post-classical india
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Post-Classical India. Political History. Modern Indian states. Political History. I. Post-Classical A. Kingdom of Harsha (606-648) 1. occupied northern India a. Magadha, Kashmir, Sind, and Gujarat 2. Devout Buddhist, but - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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
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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