1.3 Developments in South and Southeast Asia from 1200-1450

10 min read•june 18, 2024

William Dramby

Riya Patel

AP World History: Modern 🌍

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South Asia

South Asia is a region located in the southern part of the Asian continent. It is composed of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. South Asia is a diverse region with a rich cultural and historical heritage, and it is home to a wide variety of ethnic groups, languages, and religions.

The region is known for its ancient civilizations, including the Indus Valley Civilization and the Maurya Empire, and it has been at a crossroads of trade and cultural exchange for centuries. South Asia is also a region with a significant economic and strategic importance, and it is home to some of the world's largest and fastest-growing economies. It is also a region that has faced numerous challenges, including poverty, conflict, and political instability.

🎥Watch: WHAP - Continuities in South Asia Post 1200-CE

Post-Classical South Asia

Social	The Hindu caste system created a hierarchy of power that was both religious and inherited. Hindus, born into a caste, typically had to remain in that caste until their death and hopeful reincarnation. This promoted stability, though it also allowed for the stagnation that emerges when there is no competition for power. Generally, a woman within the Hindu caste system had more in common with men of her caste than women in other castes. As Islam spread to the region, social roles became more gendered.
Political	Since the fall of the Mauryan and Gupta Empires, South Asia has broken into various kingdoms. Various Hindu Rajput Kingdoms emerged in northern India, keeping a centralized power from emerging for hundreds of years. They competed with each other, allowing for Islamic armies to start to expand into Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Rajput kingdoms were a group of Hindu princely states in India that flourished between the 8th and 16th centuries. The Rajputs were a warrior caste that originated in the northwestern region of India and played a significant role in the history and culture of the Indian subcontinent. The Rajput kingdoms were known for their strong military traditions and their resistance to foreign domination. They were also known for their patronage of the arts and their cultural achievements. The Rajputs were a diverse group, and the Rajput kingdoms varied in size and power. Some of the most notable Rajput kingdoms include Mewar, Marwar, and Mewat in the western part of India, and Magadha and Mithila in the eastern part. The Rajputs were eventually conquered by the Mughal Empire in the 16th century, but they continued to play an important role in the politics and culture of India. The Delhi Sultanate was a Muslim kingdom that ruled parts of India from the 13th to the 16th centuries. It was founded by the Turkic slave-general Qutb al-Din Aybak in 1206, after he seized power following the death of his master, the Ghurid sultan Muhammad of Ghor. The Delhi Sultanate was initially centered in the city of Delhi, but over time it expanded to include most of northern and central India. The Delhi Sultanate was a powerful and influential state that was known for its military might and its cultural achievements. It was also a period of great political and social upheaval in India, as the Delhi Sultans struggled to maintain their power in the face of challenges from rival kingdoms and from within their own court. The Delhi Sultanate was eventually weakened by internal conflicts and by the rise of the Mughal Empire, and it came to an end in the 16th century.
Cultural	Though still predominantly Hindu, South Asia’s development was largely impacted by Buddhism and Islam. Hinduism is a polytheistic faith that is probably best known because of its belief in samsara, or reincarnation. The vast majority of Indians are Hindu. However, unlike many polytheistic faiths, Hinduism is very decentralized. Islam, spreading from the Middle East, is a monotheistic faith that is more cohesive since it blended political leadership with religion. By 1450, Islam has spread to northern India and helped the Delhi Sultanate create a stable regional empire. South Asia has seen many world religions because of its positioning on both land and water-based trade routes.

Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is a region located in the eastern part of the Asian continent. It is composed of the countries of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Southeast Asia is a diverse region with a rich cultural and historical heritage, and it is home to a wide variety of ethnic groups, languages, and religions. The region is known for its ancient civilizations, including the Khmer Empire and the Srivijaya Empire, and it has been at a crossroads of trade and cultural exchange for centuries. Southeast Asia is also a region with significant economic and strategic importance, and it is home to some of the world's fastest-growing economies. It is also a region that has faced numerous challenges, including political instability, conflict, and environmental degradation.

The people of Southeast Asia have been heavily influenced by China to the north and the trade with the west within the Indian Ocean Trade Network.

The Indian Ocean trade network was a network of maritime trade routes that connected the countries of the Indian Ocean region to each other and to the rest of the world. The network emerged in the 1st century AD and reached its peak of prosperity in the 15th and 16th centuries, during the Age of Exploration. The Indian Ocean trade network was centered on the Indian Ocean, but it also included trade routes that extended to East Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. The network was used to transport a wide variety of goods, including spices, textiles, gold, silver, and other luxury goods. The Indian Ocean trade network was a key factor in the economic development of the region and played a major role in the spread of ideas, culture, and technology. It was also a major factor in the emergence of the global economy and the colonization of the New World.

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

Before the modern-states of Southeast Asia, there were various empires, both land-based and sea-based, that helped unite the people politically, economically, and religiously.

The Khmer Empire was a powerful state in Southeast Asia, formed by people of the same name, lasting from 802 CE to 1431 CE. At its peak, the land-based empire covered much of what today is Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and southern Vietnam. Its capital, Angkor Wat, was originally a Hindu temple, developed over time into a vast Buddhist temple.

The Srivijaya Empire was a Indonesian Hindu empire based on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, which influenced much of Southeast Asia. Srivijaya was an important center for trade between China and India as well as for the expansion of Buddhism from the 8th to the 12th century.

The Majapahit Kingdom was a smaller Javan Buddhist kingdom that controlled the shipping lane leading to and from the Strait of Malacca.

Southeast Asia benefited economically from the Indian Ocean Trade Network, while it also became very diverse. Islamic merchants and Sufi (mystical sect of Sunni Muslims) missionaries brought their faith to Indonesia, making it the most populated Islamic nation in the world today. This trade network and the missionaries traveling with it is one of the most important factors in the spread of Islam in Southeast Asia.

🎥Watch: WHAP - Southeast Asia in the Global Middle Ages

Key Questions

What makes Southeast Asia a distinct region?

There are several factors that make Southeast Asia a distinct region:

Geography: Southeast Asia is located in the eastern part of the Asian continent and is composed of a group of countries that are located between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The region is characterized by a tropical climate and is home to a wide variety of landscapes, including mountains, forests, and coastal areas.
Culture: Southeast Asia is a region with a rich and diverse cultural heritage, and it is home to a wide variety of ethnic groups, languages, and religions. The region has a long history of cultural exchange and has been influenced by a variety of cultures, including Indian, Chinese, and European.
Economics: Southeast Asia is a region with significant economic and strategic importance, and it is home to some of the world's fastest-growing economies. The region is known for its abundant natural resources and its strategic location as a hub of international trade.
Political environment: Southeast Asia is a region with a complex political landscape, and the countries of the region have a wide range of political systems, including democracies, authoritarian regimes, and military governments. The region has a history of political instability and has faced numerous challenges, including conflict and human rights abuses.

What were the key factors shaping Southeast Asia?

There have been a number of key factors that have shaped Southeast Asia over the course of its history. Some of the most significant factors include:

Geography: Southeast Asia's location as a crossroads of trade between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean has played a major role in shaping the region's history and culture. The region's tropical climate and diverse landscapes have also influenced its development.
Cultural exchange: Southeast Asia has a long history of cultural exchange with other regions, and it has been influenced by a variety of cultures, including Indian, Chinese, and European. This cultural exchange has contributed to the region's diversity and has played a key role in shaping its identity.
Political and economic developments: The political and economic developments of Southeast Asia have been shaped by a variety of factors, including the rise and fall of empires, the influence of colonialism, and the emergence of modern nation-states. These developments have had a significant impact on the region's social, economic, and political landscape.
Environmental factors: The natural environment of Southeast Asia has also played a role in shaping the region's history and development. The region has been affected by a variety of environmental factors, including natural disasters, such as earthquakes and typhoons, and the impact of human activities, such as deforestation and pollution.

How did world religions spread in Southeast Asian societies?

World religions, such as Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism, have spread in Southeast Asian societies in a variety of ways. Some of the key factors that have contributed to the spread of world religions in the region include:

Trade: Trade has played a major role in the spread of world religions in Southeast Asia. Merchants, travelers, and missionaries have brought religious ideas and practices to the region through their trade and travel.
Conquest and colonization: The spread of world religions in Southeast Asia has also been influenced by the conquest and colonization of the region by foreign powers. In some cases, religious beliefs and practices were imposed on the local population through military force or through the establishment of colonial rule.
Missionary activity: Missionaries have played a significant role in the spread of world religions in Southeast Asia. Missionaries have traveled to the region to proselytize and convert people to their faith, and they have established schools, hospitals, and other institutions to support their work.
Local adoption and adaptation: World religions have also spread in Southeast Asia through local adoption and adaptation. In some cases, people in the region have embraced new religious beliefs and practices and have incorporated them into their own cultural traditions.

How did Southeast Asian states develop and maintain power?

There have been a variety of ways in which Southeast Asian states have developed and maintained power over the course of history. Some of the key factors that have contributed to the development and maintenance of power in the region include:

Military strength: Military strength has often been an important factor in the development and maintenance of power in Southeast Asia. States that have strong militaries have been able to defend their territory and expand their influence through force or the threat of force.
Economic power: Economic power has also been a key factor in the development and maintenance of power in Southeast Asia. States that have a strong economy, with abundant natural resources and a thriving trade network, have been able to exert influence and control over other states.
Political stability: Political stability has also been important for the development and maintenance of power in Southeast Asia. States that are able to maintain a stable political system, with strong and effective institutions, are more likely to be able to maintain power over time.
Ideology: Ideology, or a shared set of beliefs and values, has also played a role in the development and maintenance of power in Southeast Asia. States that have been able to cultivate a sense of national identity and purpose have been able to rally support and maintain power.

How was Southeast Asia a part of "Global Middle Ages?"

Southeast Asia played a significant role in the "Global Middle Ages," which refers to the period from the 5th to the 15th centuries, when the world was connected through a network of trade and cultural exchange. During this period, Southeast Asia was an important hub of trade and cultural exchange, and it was connected to other parts of the world through a network of maritime trade routes that stretched across the Indian Ocean. The region was also influenced by a variety of cultures, including Indian, Chinese, and Islamic, and it played a key role in the spread of ideas, technologies, and religions. Southeast Asia was also home to a number of powerful empires and states, such as the Srivijaya Empire and the Majapahit Empire, which played a significant role in shaping the political and economic landscape of the region.

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🐎Unit 1 – The Global Tapestry, 1200-1450

1.0Unit 1 Overview: The Global Tapestry

1.1Developments in East Asia from 1200-1450

1.2Developments in Dar al-Islam from 1200-1450

1.3Developments in South and Southeast Asia from 1200-1450

1.4State Building in the Americas from 1200-1450

1.5State Building in Africa from 1200-1450

1.6Developments in Europe from 1200-1450

1.7Comparisons in the Period from 1200-1450

🐫Unit 2 – Networks of Exchange, 1200-1450