Department of Electrical Engineering

National University of Computer and

Emerging Sciences,
Chiniot-Faisalabad Campus

SS1003-Pakistan Studies

Assignment # 1

Name: Zain, Mubeen, Hammad, Umar.

Roll No: 6108, 6013,6017,6015.
Section: BS(EE)-2A.

1.Muhammad Bin Qasim

1.1 Background:
Muhammad bin Qasim was an Arab military commander who led the muslim conquest
in Sindh in 712 A.D. He attacked sindh because the pirates of Debul (modern-day Karachi) had
looted ships carrying gifts from Ceylon (Sri Lanka) meant for the Arab caliph. These pirates also
attacked ships carrying Muslim women and children, who were widows and orphans of
Muslim soldiers who had died in Sri Lanka.This provided the Umayyad forces with a
strong cause to attack Sindh.

1.2 Introduction:
Muḥammad bin al-Qasim al-Thaqafi (Arabic: 31 ;‫ )محمد بن القاسم الثقفي‬was born in 695
AD. Muhammad bin al-Qasim belonged from an Arab tribe Banu Thaqif. concentrated
around the city of Taif situated in western Arabia. He grew up in the care of his mother. His
mother hired different teachers for his worldly education and his uncle Hajaj bin yousuf
taught him the art of governing and warfare. He became a great asset for his Uncle
Muhammad ibn Yusuf, the governor of Yemen.He proved his ability for the post of
Governor with his judgment, potential and skills left many other officers for the post. He
was also a close relative of Hajjaj bin Yousuf because of the influence of Hajjaj. and the
young Muhammad bin Qasim was appointed the governor of Persia in his teenage years. He
played a significant role in the conquest of Sindh in India.

Order:
Muhammad bin al Qasim received orders from the Umayyad caliphate to
launch an invasion in Sindh. His mission was to rescue the muslims from the pirates.

Assembling the forces

Muhammad bin qasim assembled a force of around 6000 syrian cavalry advanced and
well-trained guards on 6000 camels with five catapults‫۔‬

Attack on Sindh and Spreading of Islam.

 Muhammad bin Qasim led the conquest of Sindh between 711 and 712. At the age of
seventeen he conquered sindh and some of its surrounding areas like multan and some areas
of punjab. He defeated Hindu ruler Raja Dahir and made muslim reign. He saved muslims
from pirates and he also eliminated the hindu dynasty of Brahman and served for muslims.
Everyone loved him and people of India started to accept the islam because of the love and
kindness of Muhammad bin Qasim.

Other conquerors except Sindh

Muhammad bin Qasim captured Makran which is a coastal region in present day
Pakistan and Iran were a part of the campaign. Along with Makran he also made muslim
reign in Multan, Lower Punjab and Balochistan’s some regions in his reign.

Death
Muhammad bin Qasim being a young, brave, lean and skilled soldier and having great
leadership qualities last for 715 A.D. He died in 715 A.D.

Conclusion
Muhammad bin Qasim, a brilliant military strategist, left an indelible mark on history.
His conquests expanded Umayyad rule into the Indian subcontinent, forever altering the
region’s destiny. Beyond military prowess, his legacy ignited discussions on governance
and religious tolerance, leaving a complex and multifaceted impact.
References:
The above information is collected from the articles of:
1. Wikipedia
2. Historypak
3. Microsoft Information center
4. “Muhammad bin Qasim / ‫ ”محمد بن قاسم‬by Naseem Hijazi
(The information is taken from history and there is no authentic source of information so
error or mistake in information is possible.)

2.Mehmood Ghaznavi
Conqueror of the Indian Subcontinent:
Mehmood Ghaznavi following the footsteps of his father, Sabuktigin, Mehmood
expanded his empire's reach into the Indian subcontinent through a series of military
campaigns. His expeditions, conducted between 1000 and 1027 AD, were marked by the
plundering of temples and acquisition of immense wealth, establishing Ghaznavid
dominance in the region. Mehmood's conquests left a lasting impact on the history and
culture of South Asia, shaping the geopolitical landscape for centuries to come.

Introduction:
Mehmood Ghaznavi, born in 2 November 971 AD in the city of Ghazni, Afghanistan,
stands as a towering figure in the realm of conquest and expansion. Ghazni's legacy is
etched in the sands of time, marked by his relentless pursuit of power and wealth. As a
leader of unparalleled vision and determination. Ghazni's saga is one of conquest, ambition,
and the inexorable march of empires, a testament to the indomitable spirit of a ruler driven
by the thirst for greatness.

Attacks of Mahmud Ghazni:

⮚ Between 1000 and 1027 AD, Mahmud Ghazni attacked India 17 times.

1.1 Campaigns into the Indian Subcontinent (1000-1008 AD):

Under Mahmud of Ghazni's rule, the Ghaznavid dynasty launched a series of
military campaigns into the Indian subcontinent. These campaigns were primarily aimed at
expanding Ghaznavid territory and buying wealth from the rich kingdoms of the region.
1.2 Sack of the Somnath Temple (1026 AD):
One of Mahmud's most renowned attacks was the sack of the Somnath Temple in
1026 AD. This raid, characterized by the plundering of the temple's treasures, became
emblematic of Mahmud's conquests and the immense wealth he bought through his military
campaigns.
1.3 Expeditions in North India (1009-1027 AD):
Mahmud conducted many expeditions into North India, targeting regions such as
Punjab and Gujarat. These attacks further solidified Ghaznavid control over the Indian
subcontinent and extended Mahmud's influence across the region.

1.4 Legacy and Impact (11th Century Onward):

Mahmud's attacks on the Indian subcontinent left a lasting impact on the region's
history and culture. They contributed to the decline of indigenous Indian kingdoms and
paved the way for later Islamic invasions and the establishment of Muslim rule in India.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, Mahmud of Ghazni's relentless military campaigns, notably the sack of
the Somnath Temple in 1026 AD, marked him as a formidable conqueror in the annals of
history. His expeditions into the Indian subcontinent not only expanded Ghaznavid control
but also left a lasting impact on the region's socio-political landscape, paving the way for the
spread of Islam and the establishment of Muslim rule in India.

References:
For references on Mahmud of Ghazni and his military campaigns, you can consult
various historical texts and academic sources such as:

1. "The History of India" by John Keay

2. "The Ghaznavids: Their Empire in Afghanistan and Eastern Iran, 994-1040" by
Clifford Edmund Bosworth
3. "The Cambridge History of Islam" edited by Peter Malcolm Holt, Ann K. S.
Lambton, and Bernard Lewis
4. Encyclopedias and historical archives covering the Ghaznavid dynasty and
Mahmud's reign.

3.Shahbud’s Invasion in Subcontinent

Historians say that there were as many as 5 major invasions of Muhammad Ghori against
India, in which he was the winner in most invasions. His invasions in India were:

1.Conquest of Multan and Sindh, 1175-1178:

The first invasion of Muhammad Ghori was in 1175 AD when he attacked Multan,
defeated the ruling Ismailian Heretics and was successful in capturing Multan. From Multan,
he captured Uch in Upper Sindh in 1178 AD and established a fort there. He also conquered
Lower Sindh later.

2.Conquest of Punjab and Lahore, 1179-1186:

Muhammad Ghori realised that the main place to conquer India was not Sindh and
Multan but Punjab. In 1179 AD, he captured Peshawar. In 1181 AD, he attacked Khusrau
Malik, who did not fight against him and gave him gifts as compensation and his son as a
hostage. In 1185 AD, Ghori invaded Punjab once again and this time he looted the
countryside and occupied the fort of Sialkot. Khusrau Malik took the help of Khokhars to
take over Sialkot but was not successful. In 1186 AD Muhammad Ghori attacked Punjab
once again and this time he besieged Lahore.

3.The First Battle of Tarain, 1191:

In 1191, to conquer the whole of India, Ghori marched towards Delhi and he captured
Sirhind. It was the Rajput King of Delhi and Ajmer, Prithavi Raj Chauhan, who put up a
brave fight with his soldiers against Ghori in Tarain, a place near Karnal in the present
Haryana state of India. In this first battle of Tarain, Ghori was badly injured and defeated and
he had to retrace back his steps.

4.The Second Battle of Tarain, 1192:

 In 1192 AD, Muhammad Ghori invaded India again, this time he came with an army
of 1,20,000 soldiers, which also included the help of Turks, Afghans, Persians etc. In the
second battlefield of Tarain, Prithavi Raj Chauhan could not restrain the strong army of
Ghori. Muhammad Ghori defeated Prithavi Raj, he was captured and killed. Thus, Ghori was
successful in capturing Delhi and Ajmer.

5.The Battle against Jai Chand Rathor in Kanuaj, 1194 AD:

Jai Chand Rathor, the king of Kanuaj was not in good terms with Prithavi Chauhan and
was happy when he was captured and killed. But, in 1194 AD, when Muhammad Ghori
invaded India again, this time he attacked Kannauj and defeated Jai Chand Rathor, in the
battlefield of Chandawar. After this invasion, Qutab-ud-Din Aibak became the viceroy of
Muhammad Ghori. After this, while Ghori returned to the west to carry out his conquests in
the western frontiers, Qutab-ud-din Aibak continued his conquests in India.

In 1206, when Ghori was going to Ghazni, he was killed by someone in Dhamyak district of
Jhelum (now in Pakistan). Some say that this act was the result of the revenge for the
massacres that took place in India due to Ghori's invasions of India.