts Improved organization of agricultural efforts Establishment of emporia Establishment of emporia  Cosmopolitan port cities serve as warehouses for trade Specialized products developed (Steel = Iron + Carbon) Specialized products developed (Steel = Iron + Carbon) 15

The Kingdom of Axum Example of trade-driven development Example of trade-driven development Founded in the highlands of northern Ethiopia about first century C.E. Founded in the highlands of northern Ethiopia about first century C.E.  Adopted Christianity Displaces Kush as Egyptian link to the south Displaces Kush as Egyptian link to the south  Axum destroys Kushan capital Meroë ca. 360 C.E.  Major territorial expansion to late sixth century 16

Caste Survives Societal Change 1. Migrations 2. Growth of Islam 3. Urbanization 4. Economic development A. Development of jati (subcastes) B. Similar to workers’ guilds Caste system expands from north to south Caste system expands from north to south Promoted by temples, educational system Promoted by temples, educational system 17

Decline of Buddhism Buddhism displaced as Turkish invasions destroy holy sites, temples Buddhism displaced as Turkish invasions destroy holy sites, temples 1196, Muslim forces destroy library of Nalanda 1196, Muslim forces destroy library of Nalanda Not compatible with merchant culture Not compatible with merchant culture 18

Development of Hinduism Growth of devotional cults Growth of devotional cults  Especially Vishnu, Shiva Promise of salvation Promise of salvation Especially popular in southern India, spreads to north Especially popular in southern India, spreads to north 19

Devotional Philosophers Shankara, brahmin philosopher of ninth century C.E. Shankara, brahmin philosopher of ninth century C.E.  Preferred rigorous logical analysis to emotional devotion Ramanuja, brahmin philosopher eleventh to early twelfth century Ramanuja, brahmin philosopher eleventh to early twelfth century  Challenges Shankara’s emphasis on logic  Laid philosophical foundations of contemporary Hinduism 20

Conversion to Islam Twenty-five million converts by 1500 (quarter of total population) Twenty-five million converts by 1500 (quarter of total population) Possibilities of social advancement for lower- caste Hindus Possibilities of social advancement for lower- caste Hindus  Rarely achieved: whole castes or jati convert, social status remains consistent 21

Sufis Personal, emotional, devotional approaches to Islam Personal, emotional, devotional approaches to Islam Important missionaries of Islam to India Important missionaries of Islam to India Some flexibility regarding local customs Some flexibility regarding local customs 22

Indian Influence in Southeast Asia ( Modern day — Vietnam, Cambodia, Dakar, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand ) Influence dates from 500 B.C.E. Influence dates from 500 B.C.E. Evidence of Indian ideas and traditions Evidence of Indian ideas and traditions  Kingship  Religions (Hinduism, Buddhism)  Literature Caste system not as influential Caste system not as influential 23

Islam in Southeast Asia Early populations of Muslim traders Early populations of Muslim traders Increasing popularity with Sufi activity Increasing popularity with Sufi activity Many convert, retain some Hindu or Buddhist traditions Many convert, retain some Hindu or Buddhist traditions 24