SOUTH & SOUTHEAST ASIA

• Did the Mongols ever conquer Southeast Asia? What about South Asia?

  No because central forces fought back and defeated them
• Why is 900 to 1400 called the period of “classical states” in Southeast Asia?

  the kingdoms that were flourishing established cultural and political models that their successors hoped to follow
• What foreign culture first inspired the Khemer rulers of Angkor?

  The Khmer rulers of Angkor were initially influenced by Indian culture, particularly in religion, architecture, and administrative practices
• What was the importance of Buddhist monasteries in the societies of South and Southeast Asia?

  Monasteries ran schools, engaged in charity, provided lodging travelers, and became major centers for arts and learning
• What is purdah? How did it differ in different social groups and different regions? 

  • Purdah is the seclusion of women
  • Wealthy urban women were often the most secluded while poor women worked alongside their husbands
  • In South Asia, purdha was common, but in Southeast Asia, purdha was rare
• To what extent has various belief systems and practices of South and Southeast Asia affected society over time?

  Belief systems and practices in South and Southeast Asia have affected society to a significant extent, influencing cultural norms, social hierarchies, governance structures, legal systems, artistic expression, architectural styles, educational traditions, and daily rituals. They have also played a role in shaping regional identities, fostering intercultural exchanges, and sometimes sparking conflicts or political transformations
• Religions that played an important part in shaping religious, social, and political institutions in South and Southeast Asia between 1200 and 1450

  • Hinduism
  • Buddhism
  • Islam
• Hinduism

  Served as a unifying cultural and religious force in South Asia, particularly in regions such as the Indian subcontinent
• Hinduism

  • Reinforced the caste system, which structured society into hierarchical social groups based on birth and occupation
  • Hindu kingdoms often incorporated religious principles into their governance, with rulers seen as divine or semi-divine figures, and temples serving as centers of political power
• Buddhism


  Spread across South and Southeast Asia, impacting various aspects of society
• Buddhism

  • Advocated for social equality and rejected the caste system, attracting followers from diverse social backgrounds
  • Buddhist monastic institutions wielded significant influence, serving as centers of learning, economic activity, and political power in some regions
• Islam

  Spread through trade networks and military conquests, particularly in Southeast Asia
• Islam

  • Emphasized the equality of believers, transcending social hierarchies, and often fostering intercultural interactions
  • Islamic states in Southeast Asia adopted Islamic legal principles (Sharia) in their governance, although political structures varied, ranging from centralized sultanates to decentralized systems with local rulers
• While Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam each influenced societies and politics in South and Southeast Asia, they differed in their social organization, treatment of hierarchies, and political institutions
• dehli sultanates were new to defeating mongol
• • during the 11th century, muslim turks conqeured much of northwest india and one of their generals established an independent govt at dehli
• • mongols launched several attempts to conquer north india but the armies of the local ruler, the dellhi sultan, defeated them
• • Rajputs are members of hereditary clans that understood themselves to be descended from warriors
• • Buddhism's polycentric nature encouraged travel and pilgrimage in many directions
• • Buddhism survived the Turkic Muslim conquest of northern India and the establishment of the Delhi sultanate
• • Muslim rulers of North India were generally hostile to Buddhism
  • In 1193, a Muslim army destroyed Nalanda, a renowned Buddhist center
  • After the destruction of Nalanda, Buddhism declined in India
  • Hinduism flourished, especially in southern areas not conquered by Turkic forces
• • Theravada 
  • Sri Lanka
  • taught that even the smallest act of devotion could increase the possibility of being reborn in a better life
• three belief systems

  • islam
  • hinduism
  • buddhism
• bhakti movement


  innovation on traditional polytheistic hinduism

  • devotion of one hindu god was emphasized

  challanged social & gender hierarchies
• there were heavy disputes between hindu and islam
• example of something emerging from the hindu/islam conflict is he Vijayanagara empire
• dehli sultanates were sent to indian to destroy it but they were former hindus before they were muslims so when they went back they became hindu again and built a rival empire called the Vijayanagara Empire