APWH 1.3: S/SE Asia

The Context

  • 3 main belief systems rose:

    • Hinduism

    • Islam

    • Buddhism

Hinduism

  • Formed in India

  • Dominant religion in India

  • Ethnic religion that was tied to societal culture → made it harder to spread

  • Polytheistic belief system

    • Worshipped multiple deities

  • Ultimate goal → reunite individual souls to Brahman aka the world’s soul

    • Involves cycling death & reincarnation to achieve this goal

  • Provided conditions for a unified culture in India

    • Done by forming caste system

      • You can’t change your caste in your lifetime

      • If you were good in your present lifetime, you could reincarnate into a better caste next time

Buddhism

  • Formed in modern India/Nepal

  • Universalizing religion that could mix with other cultures pretty well → made it easier to spread

  • 1200s: Buddhism was waning in India

Similarities w/ Hinduism

  • Like Hinduism, believed in the cycle of death/reincarnation

  • Shared the goal of dissolving into oneness of universe

Differences w/ Hinduism

  • Rejected caste system; Vouched for equality for all

Islam

  • 1206: Turkic Muslims invaded South Asia and set up the Delhi Sultanate in Northern India

    • Muslims were in charge of stuff → Islam became the religion of the elite and passed into SE Asia

Changes in Religions

Hinduism

  • Bhakti Movement: A form of Hinduism that encouraged to worship 1 god out of all the gods

  • Rejected hierarchy of Hinduism → encouraged spiritual experiences for all social statuses

Islam

  • Sufism: mystical version of Islam

Comparison: Bhaktis vs Sufis

Similarities:

  • Emphasized mystical experiences

  • Rejected the elite’s elaborate doctrines and religious requirements

  • Vouched for access of spiritual experience to all people

Buddhism

  • Despite Buddha preaching enlightenment access for all, by now it had become exclusive

    • Buddhist practices limited to Buddhist monks

State Building in South Asia

Delhi Sultanate

  • Had a bunch of trouble spreading Islam in India

  • Hinduism was engrossed in society and culture → Islam ended up being a minority

Rajput Kingdoms

  • A collection of rival Hindu kingdoms that existed before Turkic Muslims invading

  • Resisted Islam

Vijayanagara Empire

  • A powerful Hindu empire founded in Southern India

  • Delhi Sultanate sent a bunch of Hindu-to-Muslim emissaries down South

  • Those emissaries converted back to Hinduism and formed Vijayanagara Empire

Sea-Based States in SE Asia

Srivijaya Empire

  • Ruled from 7th-11th CE

  • A Buddhist state that was influenced by Hindu culture

  • Main source of power came from Strait of Malacca

    • Rulers placed taxes on merchant ships that passed there

Majapahit Empire

  • Established in late 13th CE on Java

  • Formerly Hindu empire with strong Buddhist influences

  • Asserted power via tributary relationships with neighboring states

Land-Based States in SE Asia

Sinhala Dynasties

  • Located in present-day Sri Lanka

  • A Buddhist state that existed for 2,000 years

Khmer Empire

  • Founded as a Hindu empire

  • Became a prosperous state → $$$ → Built Angkor Wat

    • Angkor Wat: Hindu temple that represented entire Hindu universe in a building

  • Eventually, the rulers converted to Buddhism → added Buddhist touches to Angkor Wat

  • Angkor Wat is an example of religious syncretism