1.3 - State Building in South Asia and Southeast Asia

• Around the year 1200, three main belief systems were struggling for dominance in South Asia and Southeast Asia: Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism
• Hinduism


  • Polytheistic belief system
  • Ultimate goal is to reunite individual soul with the all-pervasive world Soul (Brahma)
  • Structured Indian society according to the caste system
• Buddhism


  • Shared beliefs with Hinduism like the cycle of birth, death, and reincarnation
  • Rejected the caste system and emphasized the equality of all people
  • Was a universalizing religion that could spread to other cultures
• Islam


  • In 1206, Turkic Muslim Invaders set up the Delhi Sultanate in South Asia
  • Became the second most important belief system in India, especially among the elite
• In South Asia, the Hinduism-based bhakti movement emerged, which encouraged devotion to a single god and rejected the hierarchy of Hinduism
• In South Asia, Sufism, a more mystical and spiritual version of Islam, also emerged during this period
• In South Asia, Buddhism became more exclusive, with only monks in monasteries seeking enlightenment
• The Delhi Sultanate in Northern India had trouble imposing Islam, as Hinduism was too entrenched
• The Rajput kingdoms were independent Hindu states that resisted Muslim rule in Northern India
• The Vijayanagara Empire, a powerful Hindu kingdom, was founded in the South in the 14th century
• Sea-based states in Southeast Asia


  • Sri Vijaya Empire (7th-11th century): Buddhist state with Hindu influences, controlled the Strait of Malacca
  • Majapahit Kingdom (13th century): Formerly Hindu, later had Buddhist influences, maintained power through a tributary system
• Land-based states in Southeast Asia


  • Sinhala Dynasties in Sri Lanka: Buddhist state that existed for 2000 years
  • Khmer Empire: Founded as Hindu, later converted to Buddhism, built the Hindu temple of Angkor Wat
• The blending of Hinduism and Buddhism in the Khmer Empire is an example of syncretism