Section 3: Reading Comprehension

Question

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.
Between 1200 and 1450, South and Southeast Asia experienced major cultural, political, and economic transformations.
In India, the Delhi Sultanate established Muslim rule for the first time on a large scale. While its leaders promoted Islamic culture and governance, Hindu traditions remained strong, resulting in both tension and cultural blending. In southern India, the Vijayanagara Empire defended Hindu traditions but also benefitted from the booming Indian Ocean trade network.

In Southeast Asia, maritime states such as the Srivijaya and Majapahit Empires grew wealthy by controlling ports and taxing merchants along busy trade routes. The Khmer Empire became a cultural center, constructing Angkor Wat, which was originally dedicated to Hindu gods before later being used for Buddhist worship. This showed how religions adapted and spread across the region.

The Indian Ocean trade system tied these societies together. Merchants relied on monsoon winds to cross vast distances, bringing spices, textiles, and precious goods. Along with trade, ideas and beliefs traveled as well. The Bhakti movement in Hinduism and Sufism in Islam emphasized devotion, tolerance, and personal spirituality, helping these faiths attract followers across different cultures.

By 1450, South and Southeast Asia had become diverse, interconnected regions where religion, trade, and culture blended to shape lasting traditions.
1. How did the Delhi Sultanate influence the culture and politics of India?
2. What role did the Vijayanagara Empire play in resisting Islamic expansion?
3. How did Southeast Asian states like Srivijaya and Majapahit benefit from Indian Ocean trade?
4. What does Angkor Wat reveal about religion and culture in the Khmer Empire?
5. How did monsoon winds facilitate Indian Ocean trade?
6. Compare the roles of Bhakti Hinduism and Sufism in spreading religious traditions.
7. Provide one example of cultural syncretism in South or Southeast Asia during this period.

Answer 1

1. How did the Delhi Sultanate influence the culture and politics of India?
   The Delhi Sultanate established large-scale Muslim rule in India for the first time, promoting Islamic culture and governance. However, Hindu traditions remained strong, which led to both tensions and cultural blending between Islamic and Hindu practices.

2. What role did the Vijayanagara Empire play in resisting Islamic expansion?
   The Vijayanagara Empire defended Hindu traditions and culture, acting as a bulwark against the expansion of Islamic influence in Southern India while also benefiting from the thriving Indian Ocean trade network.

3. How did Southeast Asian states like Srivijaya and Majapahit benefit from Indian Ocean trade?
   Srivijaya and Majapahit grew wealthy by controlling ports and taxing merchants who traveled along busy trade routes in the Indian Ocean, which contributed to their economic prosperity.

4. What does Angkor Wat reveal about religion and culture in the Khmer Empire?
   Angkor Wat, originally dedicated to Hindu gods, later became a site for Buddhist worship, illustrating how religions in the Khmer Empire adapted and spread over time, showcasing a blend of cultural influences.

5. How did monsoon winds facilitate Indian Ocean trade?
   Merchants relied on monsoon winds to navigate vast distances across the Indian Ocean, which allowed for the efficient transport of goods such as spices and textiles, thus significantly enhancing trade.

6. Compare the roles of Bhakti Hinduism and Sufism in spreading religious traditions.
   Both the Bhakti movement in Hinduism and Sufism in Islam emphasized personal devotion, tolerance, and spirituality, allowing these faiths to attract a diverse range of followers across various cultures, thereby facilitating a blending of beliefs.

7. Provide one example of cultural syncretism in South or Southeast Asia during this period.
   An example of cultural syncretism is the construction and later use of Angkor Wat in the Khmer Empire, which transformed from a Hindu temple to a Buddhist one, reflecting a blend of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs and practices.