Islam Spreads: India and Southeast Asia

Islam in South Asia/India

1st Wave: INVASIONS• 711: Muhammad ibn Qasim conquered Sind region & Indus Valley

for Umayyad • People welcomed

• lower taxes• religious tolerance

• India influenced Islam: Math, astronomy, medicine, music, building styles, Hindu mysticism(?)

.

2nd Wave of Invasions• Mahmud of Ghazni- from Afghanistan took India from declining

Abbasids• WHY? extravagant wealth of empire• Muhammad of Ghur expanded to Bengal• Sultans established capital at Delhi with a variety of Persian,

Turkish, Afghan until 16th century

Patterns of Conversion• Islamic conversion was voluntary and peaceful• Sufi mystics attractive to Buddhists, untouchables & low caste

groups• Merchant converts improved economic relationships with Muslim

traders

We see the 3 Ms!!!

• Military- Mahmud, Delhi• Merchants• Missionary- Sufi’s and untouchables

Muslim v. Hindu

• Islam• Rigid• egalitarian, • stern doctrine• Monotheistic• adopted Hindu styles• marriage practices

• Hinduism:• Absorptive• supportive of caste

system• responded with focus

on Bhakti mystic cults• Most showed little

interest in Islam

Islam & SE Asia• 8th century: Coastal trade (2nd “M”!) dominated by Muslims;

13th century: Collapse of Shrivijaya (SE Asian trading empire) allowed Islam's entrance

• Merchants & Sufis (3rd “M”!) brought Islam to Malacca to Malaya & Sumatra; Sufis tolerated earlier animist, Hindu & Buddhist beliefs

• Bali & Mainland SE Asia did not convert

African Civilization & the Spread of Islam

Chapter 8

I. African SocietiesPre-Islam

• Bantu migration provided common language background• Animistic religion &

belief in naturalistic forces; common belief in creator deity• Mixed Economy:

agriculture, Active trade & Market Life

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=bantu+migration&um=1&hl=en&safe=active&sa=N&biw=1280&bih=840&tbm=isch&tbnid=qHelsCvf9NjTwM:&imgrefurl=http://people.eku.edu/davisb/Africa/Ch7notes.htm&docid=9KQlxftqqoWBjM&imgurl=http://people.eku.edu/davisb/Africa/Bantumigrationmap1.gif&w=405&h=405&ei=xqRYUPu9CMr0iQLl14GYBQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=63&sig=107074975010236596184&page=1&tbnh=152&tbnw=152&start=0&ndsp=25&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:76&tx=102&ty=84&surl=1

Arrival of Islam• Between 640-700 Muslim

conquered N. Africa; conversion was rapid. Why?• Equality, Political Unity attractive

to diverse Africans

• Native African Berber Kingdoms emerged in opposition to Arabs. Who?• Almoravids & Almohadis became

radical Islamic movement pushing Islam South; used jihad-holy war

http://www.xtimeline.com/evt/view.aspx?id=36412

Christian KingdomsAxum, Egypt & Nubia (descendents of Kush)Ethiopia emerged as new Christian dynasty

from Axum; struggles between Christian & Muslim persist

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=bantu+migration&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&biw=1280&bih=840&wrapid=tlif134798651204210&surl=1&safe=active&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=VqRYUKKpBuHWiwKuzYD4Dg#um=1&hl=en&safe=active&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=north+africa+map&oq=north+africa+map&gs_l=img.1.0.0j0i5l2j0i24l7.8484.11063.11.13907.12.10.0.0.0.1.188.1062.6j4.10.0...0.0...1c.1.yOqCfrwz27g&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=fa0fa40884b0c6b7&biw=792&bih=478

Ghana• There were a number of Sudanic States:

Ghana was the first large empire (trade and location)

Mali• Economy

• Agricultural basis• with active trade (salt, gold, etc) • specialized trading group, juula• Strong legal authority provided easy travel and trade

• Politics• Sundiata attained legendary hero status• attributed with social structure; 16 clans of free people, 5

religious clans, 4 specialized clans• Mansa Musa’s Muslim pilgrimage gave Mali

recognition & new innovation• Brought renown to Mali• He brought back architect Ishak al-Sahili from Muslim

Spain

Social and Intellectual • Towns commercial with many foreign

residents• Cosmopolitan court of merchants, scholars

attracted by power of Sudanic states• Timbuktu- Books were symbol of Islamic

African civilization• 80% of villagers lived by farming with

intensive labor requiring multiple wives and many children

Songhay Kingdom began to form in 7th century; dominated Mali by 1370s• Sunni Ali, excelled as commander and leader,

established askia (future Songhay leaders)• Religion -was syncretist fusion of Islam & pagan

beliefs that encouraged strict interpretation of Sharia law• How was Songhai defeated?• Songhay ruled until defeated in 1591 by a Muslim

army from Morrocco

Sudanic States: Ghana, Mali, Songhay • Politics- • Patriarchal Leaders or Councils• Sacred Rulers associated with rituals• Ruling leaders used Islamic titles like caliph to

reinforce position• same linguistic/ethnicity• All used taxes, military support of

conquered peoples

• Religion- Islam emerges to reinforce idea of kingship AND leaderships reinforces Islam• Common Religion & Law provided unity• Society• still matrilineal• allowed freedom of movement for women

despite Arab restriction• Islam encouraged/spread slavery

Swahili Coast

Coastal Trading Ports Originally inhabited by Bantu people merchants from M. East, China, India Swahili language & cultural traits mixed

with active coastal commerce Islam brought to E. Africa from Indian

merchants which facilitate trade relationships; primarily among upper ruling merchant classes