Overview
This lecture explores how Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam shaped South Asia and Southeast Asia around 1200 CE, focusing on their influence on society, state formation, and cultural change.
Major Belief Systems in South Asia (c. 1200)
- Hinduism, the dominant religion, is polytheistic and teaches reincarnation and union with Brahman (world soul).
- Hinduism established the caste system—a rigid social hierarchy with limited mobility during one’s lifetime.
- Buddhism, founded in India, shares beliefs like reincarnation but rejects the caste system and teaches equality.
- Buddhism originated in India but was declining there by 1200.
- Islam entered South Asia with the 1206 invasion and the creation of the Delhi Sultanate, becoming influential among elites.
Major Belief Systems in Southeast Asia
- Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam were all practiced in various Southeast Asian states.
- Hinduism experienced the Bhakti movement, emphasizing devotion to one god and rejecting caste-based hierarchy.
- The rise of Sufism in Islam promoted mystical experiences and personal spiritual connection, similar to the Bhakti movement.
- Buddhism became more exclusive in South Asia, focusing on monastic life.
- Both Bhakti Hinduism and Sufi Islam made spiritual experience accessible to all, aiding their spread.
State Formation and Power Structures
South Asia
- The Delhi Sultanate (1206) ruled Northern India but struggled to replace Hinduism with Islam.
- The Rajput Kingdoms (Hindu) resisted Muslim rule, maintaining independence in parts of India.
- The Vijayanagara Empire (14th century, South India) was founded by former Muslims who reverted to Hinduism, establishing a rival power.
Southeast Asia
Sea-Based States
- The Srivijaya Empire (7th–11th century) in Sumatra thrived on taxing trade through the Strait of Malacca and was Buddhist with Hindu influences.
- The Majapahit Kingdom (end of 13th century, Java) was Hindu-Buddhist and controlled the region through a tributary system.
Land-Based States
- The Sinhala dynasties in Sri Lanka were longstanding Buddhist states, deriving power from land resources.
- The Khmer Empire (Cambodia) started as Hindu but later adopted Buddhism, with Angkor Wat reflecting Hindu and Buddhist syncretism.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Caste System — hierarchical social structure in Hindu society with limited mobility.
- Reincarnation — belief in rebirth after death, shared by Hinduism and Buddhism.
- Bhakti Movement — devotional form of Hinduism focusing on personal connection to a single deity.
- Sufism — mystical Islamic movement promoting direct personal experience of God.
- Tributary System — arrangement where smaller states pay tribute to a dominant power for protection or favor.
- Syncretism — blending of different religious and cultural traditions.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review notes on Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam for comparative analysis.
- Identify the impact of belief systems on societal structure in India and Southeast Asia.
- Prepare to discuss examples of syncretism, such as Angkor Wat.