Mahmud of Ghazni

and Mohammad of
Ghur
Lesson - 2

The name Turk was first applied

to a clan of tribal chieftains who
founded the nomadic Gktrk
Empire (present Turkey"). These
nomads roamed in the Altai
Mountains in northern Mongolia
and on the steppes of Central
Asia. The Gktrks were ruled by
Khans
whose
influences
extended during the sixth to
eighth centuries from the Aral Sea
to the Hindu Kush

Cities of Ghazni and Ghur

In the 9th century Arab Empire started disintegrating and
declined.
Two kingdoms emerged prominent, the two cities of Ghazni
and Ghur which are in present day Afghanistan.
The rulers of these two kingdoms invaded and plundered the
Indian Subcontinent in the 11th and 12th centuries.
By the 10th and 11th century the North India had disintegrated
into many small kingdoms which gave huge advantage to these
rulers.
These attacks were done to finance their ambition of expanding
their empire.

Mahmud of Ghazni ( AD 971-1030)

After the decline of Abbasid dynasty Subuktigin a Turkish noble
acquired the adjoining parts of Ghazni.
His son Mahmud wanted to achieve the glory of the greatest
conqueror of the world.
He had heard about the wealth of the Indo- Gangetic plains.
He attacked and plundered North India 17 times from AD 1001
to 1025.
He believed in the jihad (holy war which will lead to heaven)
and plundering the region.
He looted the rich temples and trade centers e.g Siestan and
Multan.
He also fought with the rulers of Ghur to establish is superiority.

LIST OF INVASIONS
In AD 1001 he attacked Punjab, Ujjain, Gwalior,
Kalinga, Kanauj and Delhi.
He also attacked and raided rich cities and
towns like Nagarkot, Multan, Alwar, Thaneshwar,
Mathura and Somnath.

SOMNATH TEMPLE

When Mahmuds army was advancing to plunder the Somnath,

the Hindu inhabitants were so sure that the iron lingam would
save them that they stood calmly. But killing and plundering took
place. 50,000 people were killed, 1300 kg of gold and millions of
dinars were looted.

Mahmud was a successful

general and a conqueror
who never suffered
defeat.
Apart from war , he was a
patron of art , architecture
and literature.
His capital Ghazni was adorned with many
beautiful buildings, mosques, libraries, a
museum and a university.
In his court scholars like Al-Beruni and
Persian poet Firdausi received his patronage.
Firdausi wrote the great epic Shahnama. AlBeruni spent 10 years and wrote a book
describing India called Tahqiq-i-Hind.

DEATH OF MAHMUD OF GHAZNI

Before Mahmud died he annexed Punjab.

He died in AD 1030.His death brought an end
to his empire and the frequent raids to the
Indian sub-continent.
He was truly a warrior more than a man of
faith.
He used the wealth plundered from the
temples to protect his empire from the
expanding kingdoms of Central Asia.

Mohammad of Ghur
After

a gap of 150 years in AD1175

Mohamad of Ghur a turkish ruler of a
small kingdom in Afghanistan
attacked the Indian sub-continent.
He was also called
Mohammad.Ghori.
The invasion laid the foundation of
the Turko-Afghan rule in India.
Mohammad Ghori attacked the five Rajput
kingdoms.The Rathore of Kanuaj
The Chuahans of Delhi and Ajmer.
The Solankis of Gujarat
The Parmaras of Malwar
The Chandellas of Bundlekhand

MOHAMMAD GHORIS CONQUEST

In AD 1175, he captured Multan.

Later he defeated the Solanki of Gujarat.
He conquered Peshawar, Sialkot and Punjab
In the First Battle of Tarain Mohammad Ghori
defeated Prithviraj Chauhan but he narrowly escaped
from being killed.
In the Second Battle of Tarain he defeated Prithviraj.
Later he also defeated Jaichand of the ruler of
Kanuaj in AD 1198
The Second Battle of Tarain put an end to the Rajput
Dynasty.

Qutb-ud-din Aibak

Mohammad Ghori appointed his faithful

general Qutb-ud-aibak as the governor over
his territory.
Qutb-ud-din aibak further defeated the
empires of Mathura, Gwalior, Bundelkhand
and Malwa.
Another general Bakhtiar Khalji conquered
Bengal and Bihar.

DEATH OF MOHAMMAD GHORI

Mohammad Ghori died while trying to suppress the

revolt of the Khokhars.
He did not have any son, so his governors became
independent rulers.
Fight for power broke out among these governors
and Qutb-ub-din aibak asserted his supremacy.
This is laid the foundation of the Turko-Afghan rule in
India.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
Mahamud of
Ghazni
To loot and
plunder India
Did not appoint
governors

Mohammad Ghori
To set up an
empire.
Appointed faithful
generals who
continued to
expand the
kingdom

CAUSES OF
THE
SUCCESS
OF
INVASION

There were number of reasons that

led to the defeat of the Rajputs.
1. Weak war machinery- Slow moving
elephants Vs guerilla warriors.
2. Jealousy and hatred- Prithviraj
Chauhan and Jaichand
3. Feudatory nature of the society no
standing army.
4. Fighting between the feudal lords.
5. Lacked vigour and determination.
6. No outstanding leader.

Impact of the raids.

Intermingling of cultures. lot to give and take
between Hindu and Muslim culture.
Sharing of knowledge.
Composite culture- manifested in architecture,
language, music and food.
Migration of large number of people-soldiers,
traders, workers.
Laid the foundation of the slave dynasty.

RECAP
MAHMUD OF GHAZNI
(1001-1025)

BACKGROUND
Rise of empire in central
Asia
Encouraged Persian culture
even though he was Turk.
Looted and plundered India
to accumulate resources.
Patronized art, architecture
and literature.- Al-beruni
and Firdausi.
Not interested in building an
empire in India.

AREAS
OVERRAN
Siestan, Multan
and important
trading centers in
lower Indus.
Rich temples of
north-west.
Punjab, Ujjain,
Kalinga, Kanauj,
Delhi, Gujarat.

Mohammad of Ghur
(1175-1206)
CAMPAIGN
Fought five rajput
kingdomsRathors,Chauhans,
Solankis, Paramars,
Chandellas
Fought two battles at Tarain
against Prithviraj Chauhanwon the second battle.
Appointed Qutb-ud-din-aibk
as governor of indian
provinces.
Killed by rebels in 1206

CONSEQUENCES
Turkish rule extended to
Ganga-Yamuna Doab
Suppression of Rajputs and
other smaller kingdoms.
Delhi Sultanate established
by Aibk after Mohammad
Ghori.
Intermingling and
emergence of Indo- Islamic
culture.