APWH 1.3 Developments in South and Southeast Asia AMSCO Notes

Notes of the AMSCO reading.

Who was Lal Ded?

Lal Ded, also known as Mother Lalla, was a poet from Kashmir whose works illustrated the cross-interaction between Hinduism and Islam in South Asia

Where is Kashmir?

Kashmir is a region in northern India where Lal Ded was born

Why was Lal Ded’s poetry significant?

Although Hindu, her poetry emphasized personal spiritual experience and appealed to many Muslims, particularly Sufis, showing religious syncretism

How did Hinduism and Islam interact in South Asia?

The interaction of Hindus and Muslims, sometimes violent, shaped religious thought, politics, economics, art, and architecture in the region

What role did Buddhism play in South Asia?

Buddhism had a strong presence in the Sinhala dynasties of Sri Lanka and in Southeast Asian kingdoms

Was South Asia politically unified after the Gupta Empire?

No, after the Gupta collapse in 550, northern and southern India developed separate political structures and remained largely disunified for about 1,000 years

What provided cultural unity in South Asia despite political fragmentation?

Hinduism provided cultural unity through shared scriptures, core beliefs, and local faith traditions integrated across regions

What was the Chola Dynasty?

A southern Indian kingdom (850–1267) that ruled for over 400 years, extended its territory to Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and maintained regional stability

What was the Vijayanagara Empire?

A Hindu empire (1336–1646) founded by brothers Harihara and Bukka, originally Hindu, who converted to Islam for social mobility but later returned to Hinduism, establishing a powerful southern kingdom

Who were Harihara and Bukka?

Brothers from the Delhi Sultanate sent to southern India to extend Sultanate influence

they founded the Vijayanagara Empire

How did northern India differ politically?

Northern India had Rajput kingdoms, Hindu-led, clan-based, frequently at war, preventing centralized government and making the region vulnerable to invasions

What were the Rajput kingdoms?

Hindu kingdoms in northern India and present-day Pakistan led by clan leaders

regionalism and competition prevented unified governance

How did geography affect invasions in South Asia?

The Himalayas protected India from northern and eastern invasions, while northwest passes allowed Muslim armies to enter

What occurred in the 8th century regarding Islamic invasions?

Islamic armies entered present-day Pakistan but caused little change due to isolation from Dar al-Islam and Rajput resistance

What occurred in the 11th century with Islamic forces?

Islamic forces plundered northern India’s Hindu temples and Buddhist shrines for riches and built mosques on sacred sites, angering local populations

What was the Delhi Sultanate?

An Islamic empire established in the early 13th century that ruled northern India for 300 years, integrating Islam into politics and society

What was the jizya tax?

A tax imposed by the Delhi Sultanate on all non-Muslim subjects

Why did the Delhi Sultanate struggle to govern effectively?

Lacked an efficient Chinese-style bureaucracy, making it difficult to enforce policies over a vast, diverse region

How did the Delhi Sultanate interact with the Mongols?

The sultans prevented Mongol conquest of South Asia but eventually lost power in 1526 to the Mughal Empire

What is Islam?

A monotheistic religion emphasizing submission to Allah, following the Quran, and advocating equality of believers

What is Hinduism?

A polytheistic religion with a hierarchical caste system, multiple sacred texts, and focus on ritual, temple worship, and cultural continuity across South Asia

What is Buddhism?

A religion focused on moral teachings, meditation, and monastic life, with historical strength in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia

How did Islam spread in South Asia?

Initially through conquest, later more peacefully

conversions were often voluntary via trade, marriage, or attraction to equality principles

Who converted to Islam in South Asia?

Low-caste Hindus seeking improved social status and Buddhists affected by monastery corruption and raids

Did Islam change South Asian social structure?

It did not fundamentally alter the caste system, but Muslim merchants integrated into caste-based occupational roles

How did Islam affect gender roles in South Asia?

Islamic practices did not greatly change gender norms

women in Hindu and Islamic traditions were confined to social spheres, though Southeast Asian women had more independence

What was the Bhakti Movement?

A 12th-century Hindu devotional movement emphasizing emotional attachment to a deity, inclusive of women and lower castes, focusing less on rituals

Who was Mira Bai?

A 16th-century female poet associated with the Bhakti Movement

How were the Bhakti Movement and Sufism similar?

Both were mystical movements emphasizing personal connection to the divine, appealing to marginalized social groups, and spreading religion beyond formal rituals

How did South Asia influence Southeast Asia?

Through trade, religion, and culture, Indian merchants introduced Hinduism and Buddhism to Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam

What was the Srivijaya Empire?

A Hindu kingdom on Sumatra (670–1025) with a strong navy, prospering by controlling shipping fees between India and China

What was the Majapahit Kingdom?

A Buddhist kingdom on Java (1293–1520) with 98 tributaries, sustaining power through maritime trade

What were the Sinhala Dynasties?

Kingdoms in Sri Lanka with roots in northern Indian immigration, centers for Buddhist study, flourishing monasteries and nunneries

What was the Khmer Empire (Angkor Kingdom)?

A land-based Southeast Asian kingdom (802–1431) near the Mekong River, known for complex irrigation, rice agriculture, and capital at Angkor Thom

What was Angkor Thom?

The Khmer capital featuring temples with Hindu artwork, later integrated with Buddhist sculptures

What was Angkor Wat?

A Buddhist temple complex built alongside Angkor Thom in the 12th–13th centuries, showing Indian cultural influence

What was the Sukhothai Kingdom?

A Thai kingdom that invaded the Khmer Empire in 1431, ending Khmer dominance

How did Islam spread in Southeast Asia?

Through merchants in the 700s and Sufi missionaries

Islam was initially urban, tolerated local beliefs, and facilitated trade

Who were Sufis in Southeast Asia?

Missionary Muslims who spread Islam by accommodating local faiths, allowing people to convert without abandoning traditional beliefs

What role did Indian Ocean trade play in Southeast Asia?

Merchants traded gold, silver, textiles, and spices, spreading Hinduism and Buddhism

What is proselytize?

To actively seek converts to a religion

What is Buddhist monasticism?

A religious system where monks and nuns live in monasteries following disciplined spiritual practices

What is Qutub Minar?

A towering structure built by the Delhi Sultanate atop a Hindu temple, symbolizing Islamic influence and dominance in northern India

What is Urdu?

A language combining Hindi grammar with Arabic and some Farsi vocabulary, developed among Muslims in South Asia and now official in Pakistan

How did South Asian and Middle Eastern scholars exchange knowledge?

Arab astronomers and mathematicians built on Indian developments in algebra and geometry, translating and spreading knowledge across Dar al-Islam

What is the significance of Arabic numerals?

The numeral system used in the West originated in India and spread through Islamic scholars

How did architecture reflect cultural blending in India?

Sultans built Islamic structures incorporating Hindu artistic details and materials, exemplified by the Qutub Minar and mosques atop temples

How did the Bhakti Movement influence social inclusion?

It appealed to women and lower castes, providing spiritual engagement outside traditional caste restrictions

How did Sufism influence social inclusion?

By emphasizing equality of believers and accommodating local customs, Sufism made Islam accessible to diverse social groups

How did Southeast Asian kingdoms sustain power?

Through control of land or maritime trade, irrigation and agriculture, tributaries, and religious legitimacy

What was the economic basis of the Khmer Empire?

Complex irrigation and drainage systems allowed multiple rice harvests, supporting prosperity

How did Southeast Asian cultures integrate Indian influence?

Temples and artwork incorporated Hindu and Buddhist elements without destroying prior religious art, e.g., Angkor Wat

How did Islam accommodate local beliefs in Southeast Asia?

Muslims could convert while still honoring local deities, facilitating widespread acceptance

How did Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism affect society in South and Southeast Asia?

They shaped political structures, social hierarchy, cultural practices, education, gender norms, and trade relations

How did South Asia influence Southeast Asia?

South Asia strongly influenced Southeast Asia through trade, religion, and culture

Indian merchants introduced Hinduism and Buddhism to lands that are today Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, starting as early as 500 B.C.E.

What goods did Indian merchants trade in Southeast Asia?

Indian merchants sold gold, silver, metal goods, and textiles, and in return brought back fine spices

What religions spread to Southeast Asia via trade?

Hinduism and Buddhism spread through merchant networks and trade voyages from South Asia

What is the religious composition of Southeast Asia historically and today?

Much of Southeast Asia became and remains predominantly Buddhist

Why was Southeast Asia strategically significant?

Control of the region allowed influence over valuable trade routes between South Asia and East Asia

What are sea-based kingdoms in Southeast Asia?

Kingdoms that derived power from maritime trade and control of sea routes, such as the Srivijaya Empire and the Majapahit Kingdom

What was the Srivijaya Empire?

A Hindu kingdom on Sumatra (670–1025) that built a strong navy and prospered by charging fees for ships traveling between India and China

What was the Majapahit Kingdom?

A Buddhist kingdom on Java (1293–1520) with 98 tributaries at its height

it sustained power through maritime control and trade

What are land-based kingdoms in Southeast Asia?

Kingdoms that derived power from agricultural control and land resources rather than maritime trade, such as the Sinhala dynasties and the Khmer Empire

What were the Sinhala dynasties?

Kingdoms in Sri Lanka established by northern Indian immigrants

they became centers of Buddhist study, with flourishing monasteries and nunneries for both men and women

How did Buddhism influence Sinhala society?

Buddhist priests often served as advisors to monarchs, showing integration of religion and governance

How did the Sinhala kingdoms manage agriculture and economy?

The government oversaw construction of reservoirs and canals, creating irrigation systems that supported economic growth

What weakened the Sinhala dynasties over time?

Invasions from India and conflicts between monarchy and Buddhist priests undermined the kingdoms

What was the Khmer Empire?

Also called the Angkor Kingdom (802–1431), it was land-based near the Mekong River and relied on complex irrigation and drainage systems for agricultural prosperity

How did Khmer irrigation impact agriculture?

Allowed multiple rice harvests per year and mitigated damage from heavy monsoon rains, supporting economic growth

What was the capital of the Khmer Empire?

Angkor Thom

How did Khmer temples reflect cultural influences?

Temples displayed Hindu artwork and sculptures, and later integrated Buddhist sculptures during the 12th and 13th centuries without destroying Hindu art

What is Angkor Wat?

A nearby ornate Buddhist temple complex constructed in the 12th–13th centuries, reflecting Indian cultural influence on Southeast Asia

What happened in 1431 to the Khmer Empire?

The Thais of the Sukhothai Kingdom invaded, ending Khmer dominance, though ruins of Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat still stand

How did Islam first enter Southeast Asia?

Through local merchants in the 700s who converted to improve trading relations with incoming Islamic merchants

Where did Islam spread in Southeast Asia?

To Sumatra, Java, and the Malay Peninsula

today, Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world

How did Islam appeal to Southeast Asians?

Islam was popular in urban areas, emphasizing equality of believers, and allowed converts to honor local deities

Who were the Sufis in Southeast Asia?

Missionary Muslims who spread Islam by tolerating local faiths, making conversion socially and culturally acceptable

Why could people adopt Islam without abandoning traditional beliefs?

Because Sufis promoted tolerance, individuals could be Muslim while still honoring local deities and cultural practices

How did trade influence cultural exchange in Southeast Asia?

Trade introduced Indian religions, artistic styles, and political ideas, blending Hindu, Buddhist, and local Southeast Asian traditions

How did maritime power affect Southeast Asian kingdoms?

Kingdoms like Srivijaya and Majapahit maintained economic and political dominance by controlling sea trade routes

How did land-based kingdoms maintain power?

Through agriculture, irrigation, tribute systems, religious legitimacy, and central administration, as seen in the Khmer and Sinhala kingdoms

What was the long-term impact of Indian culture in Southeast Asia?

Indian religious, artistic, and architectural traditions shaped Southeast Asian kingdoms, as seen in temples, governance, and Buddhist/Hindu syncretism