Topic 1.3 Flashcards
Developments in South and South East Asia (25 cards)
1
Q
Political Structures in Southern India
A
- The Chola Dynasty: reigned over southern India for more than 400 years
- The Vijayanagar Empire or the ‘victorious city’.
2
Q
How was the Vijayanagar Empire established? How did it fall?
A
- Began with two brothers, Harihara and Bukka who were sent to the area because the Delhi Sultanate wished to extend its rule to southern India.
- Were Hindu after converting from Islam
- The Vijayanagar Empire fell when a group of Muslim kingdoms (Mughal Empire) overthrew it.
3
Q
Political Structures in Northern India
A
-After the fall of the Gupta Dynasty in 550, ending the so called Golden Age, disunity returned for 1000 years after.
- After this the Rajput Kingdoms gradually formed in northern India and Pakistan.
4
Q
How were the Rajput Kingdoms structured?
A
- No centralized government, led my various clans who were often at war with one another.
- Demonstrated diversity
- Left the kingdom vulnerable to Muslim attacks
- Himalayas protected India from attacks, yet mountain passes allowed Muslim armies to invade.
5
Q
How did Islamic influence grow in the Rajput Region?
A
- 8th century: Islam invaded today Pakistan. The region was then isolated from the center of the culture. The Rajput princes wielded power to limit the Muslim conqueror’s influence.
- 11th century: Islamic forces plundered North India’s Hindu temples and Buddhist shrines for their riches and erected mosques.
- 13th century: Islamic forces managed to conquer the city of Delhi
6
Q
What was the Delhi Sultanate?
- Jizra
- Islamic Rule
A
- Reigned for 300 years in India
- Some Hindus converted to Islam, others resented Muslims
- Imposed a tax during their rule on all non-Muslims (Jizra)
- Never organized an efficient bureaucracy in the style of the Chinese
- Sultans had trouble imposing their policies in a land as vast and diverse as India
- Local kingdoms continued to play a major role in India’s decentralized political landscape.
- Prevented the Mongols from conquering South Asia, but later the sultans lost power to a new empire, The Mughals.
7
Q
Differences of Islam and Hinduism
A
- Hindus pray to many gods, while Islam is strictly monotheistic.
- Hindu temples and artwork display pictures of their deities, while Muslims disapprove any visual representation of Allah.
- Hinduism had a caste system, while Islam has always called for the equality of all believers.
- Hindus recognize sacred texts (The Vedas), while Muslims look to only the Quran for spiritual guidance.
8
Q
How did Islam enter India?
- How did they seek converts?
- Who did they attract?
- Muslim Merchants?
- How did it effect Buddhist?
A
- They forcefully entered India but then had a peaceful approach.
- Islam wanted to proselytize or actively seek converts, found early on that forcing people did not work.
- Attracted Low- Caste Hindus who hoped that conversion would improve their social status
- Merchants in the Indian Ocean Trade moved to Indian port cities and married.
- Corruption among the monks and raids on monasteries by early Muslim conquerors left the Buddhist religion disorganized.
9
Q
Social Structures in South Asia
A
- It was India’s strongest historical continuity -> it lent satiability to a politically decentralized land.
- Flexible to accommodate newcomers, Muslim merchants had a spot in the caste hierarchy, operated like guilds and became absorbed into the social fabric of Indian society.
10
Q
How did Hindus try to improve their social status?
A
- Low class Hindus who converted to Islam as a way to improve their social status usually did not achieve their goal.
- Those who tried to escape the caste system failed.
11
Q
Cultural Interactions in South Asia
A
People in South Asia and the middle east shared their intellectual and cultural achievements with each other.
12
Q
Developments of Math in South Asia
A
- Arab Astronomers and mathematicians
- Developments in math and Translated into Arabic and spread throughout Dar-al-Islam. (Arabic Numerals)
13
Q
Developments of Architecture in South Asia
A
- The Qutub Minar: a gigantic leaning tower, the tallest structure in India today
- A symbol of Islamic influence and, at one time, dominance of northern India
- Sultans would erect buildings by melding intricate artistic Hindu details into Islamic geometric patterns
14
Q
What was the new language developed among the Muslims of South Asia?
A
- Urdu
- Melded the grammatical pattern of Hindi and the vocab of Arabic and some elements of Farsi
- Now the official language of Pakistan.
15
Q
What was the Bhakti Movement?
A
- 12th Century: some Hindus drew upon traditional teachings about the importance of emotion in their spiritual life. Rather than emphasize studying texts or rituals they focused on developing a strong attachment to a particular deity.
- Helped spread Hinduism
16
Q
How was the Bhakti Movement appealing?
A
- Appealing because there was no discrimination of women or people of low status
17
Q
Who was Mira Bai?
A
- A poet in the 16th century and was one of the most famous figures of the Bhakti Movement.
18
Q
How was the Bhakti Movement similar to Sufi Muslims?
A
- Both groups were mystical movements, ones that emphasized inner reflection in order to achieve a direct personal relationship with a deity.
- They placed emphasis on strict adherence to traditional rituals and beliefs
- They both appealed to people outside their traditions.
19
Q
Who influenced Southeast Asia?
- What countries was it made up of?
A
- South Asia influenced Southeast Asia
- Made up of Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam
20
Q
How did Merchants influence SE Asia?
- What did they sell?
- What did they introduce?
- What did they control?
A
- Merchants from India had contact since 500 BC
- They sold gold, silver, metal goods, and textiles in the region and brought back it’s fine spices.
- These voyages introduced the Indian religions of Hinduism and Buddhism to SE Asia.
- Whoever controlled the region (SE Asia) could influenced the valuable trade between South Asia and East Asia.
21
Q
Sea Based Kingdoms: Describe The Srivijaya Empire (670-1025)
A
- Was primarily a Buddhist kingdom based on Sumatra
- Built up a navy and prospered by charging fees for ships traveling between India and China. They sustained from controlling sea routes.
* Religious center of the region
* Weakened by the expansion of other powers.
- Built up a navy and prospered by charging fees for ships traveling between India and China. They sustained from controlling sea routes.
22
Q
Sea Based Kingdoms: Describe The Majapahit Kingdom (1293-1520)
A
- Based on Java had 98 tributaries at it’s height
- Sustained from controlling sea routes
- Hindu Kingdom but with strong Buddhist influence
- Began a slow decline after the deaths of several key leaders and as Islamic influence began to grow in the region
23
Q
Land Based Kingdoms: Describe The Sinhala Dynasties
A
- In Sri Lanka had their roots from the arrival of immigrants, most merchants.
- Agriculture Sustained them
- Center of Buddhist study
- Monasteries flourished
- People found a life of contemplation and simple living attractive
- Excellent Irrigation System
- Attacks from India and conflicts between the monarchy and the priests ultimately weakened the kingdoms
24
Q
Land Based Kingdoms: Describe The Khmer Empire (802-1431)
A
- Also known as the Angkor Kingdom
- Near the Mekong River and did not depend on maritime prowess for its power
- Complex irrigation and drainage systems led to economic prosperity
- Capital was at Angkor Thom, the temples there showed a variety of Indian cultural influences on SE Asia
- Hindu sculptures of deities abounded until the 12th and 13th centuries when they added Buddhist sculptures and artwork to the Hindu temples.
* Rulers constructed Ankor Watt, which was a majestic Buddhist temple
- Fell to the Thais
25
Who were the first SE Asian Muslims?
- The first SE Asian Muslims were local merchants who converted in the 700s, hoping to have better trading relations with the Islamic merchants who arrived on their shores.
- Islam became popular in urban areas
