TURKISH INVASION IN INDIA

Critically examine the nature and extent of socio-economic changes

that came in with the Turkish advent.

The invasion of the Turks in the 11th century from Central Asia had far-reaching
consequences on the history of medieval India. The Turks established the
politico-military control over major regions of the country and promoted the
religion-Islam that they professed and introduced and nurtured the Islamic
culture in all spheres. Unlike the invaders of ancient India, the Turks and the
Indian converts to Islam maintained their distinct religion-cultural identity.

The Turks were nomads who lived in certain areas of Central Asia since the 8th
century CE. The Abbasid caliphs converted these Turks into Islam and recruited
them as mercenaries and slaves.

The Medieval Period in India starts with the Turkish invasion. With the death of
Harshvardhana, an era of feudalism rose in India. There was a lot of political
dishevelling in the north India and everyone was too busy capturing small
kingdoms than to take notice of the aggressive invasion of the Turks.

During the 11th and 12th century, the Turkish rulers of Ghazni and Ghor invaded
the Indian subcontinent. Theses rulers were Mahmud Ghazni and Muhammad
Ghori.

2 factors played very crucial role in the Turkish invasion of India:

 India lacked the existence of a united and powerful state to resist these
invasions
 The smaller Islamic states that emerged after the disintegration of the
Abbasid empire had very little economic base. The main source of their income
was plunder of the neighbouring territories.

Causes of success of the Turks in India:

Various reasons have been assigned for the success of the Turkish conquests of
North India.
 The Turkish army displayed superiority over Rajput army because they
possessed better military organisation, discipline and coherence.
 The Turkish invaders were fine archers who depended primarily on the use
of efficient and well-disciplined cavalry against the Rajput infantry.
 Their leaders made intelligent use of the strategies. They restored the sham
fights, made sudden attacks, laid traps, and employed all means, fair or foul, to
win the war.
 The Turkish leaders were well-acquainted with the latest techniques of
warfare and took keen interest in updating their knowledge.
 The Hindu social system was also one of the major factors responsible for
the conquest of the Turks.
 The peculiar social structure created by Islam proved conducive to the
success of the Turks.
 The social organisation based on caste system also proved disastrous in
organising a unified army against the Turkish invaders.

Impact
 They introduce new traditions and values which enrich society as a whole.
 It paved the way for the liquidation of the multi-state system in India.
 The political ideal of the Turkish Sultan was a centralised political
organization controlled by a monarch with unlimited powers and there was no
place for feudalism in it.
 The institution of Iqtas was employed for the purpose of breaking the feudal
traditions of the various areas and for linking up the various parts of the empire
to one centre.
 The Turks introduced Persian at the higher level of administration
throughout their territories in India. This brought about uniformity in the
language of administration.
 The disappearance of the warrior castes – Kshatriya
 They brought the latest technology of that time to India which brought
radical changes in society.
 Improvement in the wheels helped in the irrigation system and increased
agricultural production.
 They provided new tools to artisans which made them more productive in
their professions.
 The invention of paper and production brought radical changes. The Arabs
had learnt this technique from the Chinese and it was the Turks who introduced
it in India in the 12th century. It helped the bureaucrats in writing down all the
detail of administrative rules and regulations and acting accordingly.
 Politically, the Turkish rule ended the small states and laid down the
foundation of a kingdom. It ended the civil wars and peace was maintained
within the territories of the Turkish states. It made trade routes safe for traders
which resulted in the flourishing of trade and commerce in the subcontinent.
 When Turks from Central Asia invaded India they introduced their culture
in society. Turks also picked up many things from the Indian culture which
resulted in shared values.