MMW 13 Lecture 7, April 23
Today s Lecture India and the Indian Ocean Basin The Song Modernity & (briefly) the Ming in East Asia
April 28 Tuesday The Americas and Oceania
April 30 th Afro-Eurasia and Americas Expanding Horizons of Cross-Cultural Interaction (The Case of Hemispheric Pandemics)
Post-Gupta India (320-550 C.E) Southernization
India and the Indian Ocean Basin
A collage Collage of micro-cultures, cultures that had their own autonomy and yet intermingled with others.
1000-1500 Civilization of India (and China) more advanced than Europe India faced a series of invasions: Islamization (from Central Asia) European colonialism (18 th century)
India s regional divide Unlike China, no centralized imperial power. North-South divide North: unstable Rajputs ( kings sons ) A Hindu warrior caste Chivalry, courage culture South: stable, though highly fragmented. dependent on the sea
I. Society and caste
Village as a political unit
Caste and Political Society Caste System: social stratification found in the Vedas system as social classes based on hereditary groups (bloodline or kinship ties), divided into subcategories Brahmins: highest priestly class Kshatriyas: ruling military elite Vaishyas: agriculture and cattle-rearing; landowners, traders even money lenders Shudras: lowest and largest caste group, service workers, unskilled workers, even slaves
Dalits (The untouchables) Outside of the caste system 167 million Dalits in today s India
Caste Function Division of labor, especially for foreigners and migrants established codes of conduct for behavior which helped people order their work and their relationships with others in the same or other classes. Subcasts (jati): worker s guilds. Merchants and manufactures organized powerful guilds.
Caste System
Gender patriarchal system was prevalent but women enjoyed a position of respect and reverence Religious institution: gift giving, public active participation in temple life
Hindu Temples Economic centers. Organized agricultural activities. Provided schooling delivered tax receipts to the Hindu rulers and did other community activities.
Sati
Kerala: Southwestern India Practiced Polyandry, a marriage of one woman to several husbands.
SOUTHERN KINGDOMS: HINDU STATES Chola Kingdom (850-1267) expanded because of sea trade, dominated South China Sea and Arabian Sea. Gave considerable autonomy to local rulers. Traded with the Chinese. spread the cultic aspects of the Hindu religion
Chola Empire 850-1279 CE
Arab Trade with the Subcontinent
Hoysala Empire (1026-1343)
Vaishnava temple at Somanathapura
Vijayanagar (1336-1664) Deccan Plateau Harihara and Bukka: later converted to Hinduism and promoted the religion as a unifying factor. Vijayanag City of Victory Centralized: Rajya (Provinces) Hampi: Village; temple
II. Economy 1) Agricultural production: with the increase in agricultural yields, people began to trade more and manufacture goods (rather than produce food). 2) Network of sea-lanes and port-cities: a) Innovation in maritime technology b) Trade brought water management systems for irrigation (in the south)
Oceanic Trade Dhows and Junks Emporia:
Manufacturing: cloths, textiles, pottery, leather goods, and jewelry
Agriculture & irrigation Southern India: arid land without rivers like the Indus or the Ganges. Dams, reservoirs, canals, wells and tunnels. Reservoir: Artificial lakes (250 square miles). Therefore: Rise of agricultural goods and population!!!
Urbanization By 1500 the subcontinent had a population of 105 million. 1) Internal Trade: a) Rise of cities led to an increase in b) trade: caravan and sea routes (coastal towns like Calicut and Quilon flourished). 2) Maritime trade:
Lucknow
Rajput dynastic orders Emerged in political importance in the 7 th century Landowners and patrilineal clans in central and northern India Descendent of warrior ruling class, but in reality varied in class status
Islam and the Indian subcontinent Mahmud (971-1030) ruler of a Turkish dynasty based at Ghazni in eastern Afghanistan 1001 the first of numerous invasions of modern day Pakistan 1041 Kashmir 1025 Hindu, Buddhist and Jain kingdoms of Nagarkot, Thanesar, and Ujjain, but left them as vassal states
Sultanate of Delhi (1206-1526) Five dynasties, four with Turkish origins Qutb al-din Aibak (1206-1210) Muhammad bin Tughluq (1325-1351)
Islam Appeal: egalitarianism & pragmatic (to improve their economic situation). Sufism (& Hinduism) a) Mysticism: Divine as self. b) Spiritual Authority: Pir and Guru Cross-fertilized sects The Bhakti Movement: Southern India. a) Cult of love and devotion. b) Fused with Islamic values (as moved to the north) c) Shiva, Vishnu and Allah were all manifestations of a single deity.
Shi i Islam
Sikhism
Make a note India s contribution, in terms of religion, in terms of economics, in terms of trade, CANNOT be detached from
Buddhism 624 BCE Nepal; formerly parts of India (Lumbini)
Tang Dynasty (618-907) The Silk Road revived Chinese maritime presence Southernization
Xuanzang (d. 664)
What role did Tang China play in the Eurasian world? 1) Technological advancements: woodblock printing text 2)The Mongols adopt their advanced urban civilization and spread it across Eurasia. 3) Cosmopolitanism: cross-fertilization of cultures and religions.
Song (960-1279 Restored unity in China and made China the richest, most populous civilization Economic cultivation through Agricultural production 1279 conquered by Kublia Khan
Accomplishments Banknotes Developed revolutionary new military technology: Gunpowder Deployment of compass Movable printing press (Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127)
Tang-Song China Legacy 1) Revival of centralized imperial order. 2) Spread of religions and ideas. 3) Expansive market-based economy (not agricultural) 4) Major technological and industrial advancements.
What did the Song NOT do? 1) Major economic and technological advancements did not lead to revolutionize Chinese society? Because it was already self-sufficient. 2) Technology to sail the seas: lacked incentive to sail the world. 3)Despite commercial expansion, kept merchants out of major industries. 4)4) Peaceful relations with neighboring nomadic societies: big mistake! Mongols