Disclaimer: Many claims and counter-claims have been made about the nature of the Arab, Persian and Turkish invasions of India which began in the eighth century and continued through the eighteenth century. Many of those who have made claims have failed to substantiate them using primary sources, which has resulted in confusion. This reference is based on research ranging over a wide range of primary sources, providing excerpts of relevant passages in English translation. Many of these texts were written by authors who accompanied the invaders and recorded what they saw in Arabic, Persian or Turkish. The source of these excerpts are the translations made by Sir H. M. Elliot, and edited and published in 24 volumes by John Dowson in 1867. Each scholar studying this material must make his or her own analysis and interpretation. No attempts are made here to make value judgements, nor should the historical events described herein be projected onto contemporary peoples or situations. In any balanced interpretation of today's society, this data would be only a small subset of the much larger set of information needed to reach a balanced conclusion.
Arab Invasion of Sindh
Date | Source | Events |
711-713 CE | Chach Na'ma | Invasion of Sindh by Muhammad bin Qâsim |
711-c. 850 CE | Futuhu-l Bulda'n | Arab Invasion and administration in Sindh |
Ghaznivid Period
Date | Source | Events |
986-1019 CE | Tarikh Yamini | Subuktigin and Mahmud's Attacks on India |
late 10th century | Tarikhu-s Subuktigin | Subuktigin's Assault on Hansi |
1008 CE | Tarikh-i Firishta | Mahmud's Defeat of Indian confederacy at Peshwar |
1009-1024 CE | Habibu-s Siyar | Mahmud's Attack on Kangra, Kanauj & Somnath |
1014 CE | Khulasatu-t Tawarikh | Mahmud's Attack on Thaneswar |
1018-1019 CE | Tabakat-i Akbar | Mahmud's Attack on Kanauj and Mathura |
1023-1024 CE | Asaru-l Bilad | Mahmud's Attack on Somnath |
1023-1024 CE | Kamilu-t Tawarikh | Mahmud's Attack on Somnath |
1023-1024 CE | Tabakat-i Nasiri | Mahmud's Attack on Somnath |
1023-1024 CE | Tarikh-i Alfi | Mahmud's Attack on Somnath |
1024 CE | Mirati Mas'udi | Aftermath of Attack on Somnath |
early 12th century | Nuzhatu-l Mushtak | Description of Indians |
Date | Source | Events |
1192-early 13th century | Taju-l Ma'asir | Qutb-ud-din Aibak & Îltutmish's Raids |
1193-1260 CE | Tabakat-i Nasiri | Muhammad Bakhtiyar's raid on Bihar; events during the reigns of the Îltutmish & Nâsir-ud dîn Mahmûd |
1194 CE | Kamilu-t Tawarikh | Qutb-ud-din Aibak's Attack on Benaras |
1298 CE | Tazjiyatu-l Amsar | Sultan 'Alau-d dîn's Invasion of Gujarat |
1303-1310 CE | Tarikh-i 'Alai | Sultan 'Alau-d dîn's Conquests |
1397-1398 CE | Malfuzat-i Timuri | Timur's invasion of India |
1397-1398 CE | Zafar-nama | Timur's invasion of India |
1492, 1542 CE | Zubdatu-t Tawarikh | Events during the Lodî dynasty |
no date | Mukhtasiru-t Tawarikh | General Description of India |
Moghul Period
Date | Source | Events |
1564, 1567 | Tabakat-i Akbar-shahi |
Âsaf Khân's raid on Gondwâna; Akbar's assault on Chitor |
1565-late 1500s | Tarikh-i Tahiri | Attacks on Thatta by the Portuguese and Mirza Muhammad Baki |
late 1500s | Beg Lar Nama | Sacking of 'Umarkot by Mir Abu-l Kasim |
1714 CE | Muntakhabu-l Lubab | Persecution of Sikhs and Hindus |
1739 CE | Tarikh-i Hindi | Nâdir Shâh's sack of Delhi |
1739 CE | Tazkira | Nâdir Shâh's sack of Delhi |