MEDIEVAL INDIA
I.
INTRODUCTION TO INDIA IN THE MUSLIM & MONGOL DAYS
A.
GENERAL REMARKS
B.
INVADERS TO INDIA BETWEEN MAURYAN & GUPTA AGE
1.
BACTRIAN GREEKS = SURVIVORS OF ALEXANDER'S MEN
a.
WHO HAD SETTLED IN IRAN & AFGHANISTAN
2.
PARTHIANS
3.
SHAKAS
4.
KUSHANAS
5.
OVER DECADES SUBMERGED INTO MAINSTREAM OF INDIAN LIFE
C.
GUPTA AGE
1.
2ND GREAT EMPIRE IN INDIAN HX -EMERGED IN 4TH C. A.D.
2.
COVERED LARGE PART OF SUBCONTINENT
a.
THOUGH NOT AS LARGE AS MAURYAN EMPIRE
3.
ITS ADMINISTRATION NOT AS HIGHLY CENTRALIZED
4.
LASTED OVER 2 CENTURIES
5.
EMPIRE ALTERNATELY WAGED WAR & ENTERED INTO MATRIMONIAL ALLIANCE
WITH SMALLER KINGDOMS
6.
ITS BOUNDARIES KEPT FLUCTUATING WITH EACH SUCCEEDING RULER
7.
ORTHODOX HINDUISM REASSERTED ITSELF
8.
AIDED BY PATRONAGE OF RULERS TO HINDU RELIGIOUS TRADITION
9.
LITTLE EVIDENCE USE OF VIOLENCE USED TO REESTABLISH SUPREMACY OF
HINDUISM
10.
EVIDENCE OF CHINESE TRAVELLER - FA HSIEN
a.
WHO CAME TO INDIA IN BEGINNING OF 5TH C.
b.
THAT BUDDHISTS & BRAHMINS LIVED IN PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE
II.
ISLAM COMES TO INDIA
A.
INTRODUCTION
1.
AS EARLY AS 10TH C. MOSLEMS IN SIND AREA OF INDIA
2.
BEGINNING IN 11TH C. ISLAMIC GROUPS
a.
MOSTLY TURKS FROM AFGHANISTAN
(1)
RAIDED NORTHERN INDIA
3.
BEGAN ABOUT 3 CENTURIES OF MOSLEM RULE
4.
WHEN NEW STATE ESTABLISHED IN 1206
a.
BECAME KNOWN AS DELHI SULTANATE
b.
CENTERED FORM DELHI
(1)
CAPITAL OF MODERN INDIA
5.
BY 1ST QUARTER OF 13TH C. SULTANATE BROUGHT GREATER PART OF INDIA
UNDER DIRECT OR INDIRECT CONTROL
a.
ALTHOUGH TERRITORIAL BOUNDARIES KEPT FLUCTUATING
6.
DURING 320 YEARS OF ITS EXISTENCE
a.
THRONE OF DELHI SULTANATE CHANGED HANDS AMONG 6 DYNASTIES
B.
ECONOMIC STRUCTURE OF SULTANATES
1.
LAND REVENUE LEGALLY FIXED AT HALF PRODUCE
2.
SOLDIERS & OFFICERS ASSIGNED TERRITORIES TO COLLECT REVENUE
a.
THAT EQUALLED THEIR ANNUAL SALARY
3.
OTHER HIGH OFFICIALS GIVEN CHARGE OF LARGE TERRITORIES
a.
WERE TO COLLECT REVENUE
b.
MAINTAIN ARMY
c.
LOOK AFTER LAW & ORDER
4.
ABOUT 6% OF STATE REVENUE GIVEN TO CHARITY
a.
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS
b.
PIOUS INDIVIDUALS
2
5.
C.
D.
E.
WHILE IT MAY LOOK LIKE FEUDAL EUROPE
a.
SOME CRUCIAL DIFFERENCES
(1)
ASSIGNEES HAD NO RIGHT OVER LAND
(2)
LAND BELONGED TO PEASANTS
(3)
ASSIGNEES COLLECTED REVENUE DUE STATE
(4)
OFFICIALS OR ASSIGNEES TRANSFERRED EVERY 3-4 YEARS TO NEW
AREA TO HANDLE
(5)
THIS WAY COULD NOT BECOME ENTRENCHED IN LOCAL ROOTS
(6)
& GAINING PERSONAL CONTROL OVER ADMINISTRATIVE
APPARATUS
6.
SO GROWTH OF PERMANENT LANDED ARISTOCRACY
a.
WITH ITS POWER BASED ON CONTROL OVER LAND
b.
CLEVERLY PREVENTED RIGHT DOWN TO 19TH C.
7.
ONLY UNDER AEGIS OF COLONIAL RULE SUCH CLASS TOOK ROOT IN INDIA
DECLINE OF SULTANATE
1.
BREAK UP OF DELHI SULTANATE BEGAN IN 2ND QUARTER 14TH C.
2.
DURING REIGN OF MUHAMMAD BIN TUGHLAQ
a.
HIS 26 YEAR REIGN MARKED BY 15 REBELLIONS OF HIS NOBLES
3.
OVER TIME REGIONS WOULD SEVERE THEIR TIES WITH SULTANS OF DELHI
a.
& ESTABLISH INDEPENDENT KINGDOMS
4.
REMAINDER OF EMPIRE MUCH WEAKENED
a.
PROVIDED IRRESISTIBLE TEMPTATION TO ANY CENTRAL ASIAN
ADVENTURER WITH STRONG ARMY TO INVADE INDIA FOR PLUNDER
5.
MOST DEVASTATING OF THESE PLUNDERING RAIDS LED BY
a.
TIMUR IN 1398
TAMERLANE 1336-1405 - TAMUR THE LAME
1.
MOST INFLUENTIAL CENTRAL ASIAN MILITARY LEADER OF MIDDLE AGES
2.
PUT VIKING BESERKERS, ALEXANDER THE GREAT, CHARLEMAGNE & GENGHIS
KHAN TOGETHER & YOU GET TAMERLANE
3.
HE CLAIMED DESCENT FROM GENGHIS KHAN
4.
BORN IN WHAT TODAY IS UZBEKISTAN
5.
NAME GIVEN WHEN
a.
GOT ARROW WOUNDS IN BATTLE WHILE STEALING SHEEP IN HIS 20'S
b.
LEFT HIM LAME IN RIGHT LEG
c.
W/STIFF RIGHT ARM
d.
FOR REST OF LIFE
6.
HE MADE LIGHT OF THESE DISABILITIES
7.
EXTRAORDINARY INTELLIGENCE
a.
INTUITIVE TOO
8.
DID NOT READ OR WRITE
HIS CONQUESTS
1.
HIS ARMY HUGH CONGLOMERATION OF DIFFERENT PEOPLES & RELIGIONS
a.
MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS
b.
TURKS, ARABS, INDIANS, GEORGIANS
2.
CONQUESTS LEGENDARY FOR THEIR EXTENT & SUCCESS
3.
BUT ALSO FOR THEIR FEROCITY & MASSACRES
4.
FOLLOWING CAMPAIGN IN INDIA HE ACQUIRED ELEPHANT CORPS
5.
TOOK THEM BACK TO SAMARKAND TO BUILD MOSQUES & TOMBS
6.
DID SO MUCH DAMAGE IN DELHI TOOK MORE THAN 100 YEARS FOR IT TO
RETURN TO PREINVASION STATURE
7.
PUT 100,000 CAPTURED INDIAN SOLDIERS TO DEATH
8.
RESTORED FORMER MONGOL EMPIRE OF GENGHIS KHAN
a.
BUT WAS NOT GOOD AT ADMINISTRATION & IT SOON DISINTEGRATED
9.
CONQUERED WHAT TODAY COUNTRIES OF
a.
IRAQ
3
F.
III.
b.
IRAN
c.
AFGHANISTAN
d.
PAKISTAN
e.
UZBEKISTAN
f.
WESTERN INDIA
g.
OTTOMAN TURKS
CONSEQUENCES
1.
HE DIED STILL IN THE SADDLE CONQUERING AROUND 70
2.
ALMOST CONQUERED CHINA TOO
3.
LEFT LEGACY OF NOMADIC PILLAGING & CONQUEST
4.
HAD GRAND PLAN TO REACTIVATE SILK ROAD
MUGHAL EMPIRE
A.
GENERAL REMARKS
1.
DESCENDANT OF TIMUR & GENGHIS KHAN
a.
UZBEK PRINCE - ZAHIRUDDIN MOHAMMED BABUR
b.
FOUNDER OF MUGHAL EMPIRE
c.
BABUR GRANDSON OF TAMERLANE & ON HIS MOTHER'S SIDE GENGHIS
KHAN
2.
DURING REIGN OF HIS GRANDSON AKBAR
a.
WHO RULED OVER PRACTICALLY WHOLE OF NORTH INDIA & PARTS OF
SOUTH FROM 1556-1605
(1)
BASIC INSTITUTIONS & POLICIES OF EMPIRE FRAMED
3.
MOGUL MISPRONUNCIATION OF MONGOL
B.
AKBAR - 16TH C.
1.
CONTEMPORARY OF ELIZABETH 1 OF ENGLAND
2.
ASCENDING THRONE AT AGE 13
3.
& WOULD RULE FOR ABOUT 60 YEARS
4.
NEXT 4 YEARS TYPICAL ADOLESCENT
5.
AT AGE 17 TOOK FULL CHARGE OF KINGDOM
6.
AKBAR REALIZED NEED SUPPORT OF LOCAL RULING GROUPS
7.
BEGAN ALTERING PREDOMINANTLY ALIEN CHARACTER OF NOBILITY
a.
BY RECRUITING GROUPS OF INDIGENOUS RULERS FORM VARIOUS
REGIONS
b.
MOST POWERFUL RAJPUTS OF RAJASTHAN
8.
AKBAR TOOK DAUGHTERS OF SEVERAL RAJPUT HOUSES AS HIS WIVES
a.
GAVE RESPECT TO THEIR CUSTOMS
b.
BESTOWED ON THEM SOME OF HIGHEST IMPERIAL OFFICES
9.
DID NOT ATTEMPT TO CONVERT FORCIBLY HINDUS TO ISLAM
a.
ABOLISHED MUCH HATED TAX ON HINDU RELIGIOUS PILGRIMS
b.
ABOLISHED JIZYA OR MOSLEM POLL TAX ON NON-BELIEVERS
10.
AKBAR SUFI
a.
MEMBER OF MYSTERIOUS DISCIPLINE OF MOSLEM MYSTICISM BASED ON
LOVE
11.
GRADUALLY AKBAR REDUCED EVERY GROUP IN HIGHER NOBILITY TO SMALL
MINORITY
a.
INCLUDING HIS OWN MUGHAL BRETHREN
12.
INDIAN NATIONALISTS OF 19TH C. LOOKED BACKWARD FOR NATIVE IDEALS OF
GOOD GOVERNMENT TO AKBAR'S REIGN
13.
ALSO AKBAR MODELED HIS COURT ON PERSIAN IDEAS OF POMP & GLITTER
14.
PERSIAN CULTURAL INFLUENCE ON MOGUL EMPIRE & COURT STRONG
a.
DUE TO PERSIAN SUFISM
15.
WHILE AKBAR HIMSELF ILLITERATE
16.
HE TOOK GREAT INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL DISCUSSIONS
a.
ON RELIGION & METAPHYSICS
4
b.
C.
D.
E.
HE ASSEMBLED THEOLOGIANS OF VARIOUS RELIGIONS INCLUDING
CHRISTIANS
c.
HE ENGAGED IN EXCHANGE OF IDEAS
d.
REFUSING TO ACCEPT ABSOLUTE PRIMACY OF ISLAM
17.
HE ALSO PATRONIZED WRITING OF HISTORY
a.
MONUMENTAL HISTORICAL WORK COMPLIED
b.
AKBAR NAMA = BOOK OF AKBAR
18.
IN HIS NUMEROUS & MASSIVE BUILDINGS AT FATEHPUR SIKRI & AGRA
a.
AGRA CAPITAL
b.
EXQUISITE ASSIMILATION OF ISLAMIC & HINDU ARCHITECTURAL STYLES
NOTABLE ARTISTIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MUSLIMS IN INDIA
1.
LINK BETWEEN LITERATURE & VISUAL ARTS CRUCIAL TO OUR UNDERSTANDING
OF INDIA SCULPTURE
2.
ANCIENT TEXT DESCRIBES PREDICAMENT OF KING WHO WISHED TO LEARN ART
OF PAINTING
3.
KING WAS INFORMED THAT TO PAINT HE MUST FIRST LEARN TO SCULPT
4.
TO ATTEMPT SCULPTURE HE MUST LEARN PRINCIPLES OF DANCE
5.
& TO DANCE HE MUST HAVE RECOURSE TO APPRECIATION OF RHYTHM
a.
OF INSTRUMENTAL & THEN VOCAL MUSIC
6.
& MUSIC INSPIRATION FROM POETRY
7.
THUS KING LEARNED THAT TO BE SKILLED IN ONE OF ARTS
a.
HE MUST BE INFORMED ABOUT ALL OF THEM
8.
NOWHERE IS THIS FUSION OF ARTS BETTER ILLUSTRATED THAN AT CAVES AT
AJANTA
AJANTA
1.
60 MILES FROM AURANGABAD
2.
30 BUDDHIST CAVES
a.
CONTAINING SCULPTURES, PRESERVED FRESCOS
3.
EARLIEST RETREAT HALL FOR BUDDHIST & JAIN MONKS,
ESPECIALLY
DURING MONSOONS
a.
DATES BACK TO 2ND C B.C.
b.
SIMPLE UNADORNED STUPA INTO APSE
c.
TO SERVE AS SYMBOLIC IMAGE
4.
GRADUALLY ENTIRE SURFACE OF WALLS IN INTERIOR CAME TO BE DECORATED
WITH SCULPTED & PAINTED FIGURES
5.
EXPERIENCE OF ENTERING THESE CAVES IS DRAMATIC
6.
EXPERIENCE IS A TOTAL ONE OF TRANSPORTING PILGRIMS INTO ANOTHER
WORLD
7.
DEFINITELY SHADES OF GOTHIC CHURCHES IN MIDDLE AGES IN EUROPE
a.
CAVES SECLUDED
b.
DISCOVERED ACCIDENTALLY ONLY IN 19TH C.
c.
PROBABLY EXPLAINS WHY MONUMENTS ESCAPED VANDALISM OF
INVADING ARMIES
PAINTING DURING AKBAR'S REIGN
1.
MORE THAN 100 PAINTERS EMPLOYED BY COURT ALONE
2.
PAINTERS GIVEN VERY HIGH RANK
a.
PAID LAVISH SALARIES
b.
FLATTERED BY EMPEROR'S PERSONAL INTEREST
c.
BEST OF PAINTINGS SHOWN TO HIM EVERY WEEK
3.
THEIR PORTRAITURE, BOOK ILLUMINATION & NATURALISTIC ANIMAL & BIRD
PAINTINGS
a.
REMAIN AMONG MOST BEAUTIFUL TREASURES OF INDIAN CIVILIZATIONS
4.
MOST OF THESE GREAT ARTISTS HINDUS
a.
THEY EVEN DARED TO DO PORTRAITS OF HUMAN BEINGS
(1)
NOT ACCEPTABLE TO MOSLEMS
5
b.
c.
F.
G.
H.
I.
WHEN ORTHODOX SUNNIN MOSLEMS CHALLENGED THIS PRACTICE
AKBAR SAID
(1)
HE COULD NOT BELIEVE GOD, THE GIVER OF LIFE WOULD BE
REPELLED BY THE HUMAN BEAUTY PORTRAYED IN WORKS OF
TRUE ART
CHIEF INDUSTRIES
1.
CHIEF INDUSTRY DURING AKBAR'S REIGN
a.
TEXTILE PRODUCTION
2.
INDIAN COTTON GOODS CLOTHED MOST OF AFRICA & ASIA
3.
KASHMIRI SHAWLS & CARPETS PRIZED BOTH AT HOME & ABROAD
a.
FOR THEIR SOFT WARMTH
b.
BRILLIANCE OF THEIR DESIGNS
4.
INDIGO DYE & OPIUM OTHER NB MOGUL EXPORTS
a.
BUT RANKED FAR BELOW COTTON & SPICES IN TOTAL VALUE
NEXT RULER - JAHANGIR
1.
WHILE AKBAR'S REIGN LONG & PROSPEROUS
2.
IT ENDED IN TRAGEDY
3.
HIS SON SALIM REBELLED AGAINST HIM
4.
LIKELY THAT SALIM HAD HIS FATHER POISONED
5.
AKBAR DIED IN 1605 AFTER RULING 60 YEARS
6.
SALIM TOOK PERSIAN TITLE JAHANGIR
a.
MEANS WORLD-SEIZER
7.
HE RULED FOR 22 YEARS
8.
WEALTHY, POWERFUL & CRUEL
9.
BUT HE COULDN'T HOLD CANDLE TO HIS FATHER
10.
ONE OF PLAGUES OF MOSLEM DYNASTIES
a.
PERHAPS BECAUSE PRACTICE OF KEEPING LARGE HAREM PRODUCED
MANY SONS
b.
IS DIFFICULTY OF ASSURING PEACEFUL & ORDERLY SUCCESSION OF
POWER FORM 1 GENERATION TO NEXT
11.
ITS PITY AKBAR WHO SO ENLIGHTENED IN OTHER MATTERS
a.
DID NOT WORK OUT PEACEFUL SYSTEM OF SUCCESSION
NUR JAHAN
1.
WIFE OF JAHANGIR
2.
SHE ESTABLISHED PERSIAN CULTURE AT COURT IN AGRA
3.
BECAME RULING EMPRESS OF INDIA WELL BEFORE HER HUSBAND DIED
4.
NUR JAHAN RAISED HER FATHER TO OFFICE OF PREMIER
5.
SHE BROUGHT HER BROTHER ASAF KHAN INTO POSITION TO SERVE NEXT
EMPEROR AS PREMIER BY ARRANGING MARRIAGE
6.
SO EFFECT OF NUR JAHAN'S PERSIAN INFLUENCE TO ENCOURAGE INDIANIZATION
OF MOSLEM CULTURE
7.
MOGUL RULE FROM AKBAR'S ACCESSION UNTIL END OF 17TH C. REMARKABLY
STABLE
8.
STABLE PARTLY BECAUSE OF PERSIAN-MADE BOND BETWEEN MOSLEMS AND
HINDUS AT COURT
9.
SHE BUILT "BABY TAJ" - PROTOTYPE OF TAJ MAHAL
SHAH JAHAN
1.
JAHANGIR'S 3RD SON KHURRAM TOOK NAME OF SHAH JAHAN
2.
BUILT TAJ MAHAL TO HONOR HIS FAVORITE WIFE
a.
MUMTAZ MAHAL
(1)
NUR JAHAN'S NIECE
b.
SHE DIED GIVING BIRTH TO HIS 14TH SON
3.
TAJ MAHAL UNIVERSALLY ACKNOWLEDGED FOR CENTURIES TO BE ONE OF
WORLD'S MOST PERFECT PIECES OF ARCHITECTURE
4.
HE RULED FOR 30 YEARS
6
5.
6.
7.
HE SPENT ENORMOUS SUMS ON PUBLIC BUILDINGS & WARS
BUT HE SPENT NOTHING TO FEED STARVING POPULATION WHEN ONE OF INDIA'S
WORST FAMINES RAVAGED DECCAN
SO HE IS MORE HIGHLY ESTEEMED OUTSIDE INDIA THAN IN IT