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Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)
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Ghaznavid Empire
Empire
Level 2
★ Major power
c. 977 CE – c. 1186
Turkic empire whose raids under Mahmud reached Somnath and Mathura.
- Capital
- Ghazni, later Lahore
- Region
- Northwest
- Duration
- 209 years
- Main period
- Regional Kingdoms & Ghaznavid/Ghurid Expansion
Changing extent
Approximate extent over time (solid = latest, dashed = earlier).
Rulers
- Sabuktigin Amir977 CE – 997 CEFounder.
- Mahmud of Ghazni Sultan998 CE – 103017 raids into India.
- Mas'ud I Sultan1030 – 1040
- Khusrau Malik Sultan1160 – 1186Last Ghaznavid, ruling from Lahore.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | Mahmud of Ghazni begins his raids on India About seventeen raids followed over 25 years. |
Northwest frontier |
| 1001 | Mahmud defeats Jayapala at Peshawar Jayapala was captured and later abdicated. |
Peshawar |
| 1008 | Battle of Chach Anandapala defeated. Anandapala's coalition was defeated, opening Punjab to Mahmud. |
Chach plain, Attock |
| 1018 | Mahmud sacks Mathura and Kannauj The Pratihara capital was plundered. |
Mathura |
| 1026 | Mahmud of Ghazni raids Somnath The Somnath temple was plundered and Mahmud carried vast treasure to Ghazni. |
Somnath |
| 1030 | Al-Biruni writes the Kitab al-Hind | Ghazni |
Personalities
📚 Recommended reading on the Ghaznavid Empire
Textbook
Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12)
Source-based chapters on Harappa, Vijayanagara, the Mughal court and 1857 — essential for UPSC.
Textbook
An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I (Class 11)
The standard base for art and architecture questions — stupas, temples and sculpture.
Textbook
History of Medieval India
The go-to single volume on the Sultanate, Mughals and regional kingdoms.
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Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Ghaznavid Empire for a significant part of its history.
Anuradhapura Kingdom ★
Sri Lanka · c. 437 BCE – c. 1017
Chahamanas (Chauhans) of Shakambhari ★
West · c. 650 CE – c. 1194
Gurjara-Pratihara Empire ★
North · c. 730 CE – c. 1036
Pala Empire ★
East · c. 750 CE – c. 1161
Chola Empire ★
South · c. 848 CE – 1279
Polonnaruwa Kingdom ★
Sri Lanka · c. 1070 – 1232
Sultanate of the Maldives ★
Islands · c. 1153 – 1968
Kamarupa
Northeast · c. 350 CE – c. 1140
Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi
Deccan · c. 624 CE – c. 1075
Kalachuris of Tripuri
Central · c. 675 CE – 1212
Guhilas of Medapata
West · c. 728 CE – 1303
Tomaras of Delhi
North · c. 736 CE – c. 1152
Thakuri Kingdom of Nepal
Himalaya · c. 750 CE – 1200
Chera Perumals of Makotai
South · c. 800 CE – c. 1124
Paramara Dynasty
Central · c. 800 CE – 1305
Hindu Shahis
Northwest · c. 822 CE – c. 1026
Chandela Dynasty
Central · c. 831 CE – 1315
Habbarid Emirate
Northwest · c. 854 CE – c. 1011
Utpala Dynasty of Kashmir
North · c. 855 CE – c. 1003
Chaulukyas (Solankis) of Gujarat
West · c. 940 CE – 1244
Western Chalukyas of Kalyani
Deccan · c. 973 CE – c. 1189
Lohara Dynasty of Kashmir
North · c. 1003 – c. 1171
Hoysala Empire
South · c. 1026 – 1343
Soomra Dynasty
Northwest · c. 1026 – 1351
Sena Dynasty
East · c. 1070 – 1230
Eastern Ganga Dynasty
East · c. 1078 – 1434
Gahadavala Dynasty
Gangetic Plain · c. 1089 – c. 1197
Khasa Malla Kingdom
Himalaya · c. 1100 – c. 1400
Zamorins of Calicut
South · c. 1124 – 1766
Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur)
West · c. 1128 – 1949