Chapter 13b- The
Islamic India (1000-1500):
(6). Examine the spread of Islam to
India.
(7). Describe the major results of the Muslim-Hindu
encounter.
(8). Outline the Islamic states and
dynasties of India during the 13th through 16th centuries.
(9). Discuss the Hindu and Islamic
religious and cultural accommodation.
(10). Examine the Islamic Heartlands and
India (1000-1500) in world perspective.
v
Introduction
Ø
Islamic
Civilization => creative interaction
§
Arab & Turkish invaders => foreign minority
§
Successfully absorbed over generations=> heirs=>
·
Both as Muslim and Indian
v
The Spread of Islam to India
Ø
Muslim
merchants well established
§
Port cities – Gujarat & Southern India (Map)
·
Profit from internal
Indian trade + Indies & China
Ø
Converts to
Islam soon followed
§
Converts’ Motivation:
·
Business advantages
·
Clear-cut ideology &
practice
·
Attracted by classless
ethic (theory)
Ø
Sufi orders
established in South (roots)
§
Sufi piety also
attracted converts in North
§
Iranian Muslim
refugees fleeing Mongols
·
Strengthened Islamic
armies & administration
·
Also cultural &
religious contributions
v
Muslim-Hindu Encounter (see contemporary excerpt)
Ø
1st Arab
rulers=> protected status of Hindus
§
“People of Scripture” protected under Muslim rule
·
Just like Christians
& Jews
·
Precedent established in
Sind – 711
§
Ghaznavids &
later rulers used precedent as basis=>
·
legal justification for
co-existence
Ø
Hindu
resistance to Muslim rule still persisted
§
Main obstacle to Islamic expansion=>
·
Rajputs of North - Hindu warrior class tradition
·
Experienced &
capable military expertise
·
Fierce warrior ethic
& patriotism forged =>
¨
Hun invasions
of 5th/6th centuries
§
Fought Muslims but failed to unite against them
·
Ultimately dominated in
detail by Muslims
v
Islamic States and Dynasties (13th-16th
centuries)
Ø
Following
Ghaznavids & Brief Afghan rule:
§
Mamluks – Turkish-Afhgan
Slave Sultans of Delhi
§
Ruled North India from 1206-1290
§
Founder of dynasty=> Iltutmish (r.1211-1236)
·
5 successors=> most
prominent => Sultana Raziyya
Ø
Four later Muslim
Dynasties=>
§
Ruled as Delhi Sultanates thru 15th
century
·
Khaljis & Tughluqs
·
Sayyids & Lodis
§
Continued Muslim rule until interrupted by Mongols
Ø
Chaotic
interruptions:
§
Mongol-Turkish invasions
§
Timur’s sack of
Delhi in 1398
·
Destruction required
years to recover from
Ø
Muslim hold
on power gradually declined:
§
Resulted in gradual break-up & growing
independence=>
·
Small sultanates & Rajput (Hindu) kingdoms
·
Small Hindu & Muslim
principalities emerge
§
Regional rule
predominates throughout
§
Most important state: Bahmanids of Deccan
·
Famous for architecture
& intellectual life
·
Containment of Vijayangar (Battle w/firearms)
v
Religious and Cultural Accommodation
Ø
Hindu &
Islamic interaction & accommodation:
§
India comprised multi-divisions=>
·
Diverse political &
administrative entities
§
Islam successful in establishing itself
·
Primarily in North
sub-continent & the Deccan
Ø
Delhi Sultans
provided basic political & social framework
§
Able to defend against Mongol attacks (except whose?)
§
Islam able to take root
§
Ruling class: Muslim minority rules Hindu majority
·
Still conversions to
Islam occurred at all levels
§
Hindu majority
accommodated Muslims how?
·
Separate caste =>
distinct Muslim caste
·
Elite versus lower class
converts?
·
Role of occupation?
Ø
Religious
& cultural accommodation – language:
§
Sanskrit=> long
established in India – how?
·
Scholarly language =>
gradually diminished – when?
§
Tamil=>
regional language in South gained status
§
Persian=>
intellectual & cultural elite language of North
§
Urdu-Hindu=> new
language to accommodate Muslim
·
Combined Perso-Arabic & Indian elements
·
Shared communication
between Indians & Muslims
Ø
Increased
Indian-Muslim tensions cause split:
§
Urdu=>
Perso-Arabic heritage=> used by who?
·
Used primarily by what
modern state?
§
Hindi=>
Hindu-Sanskrit heritage
·
Modern state?
Ø
Indian-Muslim
realities:
§
Muslims influenced but =>
·
Never fully absorbed
into identifiable Hindu culture
·
Muslim religion always
placed them as group apart
§
Sultan Delhi Ruling class => protectors of Islam
·
Sense of belonging to greater Umma community
·
Sought appropriate recognition from other Muslims
§
NTL=> popular piety’s influence feltó both ways
·
Sufi devotion similar in many ways to Hindu Bhakti
¨
Sufi & Bhakte saints date from 14th
& 15th centuries
§
Ramananda & Kabir tried to lessen differences & reform
·
Preached devotion to God
who saves regardless
·
Muslim orthopraxy or Hindu caste not the key
issue
v
Hindu and Other Indian Traditions (1000=1500)
Ø
Jain
tradition continued to flourish:
§
Areas of India: Gujarat, Rajasthan & Karnataka
Ø
Muslim
conquests ended Buddhist traditions by 11th century
§
Destroyed much of Buddhist temples & monasteries
§
NTL=> Buddhism in India on way out by 7th century
§
Impact of Islam on merchant classes significant
Ø
Hinduism
continued to grow despite Muslim rule
§
Illustrated by Brahman
social & religious status
§
Great popularity of bhakti devotional movements
§
Age of Brahmanic
scholasticism
·
Extensive commentaries
& manuals (no decisive works)
§
Bhakti creative works more
well-known
·
Ramanuja wrote
theological basis for Bhakti
¨
Reconciled ideas with Upanishadic Hindu worldview
§
Important Bhakti movements=> associated with:
·
Shaivite tradition (nayanars poets)
·
Vaishnavite tradition
(alvars poets) -
Ø
South=>
center of Hindu cultural, political, religious action
§
Cholas foremost
dynastic southern state(900-1300)
·
School of Bronze sculpture at Tanjore
§
Vijayanagar (Shiva cult
fame) resisted Muslim longest
v
Islamic Heartlands & India in World Perspective
Ø
Spread of
Islam furnished only a portion of Indian history
§
NTL=> Islam became an international tradition
·
Religious, political,
social institutions worldwide
§
How did it accomplish this?
·
Highly adaptable to
diverse cultures
Ø
In contrast-
Indian culture not intentionally missionary:
§
Yet
Buddhism spread=> Central/East Asia
·
But died out in India
Ø
Europe’s
Christianity did not expand during 1000
§
NTL by 1500=> voyages of discovery began=>
·
Spread faith through imperialistic conquest
Ø
Africa also
developed during this era (w/o outside help):
Ø
During this
time Europe was still a fledging backwater:
§
In comparison to China, Japan, & Islamic &
Hindu states
§
But by 1500=> European renaissance & culture
rose
§
Next 500 witnessed phenomenal development
·
Far exceeded other
previous higher civilizations
§
By 2003 => one of
Western Europe’s former colonies=>
·
Most powerful & advanced
nation in the world