Art and Architecture IV Notes

Subcontinent: Geographical and Ethnical Diversity

  • Deserts of Kandahar

  • Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass

  • Punjab

  • Thar Desert

  • Rann of Kutch

  • Aravalli Range

  • Vindhya and Satpura Ranges

  • Narmada and Tapti Rivers

  • Mahadeo Hills

  • Nilgiri Hills and Cardamom Hills

  • Orissa (Kalinga)

  • Bengal

  • Brahmaputra River

Timeline of Invasions and Dynasties

  • 712-738 AD: Arab conquest of Sind by Muhammed bin Qasim of the Quraish tribe (limited significance)

  • Turks and Afghans' invasions (greater political significance)

  • 997-1030 AD: 17 expeditions by Mahmud of Ghazni (Turk origin) and defeated

  • 1001 AD: Mahmud defeated Raja Jayapala of Gandhara dynasty (Gaznavid dynasty lasted 175 years)

  • Conquest of India by Muslim dynasties from the north-western route

Arab Conquest of Sind by Muhammed Qasim

  • Muhammed Qasim was sent by Hajjaj, the Governor of Iraq.

  • Purpose: protect sea trade routes of Arabs due to raids by pirates operating around Debal.

  • Allegation: King of Sindh, Raja Dahir, was the patron of these pirates.

  • Invasion route: Persia-Syria-Afghanistan-India

  • Arabs built new mosques, but none survived due to natural calamities.

  • More of an Islamic cultural delegation than a military adventure

Earliest Mosque in India

  • Located at Bhambore, in Sindh, Pakistan (near Debal)

  • Built in 727 AD

  • Outer dimension: 128' \times 122'

  • Courtyard: 75' \times 58'

  • This Arab conquest was a local event without significant impact and sustained cultural exchange.

Muhammad Ghori and the Slave Dynasty

  • 1191 & 1192 AD: Muhammad Ghori of Ghor (Afghan) defeated Prithviraj Chauhan.

  • Ghori left his commander Qutb-ud-din Aibak to continue the conquest.

  • 1203 A.D: Slave dynasty established by Qutb-ud-din-Aibak as the first ruler of Delhi.

  • 1296-1316 A.D: Ala-ud-din Khilji's reign.

  • 1325-51 A.D: Muhammad bin Tughlak's reign.

  • 1414-50 A.D: Rule of Sayyids at Delhi.

  • 1451 A.D: Accession of Bahlul Lodi.

  • 1526 A.D: First Battle of Panipat; Babar established the Mughal Empire.

Delhi Sultanate Dynasties

  • Slave Dynasty (1203-1290): Qutb-ud-din-Aybak (1203-1210), Aram Shah (1210-1211), Shams-ud-din Iltutmish (1211-1236), Rukn-ud-din Firuz (1236), Raziyyat ud din Sultana (1236), Muiz-ud-din Bahram (1240-1242), Ala-ud-din Masud (1242-1246), Nasir-ud-din Mahmud (1246-1266), Ghiyas-ud-din Balban (1266-1286), Muiz-ud-din Qaiqabad (1286-1290)

  • Khilji Dynasty (1290-1320): Jalal ud din Firuz (1290-1296), Ala ud din Khalji (1296-1316), Qutb ud din Mubarak Shah (1316-1320)

  • Tughluq Dynasty (1321-1398): Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq (1321-1325), Muhammad bin Tughluq (1325-1351), Firuz Shah Tughluq (1351-1388), Ghiyath al-Din Tughlaq II (1388-1389), Abu Baker (1389-1390), Nasir al-Din Muhammad (1390-1394), Mahmud Nasir al-Din (Sultan Mahmud) at Delhi (1394-1413), Nusrat Shah at Firuzabad (1445-1451)

  • Sayyid Dynasty (1414-1451): Khizr (1414-1421), Mubarik II (1421-1434), Muhamed IV (1434-1445), Alem I (1445-1451)

  • Lodi Dynasty (1451-1526): Bahlul Khan Lodi (1451-1489), Sikandar Lodi (1489-1517), Ibrahim Lodi (1517-1526), defeated by Babur

  • Babur (1236)

Slave Dynasty/Mamluk Dynasty

  • Hindus came under the rule of the Slave King within 12 years.

  • Qutb-ud-din Aibak: A Turkish slave of Muhammad Ghori, appointed as viceroy of conquered territories.

  • Stormed Ajmer, Gwalior, Delhi, Kanauj up to Bundelkhand in 1203 A.D.

  • Aibak's earliest intention: to establish the power of Islam

  • Declared himself independent of Ghori, becoming the first Muslim ruler of South Asia.

  • Chose Qila Rai Pithora (built by Prithviraj Chauhan of Delhi) as his imperial capital.