Bentley ch 16

1. Bentley ch 16 India and the Indian Ocean Basin

2. Ch 16: India and the Indian Ocean Basin • White Huns invade India & collapse the Gupta Empire—Result is a divided India once again • Northern India • was periodically invaded by nomadic Turks (absorbed into society) • By the early 600s CE, three warring states controlled the Ganges Valley • Harsha(r. 606-648) was king of one of these warring states • Built an army w/ calvary, infantry, war elephants • In six years he conquered the territory of the old Gupta empire • Was not able to conquer the Deccan • Hsuan-Tsang (Chinese Buddhist scholar) wrote about Harsha and described him as a model ruler • People had low taxes, high standard of living, excellent education system • Patron of the arts, and himself a writer of three Sanksrit works • Peace for 41 years • After his death, empire split into small states that fought for control of northern India • Assassinated and left no heir

3. 900s, Rajputs (strong rulers) emerged • Claimed divine right • Intermarried with the Hindus • Adopted Hinduism and the caste system • Small kingdoms • Defended their territories against Muslim invaders • Warrior caste organized in clans • Loyal code of conduct called the “way of the warrior” • Men had to protect the weak • Show bravery in battle • Respect women • Code of conduct for women included suttee (ritual suicide if their husbands died in battle) • Marriage or military advancement led to more flexibility in the caste system • Entry of Islam into India • Military • Merchants • Migrations and invasions of Turks • Mahmud of Ghazni: invaded india with the intent to plunder the Hindu and Buddhist temples, effect: hastened the decline of Buddhism in India, his successors established the Sultanate of Delhi (1206-1526) • The Chola Kingdom (850-1267)

4. Muslim Invasions of India • 711 CE, Arabs conquered the Indus Valley • Ruled the Indus Valley loosely which resulted in a decentralized state • 997 CE, Arab Turks began attacking northern India and eventually conquered the Rajput princes • By 1200s, the Arabs had controlled most of northern India • Delhi Sultanate • Delhi became the capital of the Mamluk dynasty (Arabs) • Usually allowed the Indians to follow their traditional way of life • Kept northern India unified for 300 years • Early 1300s, conquered the Deccan • Muhammad ibn Taghluq (r. 1325-1351) • Rumor he murdered his father for the throne • Founded a new capital and ordered the evacuation of Delhi • People had to march 500 miles • Firuz Shah Tughluq (r.1351-1388) • Social reformer • Cultured man • Built canals, roads, reservoirs • Built hospitals, schools, mosques • Reversed Muhammad ibn Taghluq’s harsh policies • After his death, people felt confident to revolt

5. Results of Muslim Rule • In the beginning, few Indians converted to Islam • Important difference b/w two religions • Hinduism • Polytheistic • Used music in ceremonies • Rejected beef • Drank alcohol • Caste system • Hindu fertility goddess • Islam • Monotheistic • No music • Ate beef • Rejected alcohol • All people are equal before God • Women were secluded

6. Muslim contributions • introduced Urdu • new language • combined Persian and Arabic words and script with the language of the Delhi region • used as a means of communication between the authorities and the common people • language of present day Pakistan • brought architectural techniques of the dome and the arch • brought the Chinese knowledge of gunpowder, papers, porcelain