Developments in South and Southeast Asia

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture notes on developments in South and Southeast Asia.

Lal Ded (Mother Lalla)

Kashmiri poet-saint (1320–1392) whose poetry reflects Hindu–Muslim cross-interactions and mysticism; revered as a prominent female figure.

Sufis

Muslim mystics who emphasized inner devotion; played a key role in spreading Islam and fostering religious syncretism in South Asia.

Gupta Dynasty

Early Indian empire whose collapse around 550 ended the Classical Golden Age and led to a long period of regional disunity.

Chola Dynasty

Southern Indian Hindu kingdom (approximately 850–1267) known for political stability and expansion into Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

Vijayanagara Empire

Hindu southern Indian empire (1336–1646) founded by Harihara and Bukka; powerful regional state that lasted until it was toppled by Muslim kingdoms.

Rajput kingdoms

Hindu-ruled warrior clans in northern India and present-day Pakistan; lacked centralized government and were vulnerable to invasions.

jizya

Tax levied on non-Muslim subjects under Islamic rule, such as during the Delhi Sultanate.

Delhi Sultanate

Islamic imperial state in northern India (13th–16th centuries) that faced administrative challenges and Mongol pressure; helped spread Islam in the subcontinent.

Mughal Empire

Islamic empire (began 1526) that followed the Delhi Sultanate and traced ancestry to the Mongols; established a centralized, imperial state.

Urdu

New language developed among South Asian Muslims; blends Hindi grammar with Arabic and Persian vocabulary; official language of Pakistan.

Bhakti Movement

12th-century Hindu devotional movement emphasizing personal, emotional worship of a deity; inclusive of women and low-caste groups.

Mira Bai

16th-century Bhakti poetess illustrating devotion beyond caste boundaries; a notable figure in the movement.

Sinhala dynasties

Buddhist kingdoms in Sri Lanka that valued monasteries, irrigation systems, and Buddhist scholarship, influencing regional culture.

Angkor Thom

Capital of the Khmer Empire near Angkor; site of grand temple complexes showing Hindu–Buddhist syncretism.

Angkor Wat

Grand temple complex in Angkor, symbolizing Hindu and later Buddhist architectural traditions; part of the Angkor temple complex.

Khmer Empire

Angkor-based kingdom (802–1431) in/near Cambodia; notable for extensive irrigation and cultural exchange with India.

Srivijaya Empire

Hindu maritime kingdom on Sumatra (670–1025) that controlled sea routes between India and China and prospered through trade.

Majapahit Kingdom

Java-based Buddhist maritime empire (1293–1520) with many tributaries; strengthened by control of sea routes in Southeast Asia.

Sukhothai Kingdom

Early Thai kingdom in Southeast Asia, precursor to later Thai states and a center of Buddhist administration.

Islam in Southeast Asia

Spread of Islam via local merchants and Sufi missionaries; Islam became prominent in urban centers and across maritime regions (e.g., Indonesia).

Arabic numerals

Numeral system that originated in India, transmitted to the Islamic world, and later adopted in the West as the basis for modern numerals.

Caste system

Hierarchical Hindu social structure providing societal stability in a decentralized South Asia; mobility through religion or occupation was limited, especially for low-caste converts.

Qutub Minar

Tall minaret in Delhi symbolizing Islamic influence; built atop a Hindu temple site as an example of syncretic architecture.