Transcript India*s Muslim Empire - Okemos Public Schools

India’s Muslim
Empire
• The Delhi Sultanate:
• Established in late
1100s
• Sultan = Muslim
ruler
• Defeated Hindu
armies in India
• Made Delhi his
capital
• Marked beginning of
Muslim rule in India
Reasons Muslim
Invaders
Triumphed
1. Mounted
Archers
More mobility
2. Hindus fought
one another
Wasted
resources
3.
Caste System
Many lower
caste Hindus
converted to
Islam
Impact of Muslim
Government in India
• Immigration of Turks,
Persians and Arabs
into India
– Served as soldiers &
officials
• Trade between Indian
lands and Muslim
lands increased
• Learning: Persians
and Greeks bring
ideas
– Persian Architecture
– Taj Mahal Virtual Tour
Tamerlane
(Timur the lame)
• Invaded India in
1398
• Destroyed the
Muslim capital at
Delhi
• Enslaved artisans
• Relocated capital to
Samarkand
• Northern Plain of
India is fragmented
– Rival Muslim & Hindu
states
Hindus & Muslims Clash: Fundamental
Differences
HINDUS
MUSLIMS
• Ancient-evolved over 1000s
of years
• Multiple sacred texts
• Worship of many gods and
goddesses
• Accepted differences in
class (caste system)
• Presence of dance and
music at religious
celebrations
•
•
•
•
Newer religion
Single sacred text
Monotheistic
No religious
hierarchy/equality of all
believers
Sikhism
• Sikhism =
– Originated from the
teachings of Nanak
– Sought to blend Hindu
and Islamic beliefs
• 1. unity of God
• 2. brotherhood of man
• 3. rejection of the
caste
• 4. futility of idol
worship
– *be able to identify
the commonality
between Sikhism and
Islam
Blending of Cultures
Sultans grew
more
tolerant:
some Muslim
scholars
argued that
Hindus
worshipped
one god
behind many
idols
Hindus were
allowed to
practice their
religion:
• Had to pay
an
additional
poll tax
Rajahs:
locally
appointed
Hindu rulers
in were
eventually
installed by
Muslim
sultans
Some Hindus Convert to Islam:
• Reasons:
– Lower Caste Hindus liked
that Islam rejected the
caste system
– Higher caste Hindus
either accepted Islamic
beliefs or served in
Muslim government
– Merchants were
attracted to the strong
trade network across
Muslim lands
Mughal India: Babur & Akbar
• Babur:
– 1526
– Turkish/Mongol Descent
– Defeated Muslims (Delhi
Sultanate)
– Established Mughal Empire
• Mughal = Persian word for
Mongol
– Ruled from 1526-1857
• Akbar:
– 1. promoted
tolerance/religious
harmony
– 2. opened government jobs
to Hindus/did not recognize
their caste
– 3. Ended tax on nonMuslims