Overview of South and Southeast Asia Circa 1200

Main Belief Systems

• Three main belief systems established:
  • Hinduism
  • Islam
  • Buddhism

South Asia

Hinduism

• Dominant religion in India.
• Beliefs:
  • Polytheistic: belief in many gods.
  • Ultimate goal: reunite individual soul with Brahman (world soul).
  • Reincarnation: cycle through death and rebirth to achieve reunion with Brahman.
• Caste System:
  • Five-tiered structure: more virtuous at the top, less virtuous at the bottom.
  • Individuals generally cannot move up in caste within their lifetime.
  • Good deeds can lead to a higher caste in reincarnation.

Buddhism

• Founded in India, shares beliefs with Hinduism.
• Beliefs:
  • Cycle of birth, death, and reincarnation.
  • Ultimate goal: to evolve into oneness with the universe.
• Differences from Hinduism:
  • Rejected caste system.
  • Emphasized equality among all people.
• Buddhism was in decline in India by 1200.

Islam

• Established in South Asia by 1206 with the Delhi Sultanate.
• Became the second most important belief system in India as Buddhism waned.
• Cultural Impact:
  • Islam mostly a minority religion among predominantly Hindu population.
  • Rajput kingdoms: rival Hindu kingdoms resisting Islamic rule.
  • Vijayanagara Empire founded as a powerful Hindu state in the south.

Southeast Asia

Diversity of Belief Systems

• Practiced Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam.

Changes During This Period

• Hinduism:
  • Emergence of the Bhakti Movement:
    • Encouraged worship of a particular god.
    • Rejected hierarchical structures of traditional Hinduism.
• Islam:
  • Development of Sufism:
    • A mystical, experience-based version of Islam.
• Buddhism:
  • Became more exclusive, with monks primarily seeking enlightenment.

State Formation and Power Maintenance

South Asia

• Delhi Sultanate (1206):
  • Muslim rulers struggled to impose Islam due to entrenched Hindu culture.
  • Some Rajput kingdoms maintained independence.
  • Vijayanagara Empire:
    • Established by Hindu converts to Islam rebelling against Muslim rule.

Southeast Asia

• Sea-based States:
  • Sri Vijaya Empire:
    • A Buddhist state, controlled trade in the Strait of Malacca.
  • Majapahit Kingdom:
    • A tributary system was established among various states.
• Land-based States:
  • Sinhala Dynasties (Sri Lanka):
    • A Buddhist state reliant on land resources.
  • Khmer Empire:
    • Originally a Hindu Empire, converted to Buddhism while retaining Hindu elements in art and architecture (syncretism).

Conclusion

• Highlighted the interplay of belief systems and state formation in South and Southeast Asia around 1200.