Islamic Influence in West Africa and India 1200-1450 Chapter 13

West Africa

Arrival by Trade Muslim traders across Sahara Voluntary Ghana, Mali (Mansa Musa 1312-1337), Songhay Provided link to Muslim trading partners

West African Cities Became centers for religious and intellectual life Attracted scholars throughout Muslim world Timbuktu 150 Quranic schools Libraries Arab became language of religion, education, administration, and trade (did not become language of everyday life) Did not experience large amounts of Arab migrants like North Africa and the Middle East

Ibn Battuta (1325-1354) Muslim scholar from Morocco Explored Muslim world Central Asia, India, China, Southeast Asia, West Africa, and Spain Most widely traveled man of his times A lot of what we know from this time period is from his journals

West Africa Ibn Battuta appalled at Mali Muslim women who were “almost naked” and “mingling freely with unrelated men”

India

Islamic Turks Turkic speaking warriors from Central Asia brought Islam to India Third largest carrier of Islam, after Arabs and Persians Began around 1000 – Turkic/Muslim regimes governed much of India until British takeover in 18-19th centuries

Sultanate of Delhi - 1206 Violent takeover Smashed Hindu and Buddhist temples Stole Indian treasures Used crossbows, horses, and iron stirrups as superior technology to Indian peoples As their rule progressed, they loosened control Religious toleration if paid tax

Little Conversion Never able to claim more than 20-25% of Indian population (unlike Middle East, North Africa, & Persia) WHY - Islam most rigidly monotheistic, while Hindu probably most prolifically polytheistic, Muslim notion of equality of believers contrasted with Hindu castes, & Muslim sexual modesty offended openness of Hindu art Some Buddhists and low-caste Hindus were attracted to more egalitarian lifestyle Some converted to avoid the tax