Post-Classical: South Asia
Political:
- Barbaric invasions brought an end to the Gupta empire
- Around 1000 Turkic conquest gave rise to a series of Turkic and Muslim regimes that governed much of India.
- Invaders smashed Hindu and Buddhist temples and stole Indian treasure.
- Sultanate of Delhi (1206) Sultanate rule became more systemtic. Their small numbers and internal conflicts allowed only a very modest penetration of Indian society.
- The Mughal Empire, which were the Mongols, governed largely non-Muslim populations. It was led by Turks who invaded India in 1526. They established unified control over most of India.
Economy:
- The Charkhi, an early form of cotton gin was invented along with Indigo being produced as well as crystalized sugar.
- Silver currency was initiated by the Mughal empire.
- Indian ports bulged with goods from both the east and west. It was the center of the Indian Ocean trade.
- The major trading counties became "interconnected in a web of sea commerce around the globe."
- Islam became a major factor of trade in the Indian Ocean Basin.
- Malacca was a major port city with commerce between different nations.
Religion:
- Academic centers for Buddhists learning also flourished during the 6th century ce.
- Turkic speaking warriors brought Islam into Northern India as they invaded it.
- Buddhists as well as low cast Hindus and untouchables found Islam very appealing.
- People who converted to Islam were benefited by avoiding harsh taxation.
- Sufis facilitated conversion because they made the Muslim faith more mystical and appealing to the Hindus.
- Islam never managed to claim more that 25% of the Indian population.
- Despite centuries of Muslim rule, Islam never posed a threat to Hindu beliefs.
- Sikhism emerged during the early 16th century. It blended elements of Islam, such as monotheism, with Hindu concepts such as karma and rebirth.
Society:
- Muslim communities emerged in India with the Turkic conquest of India.
- Muslim communities were concentrated in the Punjab and Sing regions as well as in Bengal.
- Hindu beliefs and Muslim beliefs differed greatly, yet the two cultures managed to co-exist for some time.
- Muslims considered all to be equal while Hindus had a strict caste system that could not be changed.
- Hindu caste system was: Brahmin (priests), Kshatryia (warriors), Viasya (merchants and landowners), Sudras (commoners), and the untouchables.
- Muslims lived separately from Hindus, remaining a distinctive minority.
Intellectuals:
- Various technological innovations facilitated Indian Ocean trade.
- New sails, new kinds of ships called junks, improvement of compasses, and the knowledge of monsoons all allowed for easier travel along the Indian Ocean basin region.
- Madhava of Sangamagrama found the infinite serious of numbers known as pi.
- Oral traditions, stories, and histories were now recorded in sanskrit.
- A form of a cotton gin was invented called the Charkhi
Arts and Architecture:
- The Qutub Minar was constructed and is the worlds tallest brick minaret.
- There were strong differences between Muslim and Hindu art.
- Muslim art usually depicted order and there was a strict code against showing any representation of their diety's face.
- Hindu art was nature orientated, colorful, and often included visual representation of Gods.
Near Geography:
- South Asia includes mostly India. It is surrounded by the Indian Ocean, making it a major contributor in the Indian Ocean trade commerce with its many port cities.
- The Ganges river is longest river in India
- Northern India is surrounded by mountains which provides a natural border between India and other countries .
- The Thar desert in India is the worlds 7th largest desert.
- The movement of Islam came from nearby central Asian conquerers who adopted the Muslim religion prior to invading India.