Introduction Indian Ocean stories included visions of vast
wealth through maritime trade India was a distinct land w/ its own
customs, while connected to a larger world of trade &
communication from E. Africa SE Asia & China (economic
integration) Port cities, network of sea-lanes & trading posts
India influenced SE Asia (not as dominantly as China in E. Asia)
Adopted Indian political organization Hinduism & Buddhism
spread (& Islam later) India was politically disunited, but
culturally united through Hinduism (although Islam spreads
there)
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Indias Muslim & Hindu Kingdoms India was politically
divided from the end of the Gupta (mid- 6 th century from White Hun
pressure) until the Mughals united most of the subcontinent in the
16 th century Northern India Local rivals & Turkish invasions
disrupted society while nomadic groups integrated into the caste
system Harsha temporarily restored unified rule in northern India
during the 7 th century (even ambassadors w/ Tang China); Buddhist,
but had religious tolerance; free health care; supported scholars
& literature; no heir disintegrated
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Spread of Islam 814
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Islam Expansion
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Indias Muslim & Hindu Kingdoms (cont.) Islam in Northern
India Sind (Indus River Valley) conquered by Umayyad, but
population remained Hindu & Buddhist w/ local rule Merchants
spread Islam through settling in port cities Turkish invasion
Mahmud of Ghazni Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526) mostly local Hindu
princes who reported back to Islamic govt at Delhi Southern India
Mainly regional Hindu rulers, but less warfare than north Chola
(850 1267) navy & dominated trade in Indian Ocean;
decentralized govt led to collapse (local autonomy w/ tribute)
Vijayanagar (1336-1565 in Deccan) Hindu w/ Muslim trade
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Indian Ocean Basin - Agriculture Trade increased during the
postclassical period because agricultural production increased, but
the caste system remained the most powerful organizing feature of
India Agriculture & the Monsoon The monsoon required careful
agricultural planning to avoid drought & famine Southern India
utilized dams, reservoirs, canals, wells & tunnels to irrigate
the land dependent on summer monsoon Population grew from 53
million in 600 to 105 million by 1500 Urbanization Delhi had
400,000 during the 14 th century, many other trading ports over
100,000
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Indias Trade & Economic Development Internal Trade Regions
were self-sufficient w/ staples of rice, wheat, barley &
millet, but specialty crops only grew in certain regions Ganges
Valley iron; Deccan plateau copper; Coastal salt; Southern pepper,
saffron & sugar; southern areas benefited more from trade (war
disrupted northern areas while Chola had stability) Cross-Cultural
Trade/External Trade Used monsoon winds even in classical period,
but increasingly went away from shorelines w/ monsoon
predictability Dhows & junks larger ships enabled larger
cargoes (especially after Song Dynasty advancements 1000 tons of
cargo) India was central to Indian Ocean trade Cambay, Calicut
& Quilon became cosmopolitan centers of port city trade
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Specialized Production in the Indian Ocean Basin East Africa SW
AsiaIndiaSE AsiaChina Gold Ivory Slaves Incense Horses Dates Cotton
textiles Carpet weaving Sugar refining Leather tanning Stone
carving Iron & steel production Spices Silk Porcelain Lacquer
ware
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Indian Ocean Dhow
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Chinese Junk
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Zheng Hes Ship Chinese Junk
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Hinduisms postclassical influence Temples served as economic
& social centers owned agricultural lands & provided
employment, organized community agriculture, maintained surpluses,
schooling for boys, kept order, delivered tax receipts to Chola,
served as bankers & investors; i.e., crucial to economic health
of India Caste & Society the caste system has been adjusted
& adapted to accommodate migrations increasingly complex &
helped to maintain order in a society w/o strong centralized govts
Jati (subcastes) often took the form of workers guilds and enjoyed
political & economic influence Caste system increased in
southern India during the postclassical period through powerful
temples & increased internal trade w/ northern India
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Indias postclassical religions Hindu & Islamic traditions
increased, while Jainism & Buddhism lost followers during the
postclassical period Buddhist decline was hastened by Turkish
invaders in the north when stupas & libraries were destroyed
Hinduism - pantheon of gods & spirits; predominant religion of
the southern areas Shiva & Vishnu became cult deities which
promised salvation Shankara (9 th century) only disciplined logical
reasoning would lead to Brahman Ramanuja intellectual efforts less
important than personal union with the deity w/ emphasis on
Vishnu
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Shiva as the four-armed lord of dancers Shiva crushes a dwarf
demon symbolizing ignorance
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Indias postclassical religions (cont.) Islam strict monotheism;
predominantly in northern areas By 1500, of the population even
though conquerors offered little incentive to convert (never given
high govt posts) mostly because lower castes hoped to escape
discrimination (although in vain) Sufis emphasized piety &
devotion in India (therefore, similar to Hinduism) Bhakti (12 th
century in southern India) tried to combine Hindu & Muslim
Shiva, Vishnu & Allah were all manifestations of a universal
deity, but was unsuccessful
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Indias influence in SE Asia Merchants introduced Hinduism,
Buddhism, Sanskrit writings, Indian political organization (loose)
& later, Islam Did not incorporate the caste system Continued
to venerate indigenous deities & nature spirits SE Asian rulers
consolidated power through trade Exporting: pearls, aromatics &
animals skins Importing: textiles, gold, silver & metal
goods
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Funan (1 st 6 th ) Srivijaya (7 th 11 th ) Singosari (13 th )
Angkor (9 th 15 th ) Majapahit (14 th ) Melaka (15 th ) PKingdom E
Agri. based & controlled trade controlled trade Agri. based
controlled trade RHinduBuddhism Blended H, B & nature
BuddhismHinduH Islam I/A Extensive irrigation system Powerful navy
Angkor Thom & Wat Powerful navy & mosques N Mekong Delta
SumatraJavaCambodiaJavaMelaka Southeast Asia Postclassical
