the coming of islam to south asia chapter 7 (part 3 of 4)
TRANSCRIPT
The Coming of Islam to South Asia Chapter 7 (part 3 of 4)
India had long history of being invaded
India had more material culture than invaders, so most invaders wanted to assimilate
Most invaders converted to one of the 2 major religions at the time in India: Hinduism or Buddhism
Muslims Arrive In India (600s)
First time Indians invaded by civilization as advanced, or more advanced, than the Indians
Islam v. HinduIslam
Belief in one God (Allah)
Socially egalitarian – everyone considered
equals
More rigid than Hinduism
Hinduism
Idol worship
Socially hierarchy through Caste system
More tolerant than Islam, able to adapt
At 1st, interactions b/t Hindus and Muslims was
violent
But quickly became
peaceful, and most interaction
was peaceful
Muslims actually
used Hindus
(locals) to rule areas for them
India Before Muslim Invasion
Guptas fell in the 400s
Regional dynasties fought for control next 200 years
Harsha Builds an Empire
Leader of local dynasty, expanded it and built largest empire in India since the Gupta
Harsha’s empire had long period of peace and prosperity –built roads and hospitals
Kannauj – capital of empire, had big walls, huge homes, and garden with pools
Harsha’s Death
Harsha died in 646, and the kingdom fell apart due to
internal fighting
India was no longer united,
and that opened way for Muslim invasions,
beginning in 711
The Spark
Arab trading ship was attacked near
India (attackers from Indian state
of Sind)
Muslims respond and attack and
conquer Sind, led by Muhammad
ibn Qasim
Muhammad ibn Qasim
Islam Brings Little Change to India – At First
There was little effort by Muslims to convert Indians to Islam (remember, this is during Umayyad period)
Muslims respected the Brahman caste, and local leaders (Hindus) used by Muslims to help rule
Muslims were tolerant of local religions and promised low taxes, so many Indians did not resist their rule
Indian Culture Reaches the Middle East
Arabs learn algebra and geometry from
India
Indian doctors brought to Baghdad
to run hospitals
The book is a collection of stories, many based on Indian tales
Arabian Nights is written
Chess (an Indian game) becomes popular in Middle East
Arabic numerals really Hindu numerals
Astronomy equipment (astrolabe) copies and improved
Arabs (Muslims) Move to India and Assimilate to Indian Culture
They wore Indian clothing Leaders rode elephants like Hindu leaders
They ate Indian foods
2nd Wave of Muslim Invasions
Other than Sindh, Muslims took very little
land in India
962 – A 2nd wave of invasions by Muslims into India occurs, and
Muslim rule gets stronger
Mahmud of GhazniTurkish slave and leader of Afghanistan
Conquered much of India to spread Islam
and gain wealth
Began 200 year Muslim rule in
north India
Muslim ruler who took over after
Mahmud of Ghazni assassinated in
1206
Next 300 years, Muslims ruled
north and central India
Made Delhi the capital, show
Muslims wanted central India too
Able to conquer almost all of north
India
Muhammad of Ghur
Muslim Control of India under Muhammad of Ghur
Leaders were called Sultans of
Delhi
Built large armies with cavalries on
elephants, like local Hindus
Built large bureaucracy,,
and tried making money off the
people
Muslims used Hindus to help rule, so never
got too powerful
Most Indians not forced to convert, and few in areas that Muslims
ruled converted (shows it
wasn’t focus of Muslims)
Islam spread by merchants and sufis, and
there was a lot of intermarriage, which led
to people converting
Many converts became Muslim to avoid paying extra taxes, such as the
tax on non-believers (jizya)
Most converts
came from Buddhism, or
from low-caste Hindus
who liked that Islam preached
egalitarianism (equality)Conversions
Islam Had Little Impact on Hinduism
While many converted to Islam, Islam had little impact on Hinduism
High-caste Hindus disliked Muslims (they
were corrupting minds of low-caste Hindus)
Mostly Hindus and Muslims lived separately
and were not friends
Muslims In India Adopt Hierarchy System
Recent Muslims
arrivals
High-caste Hindu converts
Artisans and merchants
Low-caste Hindu converts
Muslims become
divided along caste lines
Example of why Indians thought Muslims would absorb into the
culture and not be threat
Women’s Status Decline as Muslims Come to India
Muslims Adopt Some Hindu Practices That Are Bad for Women
Marrying at young age
Forbid widows
from remarrying
Sati – widows
jump into fire of
cremated husband
Hindus Realize Muslims A Threat
Despite this, Hindus saw Muslims were not
going to adopt Hinduism,
Muslims in India adopted much of the
culture
Hindus realize that Muslims pose a threat,
unlike past invaders who were assimilated
into Indian culture
Kabir
Muslim mystic who downplayed the difference b/t Islam and Hinduism, but efforts like his usually unsuccessful in
uniting the 2 religions
BhaktiBhakti = Hindu
cults, membership open to all
(including women and untouchables)
that were very popular
Bhakti cults so popular that many didn’t convert to
Islam
Used dances and even drugs to reach
intoxification needed for salvation
Famous Hindu poet
Mira Bai
Showed openness of Bhakti cults to women
Hindus and Muslims Remain Apart
Brahmans saw Muslims as threat and denounced
them
Hindu mystics tried to re-convert Indians back
to Hinduism
Muslim ulama rejected attempts like Kabir’s to
fuse the 2 religions, remain rigid
Despite many Indians being ruled by Muslims,
most Indians don’t convert to Islam
Indians believed Muslims would
eventually be absorbed into Hinduism