WAP South and Southeast Asia (1200–1450)Overview

What regions are included in South Asia?

The Indian subcontinent.

What regions are included in Southeast Asia?

Modern-day Indonesia, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

What is the key theme of South and Southeast Asia from 1200 to 1450?

Religious diffusion shapes states and societies, with less emphasis on large empire formation.

What type of religion is Hinduism?

An ethnic religion, typically tied to India, but it spreads to Southeast Asia.

How did Hinduism spread to Southeast Asia?

Through Hindu merchants or migrants marrying into ruling classes, leading to the adoption of Hinduism by states.

What is syncretism in the context of Hinduism's spread?

The blending of Hinduism with local animistic practices, emphasizing deities like Shiva.

Why was the caste system not widely adopted in Southeast Asia?

Due to small populations and more egalitarian social structures.

What is Angkor Thom?

The capital city of the Khmer Empire, featuring bas-reliefs of Shiva and the Hindu epic Ramayana.

What is the significance of Angkor Wat?

A Hindu temple reflecting Mount Meru's five peaks, later converted to a Buddhist temple, indicating minimal conflict between religions.

What type of religion is Buddhism?

A universalizing religion that declined in India but spread to Southeast Asia.

What contributed to Buddhism's decline in India?

Increased asceticism and the regional kingdom structure favoring Hinduism.

How did Buddhism spread to Southeast Asia?

Via Buddhist pilgrims traveling by sea and kings converting to Buddhism, declaring themselves Buddha bodhisattvas.

What was the economic significance of the Strait of Malacca?

It was a trade choke point where the Srivijaya navy taxed passing ships, generating wealth.

What is the nature of Islam as a religion?

A universalizing, proselytizing religion that spread via trade and conquest.

How did Islam spread in Southeast Asia?

Through Muslim merchants and Sufi missionaries blending Islam with local animistic practices.

What was the role of the Delhi Sultanate in South Asia?

An Islamic centralized state advocating Hindu conversion, leading to conflict and cultural diffusion.

What strategies did the Delhi Sultanate use to reduce conflict with Hindus?

Applied jizya tax to Hindus and incorporated Hindu princes into the government.

What is the significance of the Vijayanagara Empire?

Founded by brothers sent by the Delhi Sultanate, it established a Hindu empire in central India.

What were the key takeaways regarding religious diffusion in South and Southeast Asia?

Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam shaped societies more than large-scale empire-building.

What is jati in the context of Islam's spread in India?

Subcastes within the merchant caste that allowed Muslim merchants to integrate into the caste system.

What is cultural syncretism?

The adaptation of religions to local practices, seen in architecture and rituals.

What were the social dynamics in Southeast Asia compared to India?

Southeast Asia had more egalitarian societies, while India was limited by the caste system.

What is the significance of the Qutub Minar?

A tower that combines Hindu-style architecture with Islamic minaret features.

What was the outcome of Buddhism's communal focus in Srivijaya?

It made Buddhism popular, but the empire's wealth attracted Muslim conquerors, leading to its decline.

What role did trade play in the spread of Buddhism?

Buddhist pilgrims traveled by sea to Indian holy sites, facilitating the spread of the religion.

How did the Delhi Sultanate's encouragement of job mobility conflict with Hindu principles?

It was seen as a violation of dharma, leading to social unrest and natural disasters.