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Today we are starting to learn about Medieval History. In our present blog, we will study about Early Medieval Period, Rajputs, Muslim Invasion in India.

Period between Ancient History and Modern history of the Indian subcontinent is referred to as the Medieval period. This period saw the end of the last of the major ancient states, the Gupta empire, and the rise of the huge Mughal empire, in the 16th century. This period can be effectively considered as the beginning of Muslim domination to British India. Medieval India can be classified broadly into three parts:

<ol>
	<li>Early Medieval 8-12th Century A.D.</li>
	<li>Delhi Sultanate 12th -16th Century</li>
	<li>Mughals 16-18th century</li>
</ol>

<h2 id="content-id-1979-0">Early Medieval 8-12th Century A.D.</h2>

The start of the period is typically taken to be the slow collapse of the Gupta Empire from about 480 to 550, ending the “classical” period, as well as “ancient India”.

Major Dynasties of Early Medieval Period:

In northern India, the post-Gupta age saw the rise and fall of various small kingdoms. However, among these small kingdoms, there were three big kingdoms (between A.D. 750 and 1,000), namely:

<ol>
	<li>Rashtrakutas (752-973 CE): Capital- Malkhand</li>
	<li>Pratiharas (730-1036 CE): Capital- Avanti, kannauj</li>
	<li>Palas (750-1150 CE): Capital- Munger</li>
</ol>

<h2 id="content-id-1979-1">Tripartite Struggle</h2>

Kannauj, the capital of Harsha, was an important city and hence many of the campaigns in northern India were fought over this city. It was geographically located in the northern plain; a strategic point from where it was easy to control the Ganga valley. Three major kingdoms were involved in this struggle to control Kanauj. It came to be known as the ‘tripartite (i.e. three parties) struggle for Kanauj’. The three kingdoms were the Rashtrakutas, the Pratiharas, and the Palas. The main cause for this struggle was the desire to possess the city of Kannauj, which was then a symbol of Prosperity. Southern India was dominated by three rival kingdoms: Cheras, Pandyas, and Cholas. In the early 7th century, the Pallavas dominated southern India until the late 9th century. The Pandyas were then briefly the strongest power in the south, and the Cholas then dominated south India from the early 10th century to the early 13th century.

<h2 id="content-id-1979-2">The Rajputs</h2>

Origin: Most accepted theory was given by Col. James Todd in his book, “Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan’’. According to him Rajputs were not indigenous, they were foreigners, Hunas & Shakyas settled in India. Since Hindu society was hierarchical, they were given the status of Kshatriya caste. Kshatriyas now had two branches (Original from Vedic Ages and Rajputs). They were known for their warrior and chivalrous nature. The Rajput kings belonged to an ordered family, which connected them with either the sun-family (surya-vamshi) or the moon-family (chandra-vamsha) of ancient Indian kings. They were divided into clans. Four major clans of Rajputs were:

<ol>
	<li>Pratiharas (or Pariharas): Ruled in the region of Kanauj. Oldest of Rajputs e.g. Nagabhata II, Mihir Bhoj.</li>
	<li>Chauhans (or Chahamanas): They were strong in central Rajasthan.e.g. Prithviraj Chauhan.</li>
	<li>Solankis (or Chalukyas): Ruled the region of Kathiawar and the surrounding areas.e.g. Mulraj I, Mulraj II.</li>
	<li>Pawars (or Paramaras): They ruled the region of Malwa.e.g. Raja Bhoj.</li>
</ol>

Prithviraj III was the prince of the Chauhan dynasty. He was the most powerful king of that period in northern India. Chandbardai, the Hindi poet of Prithviraj’s court, had written the famous poem ‘Prithviraj-Raso’. Although, it contains a mixture of historical facts and imaginary legends so it is not considered historically reliable.

<h2 id="content-id-1979-3">Cause of decline of rajputs</h2>

Prevalent caste system: 4 major castes existed during those times of which Priest class were getting huge land grants and donations from the kings. Temples and education centers were controlled by priests. Brahmins even had power to punish people in their lands (agrahar land). Ruling class, Rajputs, enjoyed great financial privileges. Due to this social hierarchy and setup, they did not enjoy support from lower caste people as well as wealthy traders.

Defective Military Organisation: The military organization of the Rajputs was very defective. The Rajputs did not maintain a permanent army for the safety of their country. The king had to depend on the armies of the feudal lords. The Rajputs did not have any experienced and capable leader who could unite them at the time of danger. They did not have modernised weapons.

Lack of unity: Rajputs were often seen fighting among themselves. They were always at war with their neighbour inorder to spread their kingdom. Thus, they were unable to form alliances against a common enemy.

Now we’ll discuss the rise of Islam in India

<h2 id="content-id-1979-4">The rise of Islam</h2>

The initial entry of Islam into South Asia happened in the seventh century after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. Founder of Islam, Prophet Mohammed was born in 570 A.D. at Mecca. He died in 632 in Medina. Islam came through Arab traders in south India. The first group of Muslims who came to India was of traders.

<h2 id="content-id-1979-5">Muslim invasion of India</h2>

The Umayyad caliph in Damascus sent an expedition to Baluchistan and Sindh in 711 led by Muhammad bin Qasim. He captured Sindh and Multan. Three hundred years after his death, Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni, the ferocious leader, led a series of raids against Rajput kingdoms and rich Hindu temples and established a base in Punjab for future incursions. In 1024, the Sultan set out on his last famous expedition to the southern coast of Kathiawar along the Arabian Sea, where he sacked the city of Somnath and its renowned Hindu temple. Muhammad Ghori invaded India in 1175 A.D. After the conquest of Multan and Punjab, he advanced towards Delhi The brave Rajput chiefs of northern India headed by Prithvi Raj Chauhan defeated him in the First Battle of Tarain in 1191 A.D. After about a year, Muhammad Ghori came again to avenge his defeat. The Second Battle of Tarain was fought again in Terrain in 1192 A.D. in which the Rajputs were defeated and Prithvi Raj Chauhan was captured and put to death. This battle, however, proved to be a decisive battle that laid the foundations of Muslim rule in northern India.

We will continue our discussion and further talk more about Medieval History.

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