Thayer Pre-Colonial Asia-Pacific

8/14/2019 Thayer Pre-Colonial Asia-Pacific

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PrePre--Colonial InfluencesColonial Influencesin the Asia Pacificin the Asia Pacific

Professor Carl ThayerProfessor Carl Thayer

Presentation toPresentation to

Centre forCentre for DefenceDefence and Strategic Studiesand Strategic Studies

AustralianAustralian DefenceDefence CollegeCollegeMarch 10, 2009March 10, 2009


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Lesson ObjectivesLesson Objectives

Understand the key impacts ofUnderstand the key impacts of SinicSinic,,India, Hindu and Muslim influences onIndia, Hindu and Muslim influences on

shaping the fundamental social order inshaping the fundamental social order in

Asia prior to the entry of colonialAsia prior to the entry of colonialpowers.powers.

Consider how those influences are stillConsider how those influences are still

fundamental drivers in Asia today.fundamental drivers in Asia today.


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Outline of LectureOutline of LectureBackgroundBackground

Rise of preRise of pre--colonial empires in Indiacolonial empires in IndiaIndianizationIndianization of Southeast Asiaof Southeast Asia

Formation of Imperial ChinaFormation of Imperial China

The Chinese Tribute SystemThe Chinese Tribute SystemThe Spread of Islam and Islamic Political PowerThe Spread of Islam and Islamic Political Power

The Age of Commerce, 1450The Age of Commerce, 1450--16801680

PrePre--colonial forces as fundamental drivers in thecolonial forces as fundamental drivers in thecontemporary periodcontemporary period


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BackgroundBackground

Empires first arose in India (321Empires first arose in India (321--184 BCE)184 BCE)

and China ( 221 BCEand China ( 221 BCE--220 CE)220 CE)

Two waves of westernTwo waves of western colonisationcolonisation

Iberian Wave (1511Iberian Wave (1511--1919thth

CenturyCentury Forward Movement (1870Forward Movement (1870--))

Broad brush overviewBroad brush overview

South Pacific not includedSouth Pacific not included


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PrePre--Colonial Security PerspectivesColonial Security PerspectivesTheThe statestate (dynasty) was the main actor(dynasty) was the main actor

Security was identified as the security ofSecurity was identified as the security ofthe dynasty in powerthe dynasty in power

InterInter--state relations highly personalizedstate relations highly personalized

Norms (not law) guided state behaviorNorms (not law) guided state behaviorState power rested on population underState power rested on population undercontrolcontrol

War and conquest used as an instrumentWar and conquest used as an instrumentof state powerof state power


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1. Pre1. Pre

--colonial Empires in Indiacolonial Empires in India

Modern India and Mauyra Dynasty (321 BCE 183 CE)


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HinduismHinduismWorldWorlds oldest religious traditions oldest religious tradition

Indus RiverIndus River civilisationcivilisation

No one founder or single religious textNo one founder or single religious text

Many sacred textsMany sacred texts

Many religious schools of belief and godsMany religious schools of belief and gods

Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva,Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, ShaktiShakti and reincarnationsand reincarnations

such as Rama and Krishnasuch as Rama and Krishna

Importance of religious ritualsImportance of religious rituals

Reinforced caste structureReinforced caste structure


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Buddhism (6Buddhism (6thth Century BCE)Century BCE)

Founded by Siddhartha GautamaFounded by Siddhartha Gautama On enlightenment he became the BuddhaOn enlightenment he became the Buddha

One of the worldOne of the worlds oldest religions thats oldest religions thatspread to embrace most of Asiaspread to embrace most of Asia

Reaction to caste structure and HinduismReaction to caste structure and Hinduism

Scriptures are recollections of BuddhaScriptures are recollections of Buddha

compiled after his death by disciples suchcompiled after his death by disciples suchasas AnandaAnanda

Theravada and Mahayana two main sectsTheravada and Mahayana two main sects


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Gupta Dynasty (250Gupta Dynasty (250--550 CE)550 CE)

The Golden Age ofThe Golden Age ofIndiaIndia

Dynasty based onDynasty based on

HinduismHinduismTolerance towardsTolerance towards

BuddhismBuddhism

SubSub--continental focuscontinental focus


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CholaChola Dynasty 9Dynasty 9thth

--1313thth

Century CECentury CE


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Northern IndiaNorthern Indiasubjected to repeatedsubjected to repeated

invasions byinvasions by

Persians, Greeks,Persians, Greeks,

Arabs and CentralArabs and Central

AsiansAsians

MoghulMoghul

EmpireEmpire

(1526(1526--1858 CE)1858 CE)

Islam and HinduismIslam and Hinduism

coco

--existedexisted

Note territory to westNote territory to west

of Indus Riverof Indus River


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2.2. IndianizationIndianization of Southeast Asiaof Southeast AsiaProlonged processProlonged process Merchants and trading communities,Merchants and trading communities,

missionaries, pilgrimsmissionaries, pilgrims

Impacted on mainland and islandImpacted on mainland and island

Southeast AsiaSoutheast AsiaSoutheast Asian courts importedSoutheast Asian courts importedspecialists to shore up their legitimacyspecialists to shore up their legitimacy

BuddhismBuddhism--Hinduism coHinduism co--mingled andmingled andmixed with local beliefsmixed with local beliefs


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PrambananPrambanan Temple, JavaTemple, Java


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SrivijayaSrivijaya Empire 10Empire 10thth--1111thth CenturyCentury


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MajapahitMajapahit Empire 1293Empire 1293--15271527


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Khmer Empire 9Khmer Empire 9thth--15h Century15h Century

Angkor Watcomplex


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3. Formation of Imperial China3. Formation of Imperial China

Warring States

221-206 B.C.

Yellow River civilisation

Central theme has been

unification of Hanheartland between

Yellow and YangtzeRivers

Invasions by Mongols(1271-1368 CE) andManchus

Gradual expansion overland mass

Incorporation of Tibet

and other territories


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ConfucianismConfucianism

Confucius (551Confucius (551--479 BCE)479 BCE)

Teaching consolidated by his followers,Teaching consolidated by his followers,

MenciusMencius Analects of ConfuciusAnalects of Confucius

Centrality of EmperorCentrality of EmperorHierarchical personal obligationsHierarchical personal obligations

Examination systemExamination system -- meritocracymeritocracy

Ideological foundation for Imperial ChinaIdeological foundation for Imperial China

(221 BCE(221 BCE--199 CE)199 CE)


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Qin Dynasty 221Qin Dynasty 221--207 BCE207 BCE


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Han Dynasty 206 BCEHan Dynasty 206 BCE--220 CE220 CE


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Sinification


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Ming Dynasty 1368Ming Dynasty 1368--16441644Strong centralgovernment

Outward looking

Encouragedinternational trade

Voyages ofexploration byAdmiral Zheng He

Revival of tributesystem


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ChingChing Dynasty 1644Dynasty 1644--19111911


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4. The Chinese Tribute System4. The Chinese Tribute System


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Admiral Cheng Ho, 1405Admiral Cheng Ho, 1405--3333


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SiniticSinitic (Chinese) System(Chinese) SystemWorld viewed as aWorld viewed as a

single unitsingle unitChina was the MiddleChina was the MiddleKingdomKingdom

Emperor hadEmperor hadauthority over allauthority over allpeople under heavenpeople under heaven

ConquestConquest throughthrough

culture and virtueculture and virtue

No interNo inter--governmentgovernment

relations per serelations per seNo role forNo role forinternational law orinternational law orcooperationcooperation

Force used to:Force used to: Secure recognitionSecure recognition

Chastise a state that hadChastise a state that hadstrayed from proper rulesstrayed from proper rulesof conductof conduct


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SiniticSinitic SystemSystemThe IdealThe Ideal

Inequality of nations aInequality of nations a

fundamental featurefundamental feature

Insistence onInsistence on

hierarchy in relationshierarchy in relations

Tributary relationsTributary relations

based on personalbased on personal

obligationsobligations

China recognized asChina recognized as

superiorsuperior

Strong dynastiesStrong dynastieswere expansivewere expansive

China did not interfereChina did not interfere

in internal affairsin internal affairsCompliant behaviorCompliant behavior

rewardedrewarded

RogueRogue statesstateschastised or punishedchastised or punished


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SiniticSinitic SystemSystemThe RealityThe RealityPrinciple ofPrinciple of righteousrighteous

warwar China unified byChina unified by

warwar

War and organizingWar and organizingfor war mainstays offor war mainstays of

governmentgovernment

Two strategic culturesTwo strategic cultures IdealizedIdealized

OperationalOperational

Korea and VietnamKorea and Vietnam

subjected to periodicsubjected to periodicinvasioninvasion

Korea seen as aKorea seen as a

model tributary statemodel tributary stateVietnam seen as aVietnam seen as a

noncompliant andnoncompliant and

rebelliousrebellious


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Indic andIndic and SiniticSinitic SystemsSystemsNonNon--universal ruleruniversal ruler

Hereditary nonHereditary non--centralizedcentralizedadministrationadministration

Aggressive interstateAggressive interstatebehavior, need tobehavior, need toprove superiorityprove superioritythrough manifestationthrough manifestation

of superior powerof superior power

Universal EmperorUniversal Emperor

NonNon--hereditaryhereditarycentralizedcentralized

administrationadministration

Relatively benign,Relatively benign,superiority manifest insuperiority manifest in

cultural terms,cultural terms,

superiority notsuperiority notamenable to proof byamenable to proof by

force of armsforce of arms


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Indic andIndic and SiniticSinitic SystemsSystemsVague definition ofVague definition of

bordersbordersDistribution ofDistribution ofinternational politicalinternational politicalpower in form ofpower in form ofconcentric circles;concentric circles;enemies and friendsenemies and friendsalternate, closestalternate, closest

neighbor primaryneighbor primaryenemyenemy

Clear notion of ownClear notion of own

borders but not ofborders but not ofbarbarian kingdomsbarbarian kingdoms

Concentric circlesConcentric circlesrepresentingrepresentingdecreasing culturaldecreasing culturalinfluence, hostilityinfluence, hostilitygreatest from center,greatest from center,

neighbors likeneighbors likeyounger brothersyounger brothers


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5. The Spread of Islam5. The Spread of Islam

and Islamic Political Powerand Islamic Political Power


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Islamic SultanatesIslamic SultanatesDirect contact with Meccaand Ottoman Caliphate

Portugal attacked and seizedMalacca Sultanate 1511

Span fought the Moors in the

Philippines

Christian-Muslim conflict -discourse of jihad

Aid received from OttomanEmpire

Indonesian volunteers fought

in India

Collision of Christianity and Islam setoff violent confrontation

Portugal attacked and destroyedMuslim trade in Indian Ocean fromlate 15th Century


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6. The Age of Commerce6. The Age of Commerce

14501450--16801680


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Two Trade Networks CombinedTwo Trade Networks Combined


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Iberian Trade RoutesIberian Trade Routes


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PrePre--colonial Forces as Fundamentalcolonial Forces as Fundamental

Drivers in the Contemporary PeriodDrivers in the Contemporary Period

IndiaIndiarole in Nonrole in Non--Aligned MovementAligned Movement 5 Principles of Peaceful Co5 Principles of Peaceful Co--existenceexistence

Member of ARF and EASMember of ARF and EAS

Buddhism plays an important domesticBuddhism plays an important domesticpolitical role in Sri Lanka and Myanmarpolitical role in Sri Lanka and Myanmar Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, VietnamThailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam

Hinduism a domestic political issue inHinduism a domestic political issue inIndiaIndia briefly emerged in Malaysia in 2007briefly emerged in Malaysia in 2007


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Islamic influences from Middle EastIslamic influences from Middle East date to predate to pre--colonial eracolonial era

Islam plays political roleIslam plays political role

ethnoethno--nationalist conflicts in Kashmir,nationalist conflicts in Kashmir,southern Thailand, southern Philippines,southern Thailand, southern Philippines,

Xinjiang (China)Xinjiang (China)

in domestic politics in Indonesia & Malaysiain domestic politics in Indonesia & MalaysiaIntroduction of shariIntroduction of sharia lawa law

rere--establishment of Caliphateestablishment of Caliphate


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Expansion of ChinaExpansion of Chinas economic ands economic and

political influence in Southeast Asiapolitical influence in Southeast Asia

Revival ofRevival of tribute systemtribute system

Ming Dynasty stimulated production for ChinaMing Dynasty stimulated production for Chinamarketmarket

ConfucianismConfucianism

Role in Asian values debateRole in Asian values debate

Hu JinHu Jin--taotao harmonyharmony andand harmonious worldharmonious world


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PrePre--Colonial Influences inColonial Influences in

the Asia Pacificthe Asia PacificQuestionsQuestions

Professor Carl ThayerProfessor Carl Thayer

[email protected]@adfa.edu.au

Documents

Thayer Pre-Colonial Asia-Pacific