THE COMING OF ISLAM TO SOUTH ASIA

  1. What was a strength and flexibility of India?
  1. How are the new Muslim invaders different than previous invaders?
  1. How are Islam and Hinduism different (religiously and socially)?

NORTH INDIA ON THE EVE OF THE MUSLIM INVASION

  1. What did Harsha do that is typical of a rise of a new empire?

POLITICAL DIVISIONS AND THE FIRST MUSLIM INVASIONS

  1. What initially brought Muslims in contact with Indian?
  1. What caused parts of India to welcome Muslim conquerors?

INDIAN INFLUENCES ON ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION

  1. What purpose did the Muslims serve in transmitting Indian sciences?
  1. What was the staging area for Islam to spread to SE Asia?

FROM BOOTY TO EMPIRE: THE SECOND WAVE OF MUSLIM INVASIONS

  1. What were Mahmud’s motivations to conquer into India from Afghanistan?
  1. Where was the new capital?
  1. Who did the Muslims depend on to help rule their
  1. new empire?

PATTERNS OF CONVERSION

  1. How did the Sufis connect with the Indians?
  1. From what class and religion didmost converts come from? Why?

PATTERNS OF ACCOMODATION

  1. What did Indian assume about their Muslim invaders?
  1. What negative rituals regarding women did the Muslims adopt from the Hindus?

ISLAMIC CHALLENGE AND HINDU REVIVAL

  1. What was the Hindu reaction to the Muslim religious force?

STAND-OFF: THE MUSLIM PRESENCE IN INDIA AT THE END OF THE SULTANATE PERIOD

  1. Why could the Muslims not play down the differences between them and the Hindus?

THE SPREAD OF ISLAM TO SOUTHEAST ASIA

  1. What two great trading complexes came together here?
  1. What was the power vacuum that allowed the Muslims an open door?

TRADING CONTACTS AND CONVERSION

  1. What paved the way for peaceful conversion?
  1. What was Muslim law used for?
  1. Why did Islam have difficulties with people converting?

SUFI MYSTICS AND THE NATURE OF SOUTEAST ASIAN ISLAM

  1. Why were the Sufis more successful in gaining converts?
  1. How was the importance and role of women different here?

IN DEPTH—CONVERSION AND ACCOMODATION IN THE SPREAD OF WORLD RELIGIONS

  1. What are common characteristics of world religions?

CONCLUSION

  1. How did it impact nomads?
  1. How did the adoption of Islam may have cut people off to innovation?