Islam Spreads: Mali & Delhi

Background for Mali Indigenous African dynasty earlier adopted Islam through peaceful influence of Muslim merchants & scholars in the 7 th century Islam gradually spread to lands south of the Sahara, which Arabs called bilad alsudan (Land of the Blacks) Muslim Berbers invading from the desert caused collapse of Ghana in 1076 – Did little to spread Islam Attacks destroyed Christian Nubian kingdoms in late 13 th century – Opened area to Muslim influences – Christian Ethiopia withstood Muslim advances Usually spread south of the Sahara through peaceful conversion Takrur became first sub-Saharan African state to adopt Islam, c.1030 – Expanded in 1200s under King Sumanguru – Defeated by Sundiata, leader of the Malinke – Both leaders professed Islam – Sundiata created Mali Empire

Sundiata’s Empire Depended on agricultural base & control of trade routes (like Ghana did before) Mali had greater area than Ghana did – Trading area of upper Niger River – Gold fields of Niger headwaters Rulers fostered Islam among empire’s political & trading elites

Mansa Kankan Musa Empire’s reputation for wealth spread Made pilgrimage to Mecca in – Fulfilled personal duty as Muslim – Also displayed wealth – Traveled with large entourage Senoir wife+ 500 ladies in waiting & slaves 60,000 porters Vast caravan of camels carrying supplies Brought 80 packages of gold for gifts, depressing value of gold in Cairo for years! Built new mosques Opened Qur’an schools Reported “complete and general safety” in his & his successor’s empire

Fall of Mali Rebellions broke out among diverse peoples Other groups attacked from the outside Tuareg people retook Timbuktu in 1433 Rulers held little more than the Malinke heartland by 1500 Cities of the upper Niger River survived Some trade and intellectual life moved east to the central Sudan – Rulers of some Hausa city-states adopted Islam after 1450 – Took on importance as manufacturing & trading centers – Kanem-Bornu expanded in late 15 th century, also spreading Islam

Delhi Sultanate Gupta Empire fell in 550CE, leaving India in divided states – Prey to raids by Afghan warlords beginning in 11 th century – Turkish dynasty captured northern cities of Lahore & Delhi by end of 12 th century – Adventurers from Central Asia flocked to join invading armies, overwhelming small Indian states Muslim invaders extended rule over Hindu princes & chiefs from – Not a peaceful transition – Destroyed Hindu images & temples Sultan Iltutmish consolidated conquest in series of military expeditions – Largest realm in India – Secured official recognition of the Delhi Sultanate as a Muslim state by the caliph of Baghdad – Transitioned from brutal conquerors to benign rulers

Incorporation of Islam Brutal Conquerors – Turkish sultan Mahmud invaded in late 900s Raided Hindu towns and temples Slaughtered & enslaved thousands Broke power of local rulers – Also despised Buddhist idol worship & sacked major centers – Previous invaders assimilated into prevalent social system – Refused to allow temples to be rebuilt – Muslim conquerors retained Islamic identity Created new legal & administrative system Challenged or superseded existing system of social conduct & ethics – Turkish rulers were a small minority, relying on terror to keep subjects submissive Never lost disadvantage of being of foreign origin & different religion Benign Rulers – Freed Hindus from persecution in return for special tax – Sultans later promised religious toleration – Hindus never forgot intolerance & destruction of first invaders

Fall of Delhi Muslim nobles challenged sultan’s dominion in mid-14 th century – Established independent Bahmani kingdom on the Deccan Plateau – Hindu states of south India formed Vijayanagar Empire Bengal broke away – rebellion in North India Gujarat regained independence by – Timur sacked Delhi – Sultanate never recovered Continued until 1526, when last sultanate was replaced by the Mughal Dynasty