Ghaznavid empire
Also called: Ghaznavids, Ghaznavid dynasty · Topic: Early Medieval North India: Harsha to the Rajputs · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 4 "Turning Tides: The 11th and 12th Centuries"; Class 12, Ch 1 "Through the Eyes of Travellers"; Class 12, Ch 2 "Bhakti-Sufi Traditions"
Meaning
The Ghaznavids were a Turkic dynasty that ruled from Ghazni in Afghanistan, c. 977–1186. They defeated the Hindu Shahis, who guarded the Khyber Pass, and this opened the way into the Indus plains. Their most famous ruler, Mahmud, was the first to use the title 'sultan' (ruler). He made Punjab part of his empire. Lahore then grew into a centre of Persian learning, and scholars such as al-Biruni came into contact with Indian Brahmana scholars.
Example
Mahmud of Ghazni led 17 campaigns into India. In 1018 he destroyed the great temple at Mathura and sacked Kannauj. A few years later he destroyed the Somnath temple in Gujarat. His Lahore coin carried writing in both Arabic and Sanskrit.
Don't confuse with
- Ghurids: they came later, from Ghur. Muhammad Ghuri wanted to conquer and keep land in India, which led to the Delhi Sultanate. The Ghaznavids raided for loot and held nothing beyond Punjab.