Department of Electrical Engineering

National University of Computer and

Emerging Sciences,
Chiniot-Faisalabad Campus

SS1003-Pakistan Studies

Assignment # 1

Name: Zain Abbas, Muhammad Mubeen, Hammad Azam, Muhammad Umar.

Roll No: 6108, 6013,6015,6017.
Section: BS(EE)-2A.
 2.Mehmood Ghazni

Conqueror of the Indian Subcontinent:

Mehmood Ghazni following the footsteps of his father, Sabuktigin, Mehmood expanded his
empire's reach into the Indian subcontinent through a series of military campaigns. His
expeditions, conducted between 1000 and 1027 AD, were marked by the plundering of temples
and acquisition of immense wealth, establishing Ghaznavid dominance in the region.
Mehmood's conquests left a lasting impact on the history and culture of South Asia, shaping the
geopolitical landscape for centuries to come.

Introduction:

Mehmood Ghazni, born in 2 November 971 AD in the city of Ghazni, Afghanistan, stands as a
towering figure in the realm of conquest and expansion. Ghazni's legacy is etched in the sands
of time, marked by his relentless pursuit of power and wealth. As a leader of unparalleled vision
and determination. Ghazni's saga is one of conquest, ambition, and the inexorable march of
empires, a testament to the indomitable spirit of a ruler driven by the thirst for greatness.

Attacks of Mehmood Ghazni:

 Between 1000 and 1027 AD, Mahmud Ghazni attacked India 17 times.

1.1 Campaigns into the Indian Subcontinent (1000-1008 AD):

Under Mahmud of Ghazni's rule, the Ghaznavid dynasty launched a series of military
campaigns into the Indian subcontinent. These campaigns were primarily aimed at expanding
Ghaznavid territory and acquiring wealth from the rich kingdoms of the region.

1.2 Sack of the Somnath Temple (1026 AD):

One of Mahmud's most renowned attacks was the sack of the Somnath Temple in 1026
AD. This raid, characterized by the plundering of the temple's treasures, became emblematic of
Mahmud's conquests and the immense wealth he acquired through his military campaigns.
1.3 Expeditions in North India (1009-1027 AD):

Mahmud conducted numerous expeditions into North India, targeting regions such as
Punjab and Gujarat. These attacks further solidified Ghaznavid control over the Indian
subcontinent and extended Mahmud's influence across the region.

1.4 Legacy and Impact (11th Century Onward):

Mahmud's attacks on the Indian subcontinent left a lasting impact on the region's history
and culture. They contributed to the decline of indigenous Indian kingdoms and paved the way
for subsequent Islamic invasions and the establishment of Muslim rule in India.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Mahmud of Ghazni's relentless military campaigns, notably the sack of the
Somnath Temple in 1026 AD, marked him as a formidable conqueror in the annals of history.
His expeditions into the Indian subcontinent not only expanded Ghaznavid control but also left
a lasting impact on the region's socio-political landscape, paving the way for the spread of Islam
and the establishment of Muslim rule in India.

References:

For references on Mahmud of Ghazni and his military campaigns, you can consult
various historical texts and academic sources such as:

1. "The History of India" by John Keay

2. "The Ghaznavids: Their Empire in Afghanistan and Eastern Iran, 994-1040" by Clifford
Edmund Bosworth
3. "The Cambridge History of Islam" edited by Peter Malcolm Holt, Ann K. S. Lambton,
and Bernard Lewis
4. Academic journals focusing on South Asian history and Islamic conquests.
5. Encyclopedias and historical archives covering the Ghaznavid dynasty and Mahmud's
reign.
 Shahbud’s Invasion in Subcontinent

Historians say that there were as many as 5 major invasions of Muhammad Ghori against India,
in which he was the winner in most invasions. His invasions in India were:

1.Conquest of Multan and Sindh, 1175-1178:

The first invasion of Muhammad Ghori was in 1175 AD when he attacked Multan,
defeated the ruling Ismailian Heretics and was successful in capturing Multan. From Multan, he
captured Uch in Upper Sindh in 1178 AD and established a fort there. He also conquered Lower
Sindh later.

2.Conquest of Punjab and Lahore, 1179-1186:

Muhammad Ghori realised that the main place to conquer India was not Sindh and Multan
but Punjab. In 1179 AD, he captured Peshawar. In 1181 AD, he attacked Khusrau Malik, who
did not fight against him and gave him gifts as compensation and also his son as a hostage. In
1185 AD, Ghori invaded Punjab once again and this time he looted the countryside and occupied
the fort of Sialkot. Khusrau Malik took the help of Khokhars to take over Sialkot but was not
successful. In 1186 AD Muhammad Ghori attacked Punjab once again and this time he besieged
Lahore.

3.The First Battle of Tarain, 1191:

In 1191, to conquer the whole of India, Ghori marched towards Delhi and he captured
Sirhind. It was the Rajput King of Delhi and Ajmer, Prithavi Raj Chauhan, who put up a brave
fight with his soldiers against Ghori in Tarain, a place near Karnal in the present Haryana state of
India. In this first battle of Tarain, Ghori was badly injured and defeated and he had to retrace
back his steps.

4.The Second Battle of Tarain, 1192:

In 1192 AD, Muhammad Ghori invaded India again, this time he came with an army of
1,20,000 soldiers, which also included the help of Turks, Afghans, Persians etc. In the second
battlefield of Tarain, Prithavi Raj Chauhan could not restrain the strong army of Ghori.
Muhammad Ghori defeated Prithavi Raj, he was captured and killed. Thus, Ghori was successful
in capturing Delhi and Ajmer.
5.The Battle against Jai Chand Rathor in Kanuaj, 1194 AD:

Jai Chand Rathor, the king of Kanuaj was not in good terms with Prithavi Chauhan and was
happy when he was captured and killed. But, in 1194 AD, when Muhammad Ghori invaded India
again, this time he attacked Kannauj and defeated Jai Chand Rathor, in the battlefield of
Chandawar. After this invasion, Qutab-ud-Din Aibak became the viceroy of Muhammad Ghori.
After this, while Ghori returned back to the west to carry out his conquests in the western
frontiers, Qutab-ud-din Aibak continued his conquests in India.

In 1206, when Ghori was going to Ghazni, he was killed by someone in Dhamyak district of
Jhelum (now in Pakistan). Some say that this act was the result of the revenge for the massacres
that took place in India due to Ghori's invasions of India.