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( Lesson 4:
The muslim and mongol invaders)

Lesson 4:
The muslim and mongol invaders
Islamization of India:
Muhammad of Ghur (1206)-Muslim conqueror of Northern India, who
experience some blocks and defeats from enemies, but later gained
victory and became dominant in northern India.
2 generals of Muhammad:

 Qutubbin Aybak – assigned to the conquests in India, and

continued to push east and south
 Bakhtiyar Khlaji – overran Bihar and conquered Bengal in 1202.
Muhammad suffered several defeats in Central Asia at the hands of
Turkish enemies. He returned to India and crushed the rebels, but
unfortunately assassinated on his way back to Ghazni.
Different Dynasties:
 Slave Dynasty – ruthlessly put down rebellions of their subject
and strengthened Muslim domination in Hindustan.
 Khlaji Dynasty – lasted for 30 years and extended Moslem
supremacy to the Deccan.
 Tughluq Dynasty – seized the control of the Sultanate of Delhi.
o Timur the Tartar or Tamerlane - Mongol conqueror
who invaded India sacking Delhi and massacring its
inhabitants.
 Sayyid Dynasty – under which the Delhi Sultanate sharank to
virtually nothing.
 Lodi Dynasty – later revived the rule of Delhi over much of
Northern India.
 Many Indians converted to Islam; one of the areas where a
great majority of the population became Muslim was in Punjab
region. Muslims did marry Hindus and Hindus did convert to
Islam.
The Rise of the Mughal Empire
1526 - Mughal was built by Babur, a descendant of Tamerlane.
Babur’s kingdom stretched from beyond Afghanistan to the Bengal
region along the Gangetic plain.
Humayun, son of Babur, lost the kingdom to Bihar-based Sher
Khan Sur and fled to Persia.

The Reign of Akbar

Akbar the Great – greatest Mogul of India, grandson of Babur. In
spite of his military aggressions, Akbar proved to be a kind and wise
emperor. He gave India one of the best governments in her long history.
Laws were humanized, taxes were reduced and all religions were
tolerated.
Other Mogul Rulers
 Jahangir – son of Akbar. Although he was a gifted man, his
success was limited by his indolence, his addiction to excessive
drink and streak to cruelty in his nature.
 Shah Jahan – Akbar’s grandson, patronized Arts and during his
reign, he built the famous Taj Mahal, a mausoleum for his favorite
wife, Muntaz Mahal.
 Aurangzeb, the son of Shah Jahan, seized the throne from his
father father in 1658 and was last of the great Moguls.
 Ancient Hindu Health Practices

 Ayurveda – India’s medical system which means Knowledge of

Life began about 2400 years ago and reached its basic present form
by 500 AD.
 Six tastes in Ayurvedic Medicine represent the healing
properties of herbs and minerals:
Liquorice – bitter and sweet
Honey – sweet and astringent
Asafetida – pungent
Rock salt – salty
Rauwolfia root – bitter
Myrrh gum – bitter and pungent
And the 6th taste is sour