Topic 1.3 - Developments in South and Southeast Asia | 1200-1450

Chola Dynasty | 850-1267

• Hindu Empire, largely rejected Buddhism and Jainism. 

• Traded with Tang China and the Abbasid Caliphate

• Greatest maritime empire in India

• Influenced Southeast Asia through maritime trade and conquest

• Temple-building

• Influenced the architecture of Hindu temples in Indonesia

Imperial Pandyas | 1216-1345

• Maravarman Sundara I, sent the Chola kind Kulothunga III into exile

• Ended the Chola Dynasty

• Temple-centered Hinduism and a major part of the bhakti movement

Bhakti Movement

• Bhakti Movement - A movement in medieval Hinduism that sought to bring religious reforms to all strata of society, challenged the caste system, and brought devotion for ascension.

• Followers have a devotion to a particular deity

• Emphasized music, dance, poetry, and rituals to achieve union with the diving

• Influential social reform

• Salvation was attainable by all

Caste System

1. Brahmins - Priests | Can achieve ascension

2. Kshatriyas - Rulers/Warriors

3. Vaishyas - Landowners/Merchants

4. Sudras - Servants | Cannot achieve ascension

5. Dalits - “Untouchables”

Harihara and Bukka

• Founded the vijayanagara Empire

• Originally Hindu

• Captured by the Delhi Sultanate and converted to Islam

• BEcame generals and were sent to southern India

• Converted back to Hinduism

Vijayanagara Empire | 1336-1646

• Agricultural

• 300 sea ports, maritime trade

• Tolerant of all religions, protected Hinduism

• Rulers were Hindu but adopted some Islamic political traditions

• Bhakti movement

• Caste System

Rajput Kingdoms

• Majority Hindu, but also Muslim and Sikh

• Clans often at war with each other

• Major obstacle to Muslim dominance

Sinhala Dynasties

• Buddhist state before it got centralized government

• Advanced irrigation techniques

• Trade agreements

• Between 1200-1450 there was many invasions that weakened their power

• Zheng He sailed to Sri Lanka in 1411 and defeated the ruler

Srivijaya Empire | 670-1025

• Hindu and Buddhist commercial kingdom on Sumatra in modern-day Indonesia

• Got control of the Strait of Malacca, the waterway between Sumatra and Malaysia

• Controlled trade between China and India by charging fees to access the route through the Strait of Malacca

• This control put a target on the SRivijaya Empire

• Forced ships to dock in their territory which made stops on the east coast of India unnecessary

• Chola Dynasty attacked the empire, sacked cities, and captured the ruler.

Majapahit Empire | 1293-1527

• Located on the island of Java

• One of the last major Hindu-Buddhist empires

• One of the greatest and most powerful empires in the history of Indonesia and Southeast Asia

• Considered to have set Indonesia's modern day boundaries

• King was thought to be divine - chakravartin

• State officials assist and are in a hierarchy

• Government structure remains intact throughout the majority of the empire

Khmer Empire | 802-1431

• Located in present-day Cambodia

• Larger than the Byzantine Empire

• Collapsed Mysteriously

• The first king was deified as a king in Hindu tradition

• Main religions were Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism

• Later mass conversions to Theravada Buddhism happens

• The switch is thought to be a contributing factor

• Difference in caste system - Khmer caste system is justified by the king

• Water-fueled empire: planting along rivers such as the Mekong, a lot of fishing, monsoon climate

• Angkor Wat - Hydraulic City

Khmer Caste System

1. King - chakravartin

2. Brahmins - priests

3. Kshatriyas - warriors/royalty

4. Merchants/artisans

5. Rice farmers/fishermen

6. Slaves

Khmer conflict with Sukhothai

• Khmer controlled Sukhothai land until 1238

• Series of wars followed Sukhothai independence

• Khmer capital of Angkor was sieged in 1353 and 1394

• Angkor was abandoned in 1431

• Post-Angkor Cambodia is referred to as the “Dark Age” until the 1800s

Reasons for the fall of the Khmer Empire

• Failing water systems

• Theravada Buddhism

• Sukhothai Invasions

• Other Factors

Hindu/Buddhist states with Muslim populations

• Rajput Kingdoms

• Srivijaya Empire

• Majapahit Kingdom

Key Ideas

• Bhakti Movement spread through Hindu states

• Sufis continued to convert other to Islam

• Various South and Southeast Asian states were centered around a particular religion

• Trade and control of trade helped states rise to power and toppled them