The Chola DynastyThe Chola Kingdom illustrateswell the grandeur of powerful regionalstates during the early medieval period. South India first came to prominence with the rise of the Satavahana Kingdom in the Deccan Plateau. This empire controlled large amounts of territory but gave local control to smaller kings. The dominating religion of Chola was Hindu. Trade Under Chola RuleThe manufacturers of the Chola kingdom also produced goods for export to foreign countries. Textiles of high quality, metals, pottery were manufactured to sell overseas. Spices, precious stones, pearls, ivory were also exported. Since the Chola kingdom was located in South India it had greater access to the sea and was the centre for sea trade. It had trade relations with many Asian and European countries. It was a trading partner of China. This created a monopoly of the Chola merchants. South India also became influential in facilitating sea trade between Asia and Europe as many other countries were routing their goods through them. As a result of prosperous business in exports, many industries started producing exclusively for export purposes. The Cholas did extremely well in foreign trade and maritime activity.

Women’s Role in CholaOne of the most interesting features of the Chola culture was the presence of

gender equality. The warrior Chola culture celebrated bravery in both men and women. In the Chola era, women were known for their valour and occupied strategic administrative positions. The Cholas, a massive Naval Power, had a warrior culture that included women in a multitude of roles. There was presence of women bodyguards and throne guards in the Chola Empire. The Chola King's retinue included the padimagalir - women bodyguards. These women were trained for fighting from a young age, and well-armed to protect the royalty. Courage was one of the foremost virtues to possess for the Cholas. Women also worked as advisors and ambassadors - the poem Perum Kathai speaks of "clever women" who acted as peacemakers between kingdoms. Women were respected and given pride at home as well as in state administration. Moreover, women were able to exercise freedom in some areas, like, they could marry for love.

However, one must not forget that it was a patriarchal and feudal society, that still saw women in the context of their relationships with men. Widows were marginalized and low status women were not treated kindly and were more like property.The Safavids Conquest and ongoing cultural interaction fueled the development of the Safavid Empire. Originally, the Safavids were members of an Islamic religious brotherhood named after their founder, Safi al-Din. In the 15th century, the Safavids aligned themselves with the Shi’a branch of Islam.

The Safavids were also squeezed geographically between the Ottomans and Uzbek tribespeople and the Mughal Empire. (See the map on page 514.) To protect themselves from these potential enemies, the Safavids concentrated on building a powerful army.

The Safavid military became a force to reckon with. In 1499, a 12-year-old named Isma’il (ihs•MAH•eel) began to seize most of what is now Iran. Two years later he completed the task. To celebrate his achievement, he took the ancient Persian title of shah, or king. He also established Shi’a Islam as the state religion.

Shah Abbas, or Abbas the Great, took the throne in 1587. He helped create a Safavid culture and golden age that drew from the best of the Ottoman, Persian, and Arab worlds.

Shah Abbas reformed aspects of both military and civilian life. He limited the power of the military and created two new armies that would be loyal to him alone. One of these was an army of Persians. The other was a force that Abbas recruited from the Christian north and modeled after the Ottoman janissaries. He equipped both of these armies with modern artillery.

Abbas also reformed his government. He punished corruption severely and promoted only officials who proved their competence and loyalty. He hired foreigners from neighboring countries to fill positions in the government.

To convince European merchants that his empire was tolerant of other religions, Abbas brought members of Christian religious orders into the empire. As a result, Europeans moved into the land. Then industry, trade, and art exchanges grew between the empire and European nations

Shah Abbas brought hundreds of Chinese artisans to Esfahan. Working with Safavid artists, they produced and traded intricate metalwork, miniature paintings, calligraphy, glasswork, tile work, pottery, and carpets. This collaboration gave rise to artwork that blended Chinese and Persian ideas. These decorations beautified the many mosques, palaces, and marketplaces.

Some women were able to participate in aspects of society and even became wealthy due to art and the trading of art in the Empire. Power and respect was given to the pious and unmarried sister or daughter of ruling men. However, this was reserved for the women from important families, most women could not participate in society.

The Mughals EmpireThe Mughal Empire was an empire that at its greatest territorial extent ruled parts of Afghanistan, Balochistan and most of the Indian Subcontinent between 1526 and 1857. The empire was founded by the Mongol leader Babur in 1526. The Mughal Empire is known as a “gunpowder empire.” The religion of Mughals was Islam but there were many people who practiced Hinduism there as well. This created some religious conflict in the country.

Under Akbar the Great, the empire grew considerably, and continued to expand until the end of Aurangzeb's rule. Jahangir, the son of Akbar, ruled the empire between 1605 and 1627. When Shah Jahan, Jehangir's son, became emperor in October 1627, the empire was large and wealthy enough to be considered one of the greatest empires in the world at that time. It was Shah Jahan who commissioned the building that represents the pinnacle of Mughal architectural achievement, the Taj Mahal, between 1630 and 1653. Sponsors of art and of learning, the Mughals left a rich heritage of buildings, paintings and literature.

Due to the Mughal Empire being perfectly situated between east and west and becoming a pass through via the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, trade thrived. Mughals traded a large variety of goods. The foods they traded included rice, sugar, oil, and materials such as cotton and Indigo. Textiles were the most important thing they traded and they mostly kept their trade in Asia.

Women were allowed to receive salaries and own land. In education, lower class women were not allowed to learn or study as it was believed they should be at home taking care of their families. However, women were treated well and given status such as bodyguards and warriors in the empire.

Piracy in the Indian Ocean: Here come the Europeans

When the Indian Ocean Trade network emerged the trade was conducted by individual merchants who travelled between ports buying and selling goods. This system worked for hundreds of years and benefited those who produced, sold, and bought goods in the area.

When the Portuguese first arrived in the Indian Ocean they had wanted to trade with the established ports and empires, but they did not have a product that the people in the area wanted. Since they couldn’t make money by legally trading, they turned to piracy. They seized local ports with force and began to rob and extort local producers and merchants. The Portuguese viewed Muslims as the enemy and took every opportunity to economically harm them and their ships.

When other European Empires began to enter the Indian Ocean Trade they sought to control the market of certain items by being the only ones to have them. For example the Dutch East India Company sought to control spices like nutmeg and mace. The British East India Company sought to control trade routes and charge taxes and tolls for those who used them.

Europeans believed it was their role and responsibility to keep the peace in the area and control the trade because they believed they were better than those who already lived in the area. The Europeans believed it was important for them to establish control over the politics in Asia so they took many areas over by force and turned them into colonies

Because the Europeans began controlling trade and countries many people in the area found themselves being managed by a foreign power and they were not allowed to participate in the Indian Ocean Trade. Therefore they turned to piracy as a way to continue to make money and keep their freedom. Those who did not engage in piracy found themselves struggling to survive. They either had to turn to the Europeans for help, which meant giving up power and freedom in their country, or they were always at risk of being attacked by pirates who stole their goods.

This all contributed to the fall of the Indian Ocean Trade Network.

Indian Ocean Trade Name:_________________________Empires and European Influence

BELLRINGER: 1. What geographic phenomenon allowed Indian Ocean trade to be a “thing?”

2. Constantinople was to Silk Road trade as ________________________ was to Indian Ocean trade.

3. How was the lateen sail an improvement on rowing with oars?

4. Give two reason, and explain, why Indian Ocean trade was considered better or more efficient than the Silk Road.

Crash Course World History #21: 15 th Century Mariners - https://nerdfighteria.info/v/NjEGncridoQ/ STOP at 6:301. Who dominated Indian Ocean trade?Muslims

2. What was the approximate number of sailors on the ships of Zheng He?27,000 3. Why would other regions pay tribute to China? For them to be allowed to do what? Trade with them

4. Basically, Zheng He was like the medieval _____________________________. Chinese Noah

5. Due to isolationism, what did China begin to spend wealth on instead of tribute voyages? Great wall

6. Why did Portugal rely on trade to grow?It was resource poor (nothing to trade)

7. Who were the two main Portuguese figures to influence trade in the Indian Ocean? Which one was ACTUALLY a navigator?Da Gama and Prince Henry the Navigator (da Gama)

8. Explain, “trading post empire.”

9. Portuguese were just glorified__________________________, extracting value from trade without

adding to its _______________________ or _______________________. Pirates, efficiency, volume

10. Although not altogether successful in Indian Ocean trade, who did the Portuguese influence to become involved in global trade that had vast implications for world history? Spain and Columbus

Empire Graphic Organizer

Questions to Answer for each Empire

Safavids Mughal Chola

Location:

What did the empires trade?

Roles of Women:

Religion:

Describe the culture of each empire in 3 words.

Important fact about each empire

Piracy in the Indian Ocean: Here come the Europeans

1. Why did Europeans struggle to trade in the Indian Ocean at first?

2. What did the Dutch East India Company do to participate in the Indian Ocean?

3. What did the British East India Company do to participate in the Indian Ocean?

4. How did the Europeans view their role and responsibility in the Indian Ocean?

5. How did the people in the region respond to Europeans trying to control the trade?

6. How did this impact the people that did not turn to piracy?

Exit Slip: Describe how maritime trade advanced empires development.

How did the introduction of Europeans affect maritime trade in the Indian Ocean?