Earliest Islamic Invasions in Ancient India
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Islamic invasions in India are a topic of intense debate and discussion. India had trade relations with Europe and Central Asia even in ancient times, but Islamic invasions changed the way India interacted with foreign cultures. In ancient India Alexander's invasion wasn't very successful, hence Islamic invasions became the first foreign invasions ruling over Indian people for centuries. As a result, India is a country with one of the highest Muslim populations in the world. It is quite interesting to know why and how these invasions took place. It is obvious that many events happening in Central Asia and Eastern Europe were also responsible for these invasions.
One might wonder what situations would have tempted or even forced Central Asian rulers to invade India and even try to make an empire here. Many times when central Asians were exhausted from fighting among themselves or when they were unable to expand themselves in the West, they used to attack the Indian subcontinent. When they needed resources to continue wars among themselves, they used to plan campaigns to the Indian subcontinent.
India had trade relations with the outside world since ancient times. In ancient India, the trade was largely with the Roman Empire and the Greeks. But in the early medieval period trade with China and the Arabic world was larger. Even in the seventh century CE, many Arab merchants used to visit and live in India.
1. The Umayyad Caliphate
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2. Ghaznavid Empire-Mahmud of Ghazni
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| Mahmud Of Ghazni |
Turkish slave 'Alaptgin' established the Ghaznavid empire with its capital at Ghazni. Mahmud ascended the throne of Ghazni around 998-1030. During that time Turkish Muslims had taken the responsibility to defend Islamic states from non-Muslim Central Asian Turkish tribes. Iranian patriotism increased during this time and Iranian culture and language became part of the Ghaznavid empire.
Famous Iranian poet 'Firdausi' brought mythical Iranian heroes back in time through his literature. Mahmud of Ghazni claimed his descent from the Iranian king 'Afrasiyab'. Such cultural changes which Turkish rulers brought with them into India. Mahmud of Ghazni had to defend his state from Central Asian tribal invasions. He needed so many resources for that and Indian Subcontinent had those resources!
Mahmud of Ghazni is said to have made about 17 raids into India. Generally, it is propagated that Mahmud or any other Islamic rulers invaded India to spread Islam, but this is not true. Even though these rulers were defenders of Islam, their primary aim in India was not to propagate Islam. Mahmud is famous in India as a plunderer of temples. But his major aim was to loot the resources stored in those temples.
Temples at that time played a very crucial role in the life of the people in the Indian subcontinent. Many social, cultural, and educational activities were conducted in temples. Kings used to donate land, gold, and other resources to temples. Temples had become storehouses of wealth, at that time. Just like today's banks.
Mahmud's invasions: How they took place
Mahmud had to fight both Hindu and Muslim rulers in northwest India. Initially, he fought against the Hindushahi rulers of Peshawar and Punjab. He also fought against the Muslim rulers of Multan. Even before Mahmud, Hindushahi ruler Jayapala had invaded Ghazni with the help of the former governor of Ghazni.
Mahmud first defeated Jayapala and the rulers of Multan in 1001. Then in 1008-09, he defeated the alliance of Hindushahi king Anandpala, ruler of Multaan, and other Hindu kings of Kanauj and Rajashtan at Waihind. Even though Indian rulers had more soldiers, Mahmud's mounted cavalry helped him to defeat them.
After the victory at Waihind, Punjab passed into the hands of the Ghaznavid Empire. Mahmud's raids into India alternated with battles in central Asia. After Punjab, Mahmud invaded Nagarkot near Punjab and Thanesar near Delhi.
Mahmud's most notable and daring raids include Kanauj in 1018 and Somnath in Gujrat(1025). Mahmud carried away with him a huge amount of wealth with impunity, cause no strong state existed in north India at that time. Mahmud's raid in Somnath was his last outside Punjab. He died in 1030.
Mahmud's raids had a political impact as well. Now the Turkish rulers could pass the chain of mountains defending India from the northwest and raid into Gangetic plain at any time.
3. Ghurid Empire: Muhammad Of Ghor
After the raids of Mahmud of Ghazni, the interaction between Hindus and Muslims increased. Mahmud's successors were not powerful and this gave rise to other dynasties. One of them was the Ghurid Empire. It was based in Ghor in northwest Afghanistan. Ghurids had started as vassals of the Ghaznavid dynasty. Ghurids were not able to expand their empire in central Asia as they faced bitter opposition from the Khwarizmi empire. They had no option but to look in the east.
Muhammad of Ghor is also known as 'Muizzudin Muhammmad 'in some history books. He is also known as Muhammad Ghori. He ascended the throne at Ghazni in 1173. Initially, he conquered Multan and Uchch through the Gomal pass. Later he tried to penetrate into Gujrat.
Ghori's invasion and battle of Tarain.
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Meanwhile in north India Chauhan dynasty was rising and they had captured Delhi from Tomar rulers. They also started expanding towards Punjab. Prithviraj Chauhan ascended the throne of the Chauhan dynasty at a very young age. He was very ambitious and expanded his empire in Rajasthan and Bundelkhand.
Similar to Muhammad Ghori, Prithviraj also tried to annex Gujrat but was defeated by the ruler of Gujrat, Bhima-II. Hence Prithviraj decided to expand his empire in the north. The clash between Prithviraj Chauhan and Muhammad Ghori became inevitable.
In 1191, in the first battle of Tarain, Prithviraj defeated Muhammad Ghori. He also captured Bhatinda through a siege of 12 months. But he never tried to completely oust the Ghurids from that region. This allowed Muhammad Ghori to regroup his forces.
Muhammad Ghori marched in 1192, with very careful preparations for the battle. In this second battle, however, Prithviraj suffered a huge defeat. This battle changed the course of the history of India. Even though Prithviraj's army was numerically stronger, Ghori's army was better organized and led. Prithviraj even appealed to other Hindu kings for help. He got help from many kings, but not from Jaichandra, the ruler of Kanauj.
In 1194, in the battle of Chandawar, Ghori defeated Jaichandra and laid the foundation of Turkish rule in India. Earlier they had made their base in Delhi and eastern Rajasthan. They were ready for further expansion in India. Muhammad Ghori's trusted slave Qutubuddin Aibak consolidated and laid the foundation of the Delhi Sultanate.
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