Islam Spreads: India
and Southeast Asia
Islam in South Asia/India
1st Wave: INVASIONS
• 711: Muhammad ibn Qasim conquered Sind region & Indus Valley
for Umayyad
• People welcomed
•
•
•
lower taxes
religious tolerance
India influenced Islam: Math, astronomy, medicine, music, building
styles, Hindu mysticism(?)
.
2nd Wave of Invasions
• Mahmud of Ghazni- from Afghanistan took India from declining
Abbasids
• WHY? extravagant wealth of empire
• Muhammad of Ghur expanded to Bengal
• Sultans established capital at Delhi with a variety of Persian,
Turkish, Afghan until 16th century
Patterns of Conversion
• Islamic conversion was voluntary and peaceful
• Sufi mystics attractive to Buddhists, untouchables & low caste
groups
• Merchant converts improved economic relationships with Muslim
traders
We see the 3 Ms!!!
• Military- Mahmud, Delhi
• Merchants
• Missionary- Sufi’s and untouchables
Muslim v. Hindu
• Islam
•
•
•
•
•
•
Rigid
egalitarian,
stern doctrine
Monotheistic
adopted Hindu styles
marriage practices
• Hinduism:
• Absorptive
• supportive of caste
system
• responded with focus
on Bhakti mystic cults
• Most showed little
interest in Islam
Islam & SE Asia
• 8th century: Coastal trade (2nd “M”!) dominated by Muslims;
13th century: Collapse of Shrivijaya (SE Asian trading empire)
allowed Islam's entrance
• Merchants & Sufis (3rd “M”!) brought Islam to Malacca to
Malaya & Sumatra; Sufis tolerated earlier animist, Hindu &
Buddhist beliefs
• Bali & Mainland SE Asia did not convert
African Civilization &
the Spread of Islam
Chapter 8
I. African Societies
Pre-Islam
• Bantu migration
provided common
language background
• Animistic religion &
belief in naturalistic
forces; common belief
in creator deity
• Mixed Economy:
agriculture, Active
trade & Market Life
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=bantu+migration&um=1&hl=en&safe=active&sa=N&biw=1280&bih=840&tbm=isch&tbnid=qHelsCvf9NjTw
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Arrival of Islam
• Between 640-700 Muslim
conquered N. Africa;
conversion was rapid. Why?
• Equality, Political Unity attractive
to diverse Africans
• Native African Berber
Kingdoms emerged in
opposition to Arabs. Who?
• Almoravids & Almohadis became
radical Islamic movement
pushing Islam South; used jihadholy war
http://www.xtimeline.com/evt/view.aspx?id=36412
Christian Kingdoms
 Axum, Egypt & Nubia (descendents of Kush)
 Ethiopia emerged as new Christian dynasty
from Axum; struggles between Christian &
Muslim persist
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=bantu+migration&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&biw=1280&bih=840&wrapid=tlif134798651204210&surl=1&safe=active&um=
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Ghana
• There were a number of Sudanic States: Ghana
was the first large empire (trade and location)
Mali
• Economy
• Agricultural basis
• with active trade (salt, gold, etc)
• specialized trading group, juula
• Strong legal authority provided easy travel and trade
• Politics
• Sundiata attained legendary hero status
• attributed with social structure; 16 clans of free people, 5
religious clans, 4 specialized clans
• Mansa Musa’s Muslim pilgrimage gave Mali
recognition & new innovation
• Brought renown to Mali
• He brought back architect Ishak al-Sahili from Muslim
Spain
Social and Intellectual
• Towns commercial with many foreign
residents
• Cosmopolitan court of merchants, scholars
attracted by power of Sudanic states
• Timbuktu- Books were symbol of Islamic
African civilization
• 80% of villagers lived by farming with
intensive labor requiring multiple wives and
many children
Songhay Kingdom began to form in 7th century;
dominated Mali by 1370s
• Sunni Ali, excelled as commander and leader,
established askia (future Songhay leaders)
• Religion -was syncretist fusion of Islam &
pagan beliefs that encouraged strict
interpretation of Sharia law
• How was Songhai defeated?
• Songhay ruled until defeated in 1591 by a
Muslim army from Morrocco
Sudanic States: Ghana, Mali, Songhay
• Politics•
•
•
•
•
Patriarchal Leaders or Councils
Sacred Rulers associated with rituals
Ruling leaders used Islamic titles like caliph to
reinforce position
same linguistic/ethnicity
All used taxes, military support of
conquered peoples
• Religion- Islam emerges to reinforce idea of
kingship AND leaderships reinforces Islam
• Common Religion & Law provided unity
• Society
• still matrilineal
• allowed freedom of movement for women
despite Arab restriction
• Islam encouraged/spread slavery
Swahili Coast
Coastal Trading Ports
 Originally inhabited by Bantu people
 merchants from M. East, China, India
 Swahili language & cultural traits mixed
with active coastal commerce
 Islam brought to E. Africa from Indian
merchants which facilitate trade
relationships; primarily among upper
ruling merchant classes