1.3 South and Southeast Asia around 1200

South Asia and Southeast Asia Around 1200

Introduction

• Overview of South Asia and Southeast Asia. Focus on the impact of belief systems: Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism around the year 1200.

• South Asia refers mainly to the Indian subcontinent.

• Southeast Asia encompasses a diverse region where Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam were practiced.

South Asia: Religions

Hinduism

• Dominant religion in India for millennia.

• Polytheistic belief system.

• Belief in many gods, unlike monotheistic religions.

• Goal: reunite the individual soul with Brahman (the all-pervasive world soul).

• Reincarnation: souls cycle through death and rebirth over many lifetimes to achieve reunion with Brahman.

Caste System

• Structured Indian society into a five-tiered system.

• Social status was generally fixed during one's lifetime.

• Reincarnation into a higher caste was possible based on virtuous behavior.

Buddhism

• Founded in India, sharing beliefs with Hinduism.

• Reincarnation: belief in the cycle of birth and death.

• Goal: dissolve into the oneness of the universe, similar to Hinduism.

Differences from Hinduism

• Rejection of the caste system.

• Emphasis on the equality of all people.

Ethnic vs. Universalizing Religion

• Hinduism: ethnic religion tightly bound to a specific people and place, making it difficult to spread.

• Buddhism: universalizing religion that can be integrated into any culture.

• Buddhism's influence in India was waning by 1200.

Islam

• In 1206, Turkic Muslim invaders established the Delhi Sultanate in South Asia.

• Islam became the second most important belief system in India.

• Became the religion of the elite in many parts of India.

Changes in Belief Systems

Hinduism: Bhakti Movement

• New expression of Hinduism.

• Worship of one particular god in the Hindu pantheon.

• Rejection of the Hindu hierarchy.

• Encouraged spiritual experiences for all, regardless of social status.

Islam: Sufism

• Mystical, spiritual experience-based version of Islam.

Similarities between Bhaktis and Sufis

• Emphasis on mystical experience.

• Rejection of elaborate doctrines and religious requirements of the elite.

• Emphasis on access to spiritual experience for all people.

• Facilitated the spread of their respective faiths.

Changes in Buddhism

• Buddhism in South Asia had become more exclusive by this time.

• Mostly confined to monks in monasteries.

• Buddhism was declining in South Asia.

State Formation and Maintenance of Power in South Asia

Delhi Sultanate

• Established in 1206 by Muslim rulers in Northern India.

• Difficulty imposing Islam on India due to Hinduism's strong cultural and social entrenchment.

• Islam remained a minority religion.

Resistance to Muslim Rule

• Rajput kingdoms: rival Hindu kingdoms that resisted Muslim rule

• Some Rajput kingdoms were conquered, while others maintained independence.

Vijayanagara Empire

• A powerful Hindu kingdom founded in the south in the 14th century.

• Established by Hindu emissaries who rejected Islam after being sent by Muslim sultans.

State Building in Southeast Asia

Sea-Based States

Srivijaya Empire

• Ruled from the 7th to 11th century.

• Buddhist state influenced by Indian Hindu culture.

• Source of power: control over the Strait of Malacca.

• Taxed ships passing through the strait.

Majapahit Kingdom

• Established on Java in the late 13th century.

• Hindu kingdom with Buddhist influences.

• Maintained power through a tributary system with other states in the region.

• Exerted control by requiring tribute (goods and services).

Land-Based States

Sinhala Dynasties (Sri Lanka)

• Buddhist state existing for approximately 2,000 years.

• Power derived from land-based resources rather than sea control.

Khmer Empire

• Located in present-day Cambodia.

• Founded as a Hindu empire, an exception to the rule that Hinduism doesn't spread.

• Built Angkor Wat, a magnificent Hindu temple representing the Hindu universe.

• Later rulers converted to Buddhism and added Buddhist elements to Angkor Wat.

• Syncretism: blending of Hindu and Buddhist elements in the temple.