Reasons and Consequences of Ghaznavid's Invasion of India

During the history of India، there had been relations between Indians and Muslims. With the foundation of independent rulerships in the east of Iran during the 3rd and 4th Islamic centuries، the form of Muslim Arab commanders’ direct attacks on the Indian lands changed into non-Arab warrior emirs’ conquests (against the infidels). Arising of Ghaznavids in the east of the Islamic lands and the thought of conquering India by Sultan Mahmud was the beginning of this trend. Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi launched sixteen or seventeen attacks on the wealthy country of India. Of course، these attacks were started by Sabuktiginand reached their peak during the time of Sultan Mahmud and were continued by his successors severely. The reasons for these military expeditions can be dealt with from three different but related aspects: Firstly، India was a rich and wealthy country in which Ghaznavids’ wars (against infidels) meant access to a lot of wealth which could be a powerful support for the survival of the Ghaznavid army-based government. Secondly، one of the main reasons could be religion; that is، the invasions were launched for the sake of spreading the religion of Islam through which they wanted to gain legitimacy. Thirdly، there was a problem resulted from the presence of the army in the center of the government. The present research deals with the reasons and consequences of Ghaznavids’ invasion and conquest of India which continued throughout the Ghaznavid dynasty. The first attack was launched from the north of India، and the way Ghaznavid sencountered and governed the Indian conquered lands was different from that of other conquerors.