Muslims in India

Key Terms

• Sultanate• Caste• Rajah

Delhi Sultanate

• The sultan of Ghur defeated Hindu armies across the northern plain– Delhi is the capital

• Delhi sultanate was the start of Muslim rule in northern India

• Why did Muslim invaders triumph– Mounted archers that had greater mobility than Hindu

forces– Hindu forces were worn down from fighting with one

another.

Effects of Muslim Rule

• Sultans introduced Muslim traditions of government

• Trade between India and the Muslim world increased

Muslims and Hindus

• Widespread destruction of Buddhist monasteries contributed to the drastic decline of Buddhism as a major religion

• Differences– Hindus recognized many sacred texts and prayed

before statues representing– Muslims were devout monotheistic who saw statues

as offensive to ones true God• During the Delhi sultanate, growing number of

Hindus converted to Islam.

Interactions and Cultural Blending

• Hindus remained second-class citizens– Forced to pay taxes

• Indian merchants were attracted to Islam in part because of the strong trade network

• Muslims absorbed elements of Hindu culture– Marriage customs and caste ideas

Mughal India

• The chief builder of the Mughal empire was Akbar the Great– Created a strong central government– Won support because he had a policy of toleration– Ended the tax on non-Muslim– Married a Hindu princess– Used paid officials for officeholders

• Shah Jahan built a tomb for his wife– Taj Mahal

Questions to Consider

• What are the differences between Hindus and Muslims?

• Why did Muslim invaders have such success?• What were some things that Akbar the Great

did?• http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=37l11UzbvvA• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-zX1gtN0

Fo