CHAPTER 16 MEDIEVAL INDIA

INDIA Politically disunited Caste system Hindu faith Small states North and South India

N. INDIA Harsha (Pre-Islam) ◦ Buddhist ◦ Hospitals, roads

ISLAM Three areas ◦ Military  Mid 7 th century ◦ Merchants  Significance ◦ Turkish-speaking, Central Asia

DELHI SULTANATE Muslim conquest Delhi K soldiers Powerful Islamic state Islam and Hinduism Religious toleration

S. INDIA Two kingdoms ◦ Chola ◦ Vijayanager

TEMPLE BUILDERS Kingdom of Chola

SOCIETY Local rule ◦ Politics, social Hindu temple ◦ Social and economic center

AGRICULTURE Irrigation Dams, reservoirs, etc. Increased production

INDIA  Urbanization: several cities, 100K people  Population ++:  600: 50 million  1500: 100 million

MEDIEVAL INDIA Trade Cross-roads of postclassical period Cosmopolitan Global trade ◦ Arabs, Chinese

MEDIEVAL INDIA Specialization ◦ Cotton textiles ◦ Sugar refining, carpet weaving

HINDUISM Vishnu: preserver Shiva: god of fertility and destructive deity

ISLAM Little initial interest Gradually increased ◦ Buddhists, untouchables 1500: 25% of population Sufis ◦ Mystics ◦ Personal, emotional approach ◦ Meaning to life