Ghaznavid Empire

Ghaznavid Empire was an empire in Afghanistan and the northwest (South Asia) that lasted from 977 to 1186 CE, about 209 years. Its people spoke Turkic languages (Gokturk, Uyghur, Seljuk, Ottoman, Kazakh, Tatar).

Founded by the Turkic slave commander Sabuktigin. His son Mahmud raided India seventeen times and patronized the poet Firdawsi. After losing Khorasan to the Seljuks the dynasty held on in Punjab until the Ghurids took Lahore.

See Ghaznavid Empire on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

977 to 1186 CE

Duration

209 years

Type

Empire

Region

Afghanistan and the northwest, South Asia

Language family

Turkic

Capital

Ghazni, later Lahore

Came from

• Hindu Shahis c. 822 to 1026 CE

Became

• Ghurid dynasty 1148 to 1215 CE

Events in South Asia during its time

• 1025 Mahmud of Ghazni sacks Somnath
• 1025 Chola fleet raids Srivijaya

Neighbours in South Asia

• Chola Empire 848 to 1279 CE
• Anuradhapura Kingdom 377 BCE to 1017 CE
• Pala Empire c. 750 to 1161 CE
• Hoysala Empire c. 1026 to 1343 CE
• Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty c. 730 to 1036 CE
• Rashtrakuta dynasty 753 to 982 CE
• Western Chalukyas 973 to 1189 CE
• Kakatiya dynasty 1163 to 1323 CE
• Ghurid dynasty 1148 to 1215 CE
• Kingdom of Mewar c. 728 to 1949 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Middle East
• Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE, Central and Southern Africa
• Ghana Empire (Wagadu) c. 300 to 1200 CE, North and West Africa
• Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
• Srivijaya c. 650 to 1377 CE, Southeast Asia
• Khmer Empire 802 to 1431 CE, Southeast Asia
• Tiwanaku c. 400 to 1000 CE, South America
• Abbasid Caliphate 750 to 1258 CE, Middle East

Questions