DAV Class 7 SST Chapter 12 Turkish Invasions in North India Solutions

1. Mahmud Ghazni invaded India 17 times during the period:
(a) 1000-1027 CE
(b) 1000-1025 CE
(c) 1191-1192 CE
(d) 971-998 CE
Answer: (a) 1000-1027 CE

2. The famous poet who wrote Shahnama was:
(a) Al-Biruni
(b) Firdausi
(c) Chand Bardai
(d) Amir Khusro
Answer: (b) Firdausi

3. Prithviraj Chauhan defeated Muhammad Ghori in the First Battle of Tarain in:
(a) 1191 CE
(b) 1192 CE
(c) 1025 CE
(d) 1194 CE
Answer: (a) 1191 CE

4. Which famous temple on the sea coast of Gujarat was plundered by Mahmud Ghazni in 1025 CE?
(a) Sun Temple
(b) Somnath Temple
(c) Khajuraho Temple
(d) Kailashnath Temple
Answer: (b) Somnath Temple

5. Muhammad Ghori put his Indian territories under the charge of his trusted slave and general:
(a) Qutubuddin Aibek
(b) Mahmud Ghazni
(c) Al-Biruni
(d) Jaichand
Answer: (a) Qutubuddin Aibek

1. Mahmud Ghazni ascended the throne of Ghazni in 998 CE.
2. Kitab-Al-Hind was written by the famous scholar Al-Biruni.
3. Muhammad Ghori was the ruler of a small kingdom named Ghor in Afghanistan.
4. Prithviraj Chauhan was the ruler of Delhi and Ajmer.
5. King Jaichand of Kanauj was defeated by Muhammad Ghori in battle.

1. Mahmud Ghazni invaded India 17 times.
Answer: True

2. Many muslims settled in India due to their trade interests.
Answer: True

3. Muhammad Ghori was defeated in both the Battles of Tarain.
Answer: False (He was defeated in the First Battle of Tarain in 1191 CE, but emerged victorious in the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192 CE).

4. Muhammad Ghori conquered Kanauj and Benaras.
Answer: True

5. Muhammad Ghori had three children.
Answer: False (Muhammad Ghori had no children of his own; his empire was governed by his trusted Turkish slave-generals).

Question 1: What attracted the Turks to India?
Answer: The Turks were primarily attracted by the immense wealth preserved in rich Indian mercantile towns and temples, combined with the extreme political disunity and mutual rivalries among Indian Rajput rulers.

Question 2: Write any two main features of Turks.
Answer: Two prominent characteristics of the Turkish warriors were:

1. They were professional, disciplined soldiers and exceptionally skilled horseback riders possessing superior mobile cavalry tactics.
2. Their military campaigns were planned systematically, meticulously organized, and carried out with remarkable speed and tactical cohesion.

Question 3: List the places that were invaded by Mahmud Ghazni in India.
Answer: During his 17 military expeditions across northern India, Mahmud Ghazni plundered wealthy cities and temple centres including Nagarkot (Kangra), Thanesar, Mathura, Kanauj, Gwalior, and the celebrated Somnath Temple on the Gujarat coastline.

Question 4: Name the ruler who is credited with laying the foundation of muslim empire in India.
Answer: Muhammad Ghori (Mu’izz al-Din Muhammad) is credited with laying the political foundation of the Muslim empire in India after his decisive victory in the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192 CE.

Question 5: Who was handed over the conquered territories of Muhammad Ghori in India?
Answer: The conquered Indian territories of Muhammad Ghori were placed under the administration of his trusted slave and military commander, Qutubuddin Aibek, who subsequently established the Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty and the Delhi Sultanate.

Question 1: How did Mahmud Ghazni extend his power?
Answer: Mahmud Ghazni expanded his realm through planned military conquests funded by Indian spoils:

• Ascending the throne of Ghazni in 998 CE, he targeted northwestern India where imperial Gurjara-Pratihara power had collapsed.
• Between 1000 and 1027 CE, he launched 17 swift raids, looting wealthy Indian religious and commercial centres such as Nagarkot, Mathura, Kanauj, and Somnath.
• He carried away colossal quantities of gold, silver, pearls, and diamonds worth millions of dinars.
• Using this vast looted treasure, he turned Ghazni from a modest mountain town into a glittering cultural capital, raised a large mercenary army, and conquered Afghanistan, Khurasan, and parts of Central Asia.

Question 2: Why did Mahmud Ghazni decide to attack India?
Answer: Mahmud Ghazni attacked India for multiple interrelated reasons:

• Lure of Wealth: India’s temples and royal vaults held legendary reserves of gold, precious gems, and treasure which he desperately needed to finance his Central Asian imperial ambitions.
• Strengthening Ghazni: His native kingdom was small, barren, and impoverished. Conquering Indian wealth allowed him to subsidize his state budget and reward his Turkish cavalry.
• Religious Acclaim: As an orthodox ruler, breaking Hindu idols and razing prominent shrines (like Somnath) earned him immense prestige and religious accolades as an iconoclast across the Islamic world.
• Vulnerable Borders: The disintegration of imperial powers like the Pratiharas left India’s northwestern frontiers poorly defended and easy to breach.

Question 3: Narrate the main effects of the invasions of Mahmud Ghazni.
Answer: The raids of Mahmud Ghazni produced profound long-term consequences:

• Exposed Military Vulnerability: The ease with which Mahmud raided deep into the Gangetic plains laid bare the military weakness and complete lack of unity among North Indian rulers.
• Devastation of Cultural Treasures: Incalculable artistic and cultural damage occurred due to the demolition of historic temples, sculptures, and libraries in Mathura, Kanauj, and Somnath.
• Paved the Path for Future Conquest: By shattering the frontier defenses of Punjab, Mahmud opened the northern gates for future invaders like Muhammad Ghori.
• Socio-Cultural Exchange: Islamic merchants, scholars, and Sufi saints settled in northern India, giving birth to a composite Indo-Islamic culture and mutual exchange in language, cuisine, and literature.

Question 4: List the reasons responsible for the defeat of Indian rulers.
Answer: The defeat of the Rajput and Indian rulers against Turkish armies stemmed from critical political, social, and military shortcomings:

1. Lack of Political Unity: Indian kings were divided into mutually hostile clans that fought constantly over petty disputes and failed to unite even against a common foreign invader.
2. Rigid Caste Stratification: The caste system restricted warfare solely to the Kshatriya warrior class. The vast majority of the population felt excluded from the political process and showed little interest in defending royal dynasties.
3. Obsolete Military Strategies: Indian forces relied on slow, cumbersome war elephants that panicked under archer fire, while the Turks deployed swift, highly manoeuvrable horse cavalry armed with composite reflex bows.
4. Feudal Fragmentation: Feudal lords (Samantas) often placed self-interest above the king’s commands, leading to unreliable army contingents and fragmented command on the battlefield.

Question 5: Differentiate between the aims of Mahmud Ghazni and Muhammad Ghori.
Answer:

• Mahmud Ghazni:
  • His prime objective was plundering accumulated temple wealth to build up his empire at Ghazni in Central Asia.
  • He had no ambition to annex Indian territories or rule over the Indian population permanently. After each raid, he returned immediately to Ghazni.
• Muhammad Ghori:
  • His goal was political expansion and permanent territorial conquest in northern India.
  • He systematically annexed regions like Punjab, Multan, Sindh, Delhi, and Kanauj, stationing governors like Qutubuddin Aibek to administer Indian lands and collect regular taxes, thereby establishing the foundation of the Delhi Sultanate.

Question: How did the disunity among Indian rulers transform the First Battle of Tarain’s victory into a permanent defeat in the Second Battle of Tarain?
Answer: In the First Battle of Tarain (1191 CE), Prithviraj Chauhan’s bravery secured an emphatic victory, driving Muhammad Ghori out of India. However, Rajput princes failed to capitalize on this triumph. Instead of forging a collective national defense, petty jealousies flared; King Jaichand of Kanauj celebrated Prithviraj’s troubles, and several local chieftains actively assisted the invaders. When Muhammad Ghori returned in 1192 CE with 1,20,000 disciplined mounted archers, Prithviraj found himself militarily isolated without widespread Rajput backing. The resulting defeat at Tarain decisively shattered Rajput hegemony and inaugurated centuries of Turkish rule in Delhi.

“The Turkish invasion disclosed how the Indian rulers had no political unity among themselves. This led to Islamic rule in India.”

Question: Explain the strength of unity by citing examples.
Answer:

• The Power of Unity: Unity is the single most vital pillar for the security, sovereignty, and prosperity of any nation or community. Divided communities succumb easily to external exploitation, whereas united groups possess unbeatable resilience.
• Historical Example: When Indian kings were divided by clan rivalries, small armies of invaders conquered vast Indian provinces. In contrast, during the 20th century Indian Freedom Struggle, citizens transcending region, religion, language, and caste united under the guidance of Mahatma Gandhi, forcing the mighty British Empire to concede complete independence.
• Social and Civic Example: In times of national crises, such as earthquakes, floods, or pandemics, when doctors, defense forces, administrators, and citizens join hands selflessly, rescue missions succeed and lives are saved. “United we stand, divided we fall.”

Map Skill: On an outline map of Asia, mark the:
Answer:

• (a) Places from where the Turkish invaders came:
  • Ghazni: Located in eastern Afghanistan, southwest of Kabul.
  • Ghor: Located in central mountainous Afghanistan, between Herat and Ghazni.
• (b) Prominent places conquered or invaded in India:
  • Peshawar, Lahore, Multan: In the Indus basin of northwestern India.
  • Thanesar & Tarain: Near modern Kurukshetra and Karnal in Haryana.
  • Mathura & Kanauj: Along the Yamuna and Ganga rivers in Uttar Pradesh.
  • Delhi & Ajmer: Kingdoms of Prithviraj Chauhan.
  • Somnath: Famous temple shrine located on the Kathiawar coastline of Gujarat.
  • Benaras (Varanasi): Ancient holy city on the banks of River Ganga.

Project Work & Something To Do:

• Somnath Temple Scrapbook: The ancient shrine of Somnath is dedicated to Lord Shiva as the first of the twelve sacred Jyotirlingas. Plundered multiple times in history (including 1025 CE by Mahmud Ghazni), it was rebuilt after Indian independence under the initiative of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the Chalukya architectural style.
• Prithviraj Chauhan Presentation: Prithviraj III (1177-1192 CE) was the celebrated Chauhan ruler of Shakambhari, Delhi, and Ajmer. Renowned for his chivalry, courage, and archer skills documented in Chand Bardai’s epic Prithviraj Raso, he remains an iconic figure of Indian military valor.