Political Incursions

• “Outsiders” in India• Early 8th Century Ummayads– Limited Impact

Political Incursions

• “Outsiders” in India• Early 8th Century Ummayads– Limited Impact

• Turkic reconquest– ~1000– More substantial– Sultanate of Delhi

Conversion

• Differences between Hinduism and Islam?• Islamic Population

Conversion

• Differences between Hinduism and Islam?• Islamic Population

Conversion

• Differences between Hinduism and Islam?• Islamic Population• Means of Conversion– Traders– Sufis• Attractive to Indians?• What they did

Conversion

• Differences between Hinduism and Islam?• Islamic Population• Means of Conversion– Traders– Sufis

• Who converted?

Conversion

• Differences between Hinduism and Islam?• Islamic Population• Means of Conversion– Traders– Sufis

• Who converted?– Low-Caste– Buddhists– Others…

Limits to Conversion

• Limits• Why not?

Limits to Conversion

• Limits• Why not?• Incorporated into Hinduism?

Cultural Fusion

• Indian Influence on Islam• Islamic Response in Middle Ground– Political– Caste System– Mysticism• “neither in temple nor in mosque…Look within your

heart, for there you will find both [Allah] and Ram [Hindu deity].” 15th century mystic poet Kabir

Cultural Fusion

• Indian Influence on Islam• Islamic Response in Middle Ground– Political– Caste System– Mysticism

Cultural Fusion

• Indian Influence on Islam• Islamic Response in Middle Ground– Political– Caste System– Mysticism• “neither in temple nor in mosque…Look within your

heart, for there you will find both [Allah] and Ram [Hindu deity].” 15th century mystic poet Kabir

– Gender

Cultural Fusion

• Indian Influence on Islam• Islamic Response in Middle Ground• Hindu Response in the Middle Ground– Separation– Bhakti Devotional Cults

• Sikhs• Conclusion

Spread to SE Asia

• More successful• Two Modes– Traders• Trading Empire—Malacca• Buddhists

– Sufi Missionaries• Incorporation• Success

Spread to SE Asia

• More successful• Two Modes: Traders and Sufis• Retention of Pre-Islamic culture

Conclusion

• Sim’s to India• Differences