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Turkish Raids in Early Medieval India

Mahmud Ghazni's Invasions | Motive: Wealth vs Empire

Mahmud of Ghazni invaded India 17 times, primarily to loot the vast treasures of Indian temples. He had no intention of establishing a permanent empire in the subcontinent.

Primary Reference: NCERT Class VII - Our Pasts II

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Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A): Mohd. Ghazni invaded India seventeen times.
Reason (R): He wanted to establish permanent Muslim Empire in India.
Select the correct answer from the given codes:

[U.P. Lower Sub. Special Prelims 2004]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept


Mahmud of Ghazni’s campaigns are often contrasted with those of Muhammad Ghori. The distinction lies in their long-term objectives regarding the Indian subcontinent.

Authentic Source Evidence


Historians like Satish Chandra confirm that Mahmud invaded India 17 times (Assertion A is true). However, his goal was to plunder the wealth of Indian temples to fund his Central Asian empire, not to establish a permanent state in India (Reason R is false).

Analytical Breakdown


  • Logic 1: Mahmud's raids focused on temple cities like Mathura, Kanauj, and Somnath, where immense gold and jewels were stored.

  • Logic 2: After each raid, he returned to Ghazni. He only annexed the Punjab region as a strategic buffer and forward base, but the rest of India remained independent.

    • Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

    "How did Muhammad Ghori's motive differ from Mahmud of Ghazni's?"

    While Mahmud raided for wealth, Ghori invaded to establish a permanent Islamic empire and a centralized administration in North India.

    Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

    "Mahmud of Ghazni functioned as a conqueror of Central Asia but primarily as a raider of India, using Indian wealth to build his magnificent capital at Ghazni."

    Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

    Mahmud of Ghazni 7Muhammad Ghori 4

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