Chapter 15
India and the Indian Ocean Basin
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India After the Fall of the Gupta
Dynasty
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Gupta state collapsed mid-sixth century
Chaos in northern India
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Local power struggles
Invasions of Turkish nomads, absorbed into Indian
society
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King Harsha (r. 606-648 C.E.)
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Temporary restoration of unified rule in north
India
Religiously tolerant
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Buddhist by faith
Assassinated, no successor able to retain control
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Introduction of Islam to Northern
India
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Muslim merchants formed small communities in all
major cities of coastal India
Turkish migrants and Islam: Turks convert to Islam in
tenth century
 Some moved to Afghanistan and established an
Islamic state
 Mahmud of Ghazni, Turk leader in Afghanistan,
made expeditions to northern India
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The Sultanate of Delhi
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Mahmud's successors conquered north India, 1206
Established an Islamic state known as the sultanate of
Delhi
Sultans' authority did not extend far beyond the
capital at Delhi
Islam began to have a place in India
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Agriculture in the Monsoon World
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The monsoons (rains in spring and summer)
Irrigation systems were needed for dry months
 No big river in south India; waterworks included dams,
reservoirs, canals, wells
 Stored rainwater in large reservoirs connected to canals
Population growth: 53 million in 600 C.E. to 105 million in
1500 C.E.
Urbanization took place in Delhi and other large port cities
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The Trading World of the Indian Ocean
Basin, 600-1600 C.E.
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Trade and Economic Development in
Southern India
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Indian regional economies largely self-sufficient
Certain products traded throughout subcontinent
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Iron, copper, salt, pepper
Southern India profits from political instability in
north
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Temples and Indian Society
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Hindu temples served as economic and social centers
Possessed large tracts of land, hundreds of employees
Temple administrators were to maintain order,
deliver taxes
Served as banks; engaged in business ventures
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Cross-Cultural Trade in the Indian
Ocean Basin
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Dhows and junks--large ships involved in maritime
trade in Indian Ocean
Trade goods
 Silk and porcelain from China
 Spices from southeast Asia
 Pepper, gems, pearls, and cotton from India
 Incense and horses from Arabia and southwest Asia
 Gold, ivory, and slaves from east Africa
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Specialized production
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Production of high-quality cotton textiles thrived
Other specialized industries: sugar, leather, stone,
carpets, iron and steel
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Challenges to Caste and Society
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Caste helped to integrate immigrants (Turks, Muslim
merchants) into Indian society
Caste and social change: guilds and sub castes (jatis)
Expansion of caste system, especially to southern
India
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Development of Hinduism
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Hinduism predominated in southern India, Islam in
the north
Promise of salvation
Especially popular in southern India, spreads to north
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Islam and its appeal
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Conversion to Islam occurred in a slow and gradual
way
 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)
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Sufis
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Personal, emotional, devotional approaches to
Islam
Important missionaries of Islam to India
Some flexibility regarding local customs
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Indian Influence in Southeast Asia
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Indian merchants brought their faiths to southeast
Asia
Ruling elite of southeast Asia adapted some Indian
political traditions
The states sponsored Hinduism and Buddhism
Showed no interest in Indian caste system
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Angkor (889-1431 CE)
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Kingdom built by Khmers at Angkor Thom, later
Angkor Wat
The city was a microcosmic reflection of Hindu
world order
Turned to Buddhism during the twelfth and
thirteenth centuries
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Islam in Southeast Asia
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Early populations of Muslim traders
Increasing popularity with Sufi activity
Many convert, retain some Hindu or Buddhist
traditions
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State of Melaka
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Dominated maritime trade routes
Mid-fifteenth century converts to Islam
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