1. Shiva
Chapter 16:
India and the
Indian Ocean Basin

2. Overview
The Indian Ocean basin developed into a vast zone of communication and exchange
China and southeast Asian states on one side, African city-states on the other side and India in the middle.

3. Overview
During the postclassical period there emerged in India no long-lasting imperial authority, as there were in China and the Islamic world.
Regional kingdoms were the norm.
Nevertheless, Indian society exerted a profound influence on the cultures of south and Southeast Asia.
Through the extensive trade networks of the Indian Ocean basin, Indian forms of political organization, religion, and economic practices spread throughout the region.
Several developments in India during this era gradually spread throughout the larger culture zone.

4. Overview
Dramatic agricultural growth fueled population growth and urbanization.
These phenomena, combined with specialized industrial production and trade, resulted in unprecedented economic growth for the region.

5. Overview
India's central position in the Indian Ocean basin resulted in it becoming a major clearinghouse for products of the voluminous maritime trade network that encompassed east Africa, Arabia, Persia, Southeast Asia, and Malaysia as well as the entire Indian subcontinent.

6. Overview
Islam originally appeared in India through a variety of conduits, and it eventually became the primary religion of one quarter of the population.
From India, Islam, along with Hinduism and Buddhism, spread to Southeast Asia and the nearby islands

7. India after the Fall of The Gupta Dynasty
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

8. Hinduism and Buddhism and architecture
Dedicated to Vishnu. Angkor Wat (Cambodia) portrays the Hindu cosmology, with the central towers representing Mount Meru, home of the gods; the outer walls, the mountains enclosing the world; and the moat, the oceans beyond. Later made Buddhist 12th century

9. Role of the Caste
Caste provided guidance in absence of centralized political authority
Caste helped to integrate immigrants (Turks, Muslim merchants) into Indian society

10. Religion in India
Hinduism predominated in southern India, Islam in the north
Vishnu and Shiva
Decline of Buddhism benefited Hinduism
The growth of Vishnu and Shiva cults (and other gods associated with them)
Devotional cults: to achieve mystic union with gods as a way of salvation
Shankara: philosopher (ninth century) who preferred disciplined logical reasoning
Ramanuja: philosopher (eleventh and twelfth centuries) believed that understanding of ultimate reality was less important than devotion

11. Religion in India
How would Vishnu and Shiva cults assist in the adoption of Islam in India?

12. King Harsha (r 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

13. Harsha's empire at its greatest extent.

14. Introduction of Islam to Northern India
Arabs conquer Sind (north-west India), 711
Sind stood at the fringe of the Islamic world
held by Abbasid dynasty to 1258

16. Islam and India Conversion to Islam occurred in a slow and gradual way
Helped by sufis and bhakti movement (sought to erase differences between Islam and Hinduism)
Some converted for improving their lower social statuses
Often an entire caste or sub caste adopted Islam en masse
By 1500, about 25 million Indian Muslims (1/4 of population)
Sufis
The most effective missionaries, they had a devotional approach to Islam
Permitted followers to observe old rituals and venerate old spirits
Emphasized piety and devotion
The bhakti movement
Sought to erase distinction between Hinduism and Islam
Guru Kabir ( ), important bhakti teacher, taught that Shiva, Vishnu, and Allah were one deity

17. Merchants and Islam Arabic trade with India predates Islam
Dominated trade between India and the west to 15th century
Established local communities in India
Port city of Cambay

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

19. The Sultanate of Delhi Consolidation of Mahmud’s raiding territory
Capital: Delhi
Ruled northern India
Weak administrative structure
Reliance on cooperation of Hindu kings
19 out of 35 Sultans assassinated

20. Historical map of the Delhi sultanate

21. Hindu Kingdoms of Southern India
Major states of Postclassical India CE
Chola Kingdom,
Maritime power
Not highly centralized
Kingdom of Vijayanagar
Mid-fourteenth century
Northern Deccan
Originally supported by Sultanate of Delhi
Leaders renounce Islam in 1336
Yet maintain relations with Sultantate

22. 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
Hindu temples often helped with these projects

23. Dhow--They often sail south with the monsoon in winter or early spring, and back again to Arabia in late spring or early summer.

24. Junk from China—similar to Dhows

25. The trading world of the Indian Ocean basin, 600-1600 CE—best time to travel = December

26. Population Growth in India

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

28. 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

29. 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)

30. The Kingdom of Axum Example of trade-driven development
Founded in the highlands of northern Ethiopia about 1st c. CE
Adopted Christianity
Resisted Islam, likely due to prosperity through trade
Displaces Kush as Egyptian link to the south
Axum destroys Kushan capital Meroë c. 360 CE
Major territorial expansion to late 6th c.

31. The Kingdom of Axum (Aksum)
Port of Adulis

34. Obelisk at Axum
Stone obelisk towers served to mark graves or represent a magnificent building.

35. 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

36. Decline of Buddhism
Buddhism displaced as Turkish invasions destroy holy sites, temples
1196 Muslim forces destroy library of Nalanda
Thousands of monks exiled

37. Development of Hinduism
Growth of devotional cults
Esp. Vishnu, Shiva
Promise of salvation
Especially popular in southern India, spreads to north

38. Images of Vishnu From Around the World

39. Images of Shiva From Around the World

40. 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

41. 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

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

43. The Bhakti Movement
Attempt to bring Hinduism and Islam closer together
12th c. southern Hindu movement, spread to north
Guru Kabir ( )
Taught that Shiva, Vishnu, Allah all manifestations of one Deity
Largely unsuccessful

44. 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

45. Early States of Southeast Asia
Early states of southeast Asia: Funan and Srivijaya, CE
Funan
Lower Mekong River, 1st-6th c. CE
Kingdom of Srivijaya
Centered in Sumatra, CE
Kingdom of Angkor
Cambodia, CE
Magnificent religious city complexes

46. .
Later states of Southeast Asia: Angkor, Singosari, and Majapahit, 889 – 1520 CE

47. Islam in Southeast Asia
Early populations of Muslim traders
Increasing popularity with Sufi activity
Many convert, retain some Hindu or Buddhist traditions
Caste system never became part of Southeast Asia prior to Islam

48. State of Melaka (Malaysia)
Founded late 14th c. CE by rebellious prince of Sumatra
Powerful=Dominated maritime trade routes
Differentiated from other Indianized states in SouthEast Asia because:
Mid-15th ce. converts to Islam

49. Melaka

50. India
SPICE