Indias Muslim Empires

Chapter 10. 4

The Delhi Sultanate

The Gupta Empire fell around 550
India fragmented into smaller kingdoms
Rival princes battled for power over people
& land

Arabs conquered the Indus Valley in 711

Around 1000, Muslim Turks and Afghans
pushed further into India fierce warriors
Around 1150, the Sultan (Muslim ruler) of
Ghur defeated Hindu armies across N. India
Created a Sultanate from 1205-1526
Muslim rule in Northern India

Delhi became their capital

Muslim Rule
How did they do it?
Muslim warriors on horses were quicker
than Hindu warriors on elephants
Indian princes warred against each
other instead of uniting against a common
enemy
A significant number of Hindus converted to
Islam wanting to escape the Hindu caste
system
Mostly people from the lower castes
converted

Muslim Rule
What changed?
Muslim government based on the Quran
Many Muslims came from other
countries to India to serve as soldiers or in
the government:
Turks, Persians, Arabs

Major increase in trade with Muslim

countries
Increase in scholars coming to India to
create new schools, architecture, art
Persian culture in Delhi particularly flourished

Sultans Lose Power

Tamerlane, (also known as Timur) a
Mongolian Warlord, wanted to recreate
the Mongolian Empire of Ghengis Khan
1398 - he invaded India and destroyed
Delhi
Enslaved Persians and Indians to create his
new capital in Samarkand (in modern-day
Uzbekistan)
Fragmented northern India was broken into
rival Muslim and Hindu states

Muslims and Hindus

Clash

Muslim conquest of N. India

Destroyed many Buddhist temples/monasteries

Significantly contributed to decline of Buddhism as a
major religion of India

Numerous Hindus killed or converted to avoid

death

Religious differences clashed:

Hinduism had evolved over 1,000s of years; many
gods, many religious texts; celebrated with music and
dance; accept caste system and hierarchy within
religion
vs.
Islam newer religion; devout monotheists (belief in 1
god); had 1 sacred text; no religious hierarchy; no
music/dance in worship ceremonies

Blending of Cultures
Toleration grew among some Muslim rulers for
Hindus:

Some argued that Hindus were really monotheists

Allowed to practice Hinduism by paying a tax
Some local rajahs (Hindu rulers) were allowed to be left in place
Some Hindus converted:
Some because of a change in beliefs
Some get out of the caste system
Some get a better position in the Muslim government
Some traders wanting to connect to the trade network in
Muslim lands

Muslims absorbed parts of Hindu culture

Marriage customs
Persian artistic styles
Indian music & dance at the Sultans court
Urdu new language: Blend of Persian, Arabic, and Hindi

New Religion: Sikhism

Nanak Indian holy
man blended
Islamic & Hindu
beliefs to create a
new religion:
Sikhism
Belief in the Unity of
God
Belief in
reincarnation
Rejection of the
caste system

Mughal India
Babur led Turkish and Muslim army
1526
Claimed he descended from Genghis Khan &
Tamerlane
Conquered Northern India; destroyed
Delhi Sultanate
His poetry and memoirs reveal his complete
trust in God and his resolution to win
Established the Mughal Dynasty (15261857)

Mughal is Persian word for Mongol

Controlled from the Himalayas to the Deccan

Plateau

Akbar the Great

Chief builder of the Mughal Empire; Ruled from 15561605
Grandson of Babur
Created strong central government (earned him the title
The Great)
Muslim, but had very open toleration of Hindus
Consulted leaders of many faiths, promoting religious
tolerance and harmony
Hindus of all castes held government positions
Treated Hindu princes as equal partners in local rule
Ended tax on non-Muslims
Married a Hindu princess
Probably could not read or write
Modernized the army
Encouraged international trade
Paid government officials (rather than hereditary)

Successors of Akbar
Jahangir (juh HAHN geer) son of Akbar was weak
Nur Jahan wife of Jahangir
Ran the government very well
Loved poetry and sports
Most powerful woman in Indian history until 20 th Century

Shah Jahan grandson of Akbar

High point of Mughal literature, art, architecture
Built Taj Mahal when his wife, Mumtaz Mahal died
She was 39 bore 14 children
Son Aurangzeb captured the throne; put his father in
prison
Rejected Akbars tolerant policies and increased taxes
Climate of discontent left the country vulnerable to
European traders and conquerors