MMW 13 Lecture 7, April 23
Transcript of 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 30th
Afro-Eurasia and Americas
Expanding Horizons of Cross-Cultural Interaction (The
Case of Hemispheric Pandemics)
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 (18th 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
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 sub-categories
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
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.
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.
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
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)
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:
Rajput dynastic orders
Emerged in political importance in the 7th 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.
Make a note
India’s contribution, in terms of religion, in
terms of economics, in terms of trade,
CANNOT be detached from
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…