1.3 Reading Developments in South and Southeast Asia
South Asia was an occasionally divided region. It was together during the Gupta Dynsaty byt that had ended in 550.
The Gupta Dynasty was announced as the Golden Age of Indian history. Disunity arose and permeated the region for about 1000 years.
Southern and Northern India become different politcally.
Southern India was more stablilized then Nothern India. The Chole Dynasty reigned southern India for 400 years. It went all the way to Sri Lanka.
The Vijayanagara Empire was another empire that started with two brothers who converted to Islam from Hindu and then back to Hindu. It was overthrown by a group of Muslim kingdoms.
Northern India was an area of disarray. It was occupied by the Rajput kingdoms who were quarrelling with each other. The feuds prevented a centralized goverment and left them vulnerable to attakc.s
The geographical advantage of the Himalayas kept them safe but not from everywhere.
Attacks from Muslim armies grew the Muslim population in areas with Hindus and Buddists.
Finally, in the 13th century the Islamoc army conquered Delhi amd brought about the Dehli Sultanate. Islam and Hinduism reigned in Northern India. There was a tax on the non-Muslims beings of the empire.
Centralized government was a weakness for the Dehli Sultanate. Local kingdoms were stronger than nationalized ones.
The Muslim Empire won against the Mongols but ulitmately lost against its descendents, the Mughals.
Religion Differences between Islam and Hinduism
Hinduism was polytheistic while Islam was monotheistic.
Hindu's worshipped idols while Muslims were adamantly against that.
Hinduism was caste based while Islam was strict on equality.
Hindu's read multiple sacred texts while Muslims read the one and only Quran.
Islam entered India forcefully yet lived peacefully. They wanted to proselytize but learned to let their believers come naturally.
The equality aspect of Islam attracted the people who were under oppression as a result of the Hinduism social structure.
Ironically, most of the people who converted to Islam were Buddhism due to corruption and disorganization in its ranks.
Even though Islam and Buddhism were not involved in the caste system, it still because a huge part of India. Other religions found their place in the ladder. However, if your were at the bottom of the ladder, religion would do little in effecting your prospects.
Religions changed to the peoples needs.
The Cultural Interactions Included:
Sharing knowledge with the Middle East through Dar al-Islam.
building architecture from meshes of different religions and traditions in India.
Languages appeared, Muslims developed Urdu as a mesh between Hindi, Arabi, and Farsi.
Literary/philosophical advancements in the world suck as the Bhakti Movement.
Southeast Asia
Indian merchants had contact with the Southeast lands since 500 BCE. The trade brought Hinduism and Buddhism to Southeast Asia. However, Buddhism thrived there.
Kingdoms:
Sea-Based:
Srivijaya was based on Sumatra of the Hindu religion. It was big on navy and transportation tax.
Majapahit was based on Java. It was Buddhist and also controlled sea routes.
Land-based
Sinhala was a based in Sri Lanka. It grew from north Indian merchants and became a Buddhist center. Religious gender equality was prominent and was embedded into their government.
Khmer thrived on the irrigation system and became very economically prosperous. It had Hind artwork and culture but also had Buddhist artwork. The two religions lived in harmony.
Sukhothai forced the Khmers out of their area. Although being Buddhist they destroyed their temples. Despite the said destruction, the structures and artwork still stand becoming a testament to the Indian culture.
Islam was very popular in the 700s when merchants converted to have a better relationship with the Muslims ones. The growth was only increasing from there.
Sufis were people who did missionary work. Their tolerance for local faiths enticed people to convert to Islam.
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