India and the World

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the impact of changes in Europe and Asia after the eighth century.
2. Identify the effects of these changes on India’s trade and society.
3. Recognize the influence of the Roman Empire’s decline on global interactions.

Europe

Many significant changes occurred in Europe and Asia after the eighth century, reshaping relationships and impacting societal structures. Europe, in particular, witnessed the division of the mighty Roman Empire by the third quarter of the sixth century.

1. The western part, with its capital at Rome, fell to Slav and Germanic tribes from Russia and Germany.
2. The eastern part, known as the Byzantine Empire, with its capital at Constantinople, included modern Turkey, Syria, and North Africa.
3. The Byzantine Empire acted as a bridge between the Greco-Roman civilization and the Arab world but ultimately fell to the Turks in the fifteenth century.

For several centuries after the Roman Empire’s collapse, cities and trade in Western Europe vanished, marking what historians call the Dark Age. However, by the tenth century, trade and city life began to revive. Between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries, Western Europe regained prosperity, marked by the growth of science and technology, the rise of towns, and the establishment of universities, such as in Padua and Milan.

Growth of Feudalism

Following the Roman Empire’s fragmentation, a new societal structure, feudalism, emerged in Western Europe.

1. Feudalism derived from the Latin word “feudum,” meaning fief.
2. Chiefs and their military followers dominated large land tracts, playing significant roles in governance.
3. The king, though initially just one of the powerful chiefs, strengthened the monarchy by swearing chiefs to an oath of loyalty, recognizing their fiefs in return.
4. Feudalism became synonymous with a landed aristocracy, which was hereditary and resistant to admitting outsiders.

This system also included the serfdom and manor systems, where serfs were tied to the land and the manor was the lord’s residence. The lord of the manor maintained law and order, dispensed justice, and protected his vassals in return for their loyalty. Although there was no serfdom in India, the local landed elements (samantas) exercised similar powers, highlighting the adaptability of feudal systems across different regions.

Important Note:
Feudalism’s evolution was influenced by various factors, including political, economic, and military developments, making it unique to each region it touched.

Arab World

The rise of Islam united the Arab tribes into a powerful empire, which at its height included regions such as Syria, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, North Africa, and Spain. The Abbasids became the ruling Caliphs at Baghdad in the eighth century, creating one of the most powerful and flourishing empires of the time. They controlled key trade routes linking the Mediterranean with India and China, ensuring prosperity for their empire.

1. The Abbasid empire included centers of civilization like North Africa, Egypt, Syria, Iran, and Iraq.
2. The Caliphs, especially al-Mamun and Harun-al-Rashid, were known for their splendor and patronage of science and learning.
3. The House of Wisdom in Baghdad played a crucial role in translating knowledge from Greek, Byzantine, Egyptian, Iranian, and Indian civilizations into Arabic.

Despite their orthodox Muslim beliefs, the Abbasids welcomed knowledge from various cultures, provided it did not challenge Islamic tenets. The decimal system, developed in India in the fifth century, reached the Arab world and was later introduced to Europe as “Arab numerals.” Indian works on astronomy, mathematics, and medicine were also translated into Arabic, contributing to the wealth of knowledge during this period.

East and Southeast Asia

China’s society and culture reached a peak under the Tang dynasty in the eighth and ninth centuries. The Tang rulers expanded their influence over Central Asia, enhancing overland trade across the Silk Road.

1. The Tang Empire‘s decline led to the rise of the Sung dynasty, which ruled for about a century before being conquered by the Mongols in the thirteenth century.
2. The Mongols unified North and South China and extended their control to Tonkin (North Vietnam) and Annam (South Vietnam).

During this period, China developed a strong navy, leading to increased commercial and cultural contacts with other regions. The Sailendra dynasty and Kambuja empire were powerful kingdoms in Southeast Asia, heavily influenced by Indian civilization.

1. The Sailendra dynasty, at its peak, included Sumatra, Java, the Malaya peninsula, and parts of Thailand and the Philippines.
2. The Kambuja empire extended over Cambodia and Annam and was known for the magnificent AnkorWat temple complex.

Table: Major Aspects of Feudalism, Arab, and Chinese Influence

MCQ:
What was a key feature of the feudal system in Europe?
a) Centralized governance
b) Manor system with serfs
c) Strong merchant class
d) Democratic principles
Answer: b) Manor system with serfs