Islam/India defs un1

Umayyad Dynasty (661-750 c.e)

Begins after the assaination of Ali, the establishment of this dynasty solved the problem of succession, at least temporaily. This dynasty ranked among the most prominent at the meccan merchant clans. They established their capital at Damascus. Their network of alliances helped bring stablility to the Islamic communties.

• Very racist

Damascus

Thriving commercial city in Syria, whose central location enabled them to maintain better communication with the vast and still expanding Islamic empire.

Dar Al Islam

House of Islam - Ruled by the Umayyad dynasty as conquerors and their policies reflected the interest of the Arab military aristocracy.

Jizya

Tax on those who didn’t convert to Islam

Abbasid Dynasty (750 - 1258 ce)

Differend from the Umayyad Dynasty, this one was far more cosmopolitan than its predecessor. Even though they sprang from the ranks of conqueroring arabs, these rulers didnt show special favor to the arab military. This dynasty continued to play a large role in government.

• 751 this dynasty defeated a chinese army at talas river.

• the dar al islam grew under this dynasty.ha

• only marginally did this empire expand during conquest.

Harun Al Rashid (758-809)

High point of the Abbasid Dynasty came with this man, he provided liberal support for artists, and writers bestowed lavish and luxurious gifts on his favorites, and distributed money to the poor and common classes by tossing coins onto the streets of Baghdad

• once sent an elephant and a collection of rich presents as gifts to his contemporary charlemange who ruled the Carolingian empire of wesstern Europ

Seljuk Turks

Nomadic people from central Asia who also invaded the byzantine empire,

• in response to rebellions mounted by peasants and provincial governer’, authorities in Baghdad allied with the Seljuk Turks , who began to enter the islamic realm and convert to islam about the mid 10th century. By the mid 11th century, the Suljuk effectively controlled the abbasid empire.

• during the 1050’s they took possesison of Baghdad, and during the following decades they expanded their dynasty/authority to palestine, syria and antolia

Tughril Bey (990-1063)

caputured Baghdad in 1055 AD under Boyid dynasty taking the Abbasid caliph under his political and military protection whiilst reducing caliphs to spiritual figureheads.

Spread of food and Ideas across the Dar-al-islam

Muslim conquers adopted persian techniques of government and finance to administer their lands. Persian Literature, science, and religion also found place in Islamic societies

• As soldiers administrators, diplomats and merchants travelled throughout the Dar Al Islam, they encountered plants, animals, and agricultural techniques perculiar to the empires various regions. They often introduced particularly useful crops to other regions

• Most important traveled west from India to persian, southwest Asia, Arabia, North Africa, and Mediterranean islands.

Talas River

Stopped tang expansion - ended the expansion of China’s tang dynasty into asia. And brought paper making into Islamic world : captured Chinese prisoners with skilled paper making skills which led to introduction of papermills etc throughout the Islamic world.

Muslim trade

When they overran the Sasanid empire muslim conquerors brought the prosperous trading cities of central Asia under control of the expanding Dar-al-islam.

• Mew,Nishapur,Bukhara, and Samarkand were long established commercial centers, and they made it possible for Muslim merchants to trade over a revived silk roads

Al Andus

The prosperity of Islamic Spain known as Al-Andus illistruates the far reaching effects of long distance trade during the Abbasid era.

• Governer’s of Al-Andus were umayyads who refused to recognize the abbasid dynasty, in the 10th c, they styled themselves caliphs in their own right rather than governors subject to Abbasid authority

• Participated in the commercial life of the larger Islamic world

• increased food supply enriched the diet of al-andus allowing merchants and manufacturers to conduct thriving businesses in cities such as Cordoba, Toledo, and Sevillle

Status of women In the Islamic world

• Patriarchal society had emerged in Arabia long before muhammed’s time

• But, Arab women ennjoyed rights not accorded to women in many other lands.

• Could legally inherit property, divorce husbands of their own inititive and engage in business ventures

• In some resepct, the Quran enhanced the security of women in Arabic society. Potrayed women equals to men.

• Though, the Quran and later the Sharia as well brought back male dominance and patriarchy.

Islamic Culture

• Muslims theologins and Jurists looked to the Quran for stories about Muhammed’s life and other sources of Islamic doctrine in their efforts to formulate moral guidelines appropriate to their society.

• the body of civil and criminal law embodied in the Sharia provided a measure of cultural unity for the vastly different lands of the Islamic world.

• Vlama, Qadis, and missionaries helped bridge the differences in cultural traditons and to spread Islamic values throughout the dar-al-islam

• formal educational instutes also promoted Islamic values.

• by the 10th century, institutes of higher education known as Madrasas had began to appear, and by the mid 12th century they had became established in the major cities of the Islamic world.

Madrasas

By the 10th century, institutions of higher education known as Madrasas had begun to appear, and by the 12th century they had become established in the major cities of the Islamic world.

• Muslim rulers often supported the Madrasas in the interests of recruiting literate and learned students with an advanced education in Islamic theology and law for administrative positions.

Sufis

Among the most effective Islamic missionaries were mystics known as Sufi’s.

• did not deny then Islamic doctrine and indeed many of them had an advanced education in Islamic theology and law

• Instead of concerning themselves with fine points of doctrine, Sufi’s wanted to deepen their spiritual awareness

• Most led pious as Ascetic lives

• After 9th c they became popular in Muslim societies because of their piety, devotion, and eagerness to minister to the needs of their fellow human beings

• Converted the most, and devoted to the poor

• Sought mystical union with allah through dances, sermons, singing, for a high state of emotion.

Al-Ghazali (1058-1111)

Most important of the early Sufi’s was the Persian Theologian al-ghazali who argued human reason was too frail to understand the nature of allah and hence couldn’t explain the mysteries of the world.

• only through devotion and guidance from the Quran could human beings begin to appreciate the uniqueness and power of Allah

Persian influence on Islam

Persian Traditions quickly found a place in Islamic society since the culturally rich land of Persia fell under Islamic rule at an early date. Especially after the establishment of the Abbasid dynasty and the founding of its capital at Baghdad.

• Administrative techniques Muslim conquerors borrowed from the Sasanid Empire.

• Persian ideas of kingdomship influenced Islamic political thought

• Notiable in literary works form the Abbasid dynasty

• language of Arabic literature, poetry, history, and political reflection

Indian influence on Islam

Indian mathematics, science, and medicine captured the attention of Arab and Persian Muslims who established Islamic states in northern India.

• The sophisticated mathematical tradition of Gupta India was attractive to Muslims both as a field on scholarship and for the practical purposes of reckogning and keeping accounts.

• Muslims adopted ‘Hindu Numerous’ which Europeans called Arabic numerals since they learned through Arabic Muslims

• Hindi numerals enabled Muslim scholars to develop advanced mathematics concentrating on algebra, geometry, and trigonometry

• Simplified bookkeeping

• Advanced math led to precise astronomical calculations

• Indian medicine appalled Muslims because of its treatments, specific use of herbs, and antidotes for poison.

Greek influences on Islam

Muslims admired and translated the philosophical, scientific, and medical writings of classical Greece, faking special interest in Plato and Aristotle

• Some 10th and 11th century Muslims philosophers attempted to harmonize Plato with Islamic teachings, melting resistance from conservative theologians

• 12th century shifted their focus from Plato to Aristotle.

• Ibn Rushd (Averroes) whose rationalist work profoundly shaped Islamic philosophy and later influenced medieval European scholasticism

• Greek Mathematics, science, and medicine also appeared strongly to Muslims

• Didn’t use Indian numerals but powerful reasoning

• Supported the development of astronomical, geographical scholarship and studies of anatomy and philosophy served as foundation for medical thought.

Mahmud of Ghanzi

Leader of Turks in Afghanistan

• turned his attention to rich land of the south

• Between 1001-1027 he mounted 17 raiding expeditions into India. Taking advantage of infighting between local rulers, he annexed several states in northern India in the Puhjab

• Little interest in conquering and ruling India than in plundering the wealth stored in its many well-endowed temples.

• Destroyed sites dedicated to Hindu and Buddhist faiths, and their camp hai s hastened the decline of Buddhism in the land of its birth

• He and his forces established mosques and Islamic shrines on the sites of Hindu and Buddhist structures they destroyed

• Raids didn’t encourage conversion

Sultanate of Delhi

During late 12th c Mahmud’s successors mounted a more systematic campaign to conquer northern India and place it under Islamic rule

• by earth 13th c they had conquered most of the Hindu kingdoms in northern India and established their capital at Delhi, a strategic site controlling access from the punjab to the Ganges valleyc and they ruled northern India, atleast in name for more than 3 centuries from 1206-1256

• 14th c they commanded an army of 300,000. Their stake ranked among most powerful of Islamic world

• didn’t extend authority far beyond Delhi, often conducted raids in the Deccan regions of southern India but never overcame the Hindu resistance there.

• No permanent bureaucracy

• conducted raids in the Deccan region of southern India but never overcame Hindi resistance there

Vijayanagar (City of victory )

State in northern Deccan that dominated southern India. Founded in 1336 by two brothers, Harihara and Bukka, sent by the Sultan of Delhi.

• The brothers converted from Hinduism to Islam, then renounced Islam to re-establish themselves as independent Hindu rulers.

• Maintained peaceful trade between Muslims and Hindus for half a millennium. Existed until falling to an alliance of Muslim kingdoms in 1565.

Monsoons

• Spring/Summer: Warm, moisture-laden winds from the southwest bring most of India's rainfall.

• Autumn/Winter: Cool, dry winds blow from the northeast.

• Importance: Irrigation was essential to avoid drought, reduced harvests, or famine during dry months.

Dhows

• Large merchant ships favored by Indian, Persian, and Arab sailors in the Indian Ocean.

• Averaged ~100 tons burden in 1000 CE and ~400 tons in 1500 CE, enabling open-ocean trade away from coastlines.

Junks

• Large Chinese and Southeast Asian sailing vessels that grew after Song dynasty expansion.

• Carried massive cargo capacity (up to 1,000 tons) across the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and as far west as East Africa.

Emporia

• Warehouses and trade clearinghouses in Indian port cities (e.g., Cambay, Calicut, Quilon).

• Located centrally in the Indian Ocean basin, allowing merchants from East Africa, Persia, China, and Southeast Asia to exchange goods between monsoon seasons.

Indian Industry (Post-Classical Era)

• High global demand for Indian high-quality cotton textiles created specialized local manufacturing.

• Prominent industries included sugar refining, leather tanning, stone carving, carpet weaving, and iron/steel production.

Kingdom of Axum (Aksum)

Location/Time: Northern Ethiopian highlands, founded ~1st century CE; expanded by 6th century to modern Ethiopia and Yemen.

• Economy: Displaced Kush via trade through the Red Sea port of Adulis.

• Culture: Adopted Christianity in the 4th–5th centuries.

Caste System

• Provided social structure and guidance in local communities in the absence of a strong central government.

• Adapted to incorporate foreign migrants into Indian society and expanded geographically into southern India by the 11th century CE.

Jati

• Subcastes that individuals identified with most closely, often structured around workers' guilds.

• Specialized by trade (e.g., merchants specializing in silk/spices or artisans in iron/leather).

Decline of Buddhism in India

• Invading Turkish forces looted/destroyed Buddhist stupas and shrines.

• In 1196, Muslim forces destroyed the university/schools at Nalanda, killing or exiling thousands of monks. Hinduism and Islam subsequently absorbed many former followers.

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philosophy - Vishnu

• Major Hindu deity viewed as the preserver of the world.

• Believed to observe the universe from heaven and occasionally enter the world in human form to resist evil or impart teachings.

Philosophy - Shiva

• Major Hindu deity of both fertility and destruction.

• Symbolized the cycle of bringing life and taking it away when its season passed.

Shankara

• Southern Indian Brahmin philosopher (early 9th century CE) devoted to Shiva

• Philosophy: Harmonized Hindu writings into a logical system; held that the physical world is an illusion (maya) and ultimate reality

• Brahman) can only be understood through disciplined, logical reasoning rather than emotion.

Ramanuja

• Southern Indian Brahmin philosopher (11th–early 12th century CE) devoted to Vishnu.

• Philosophy: Challenged Shankara's strict logic; argued that genuine bliss comes from personal devotion (bhakti) and emotional union with the deity rather than mere intellectual understanding.

Islam in India

• Arrived via conquest and foreign merchants; gained early acceptance in coastal trading communities.

• By 1500 CE, Indian Muslims numbered ~25 million (~1/4 of the population), though top political/military positions were often reserved for Arab, Persian, or Turkish leaders

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Sufis

• Mystic Islamic missionaries who were effective at converting people due to their emotional, personal approach to faith.

• Emphasized devotion and piety over strict doctrinal rules, sometimes allowing local custom and pre-existing rituals.

The Bhakti Movement

• Devotional movement originating in 12th-century southern India that sought to bridge the gap between Hinduism and Islam.

• Promoted love, devotion, monotheism, and the spiritual equality of all believers.

Indian Cultural Influence on Southeast Asia

• Beginning around 500 BCE, Indian merchants traded textiles and metal goods for Southeast Asian spices, aromatics, and pearls

• Southeast Asian rulers adopted Indian forms of political organization, court rituals, and religious faiths (Hinduism and Buddhism).

Srivijaya (670-1025)

• Maritime kingdom based on the island of Sumatra.

• Controlled trade in Southeast Asian waters with a powerful navy and taxed passing ships; declined when eclipsed by the Chola kingdom in the 11th century.

Angkor (889–1431 CE)

• Land-based Khmer kingdom in modern Cambodia that derived wealth from agriculture.

• Built capital at Angkor Thom and temples (like Angkor Wat) reflecting Hindu cosmic order, designed with help from Brahmin advisors; abandoned after Thai invasion in 1431.

Islam in Southeast Asia

• Spread gradually via Muslim traders starting around the 8th–10th centuries.

• Adopted by rulers to facilitate trade with foreign merchants; often blended syncretically with existing Hindu, Buddhist, and local traditions.

Melaka (Malacca)

• Strategic port city founded in the late 14th century by Paramesvara near modern Singapore.

• Transitioned from a pirate stronghold to a dominant maritime trading power and key center for spreading Islam throughout Southeast Asia.