Write about the causes and results of arab conquest of sind
Answers
Answer:
The Arabs had been the carriers of Indian trade to Europe for centuries. After conversion to Islam, they cast their covetous eyes on the fabulous wealth of India as well as they were eager to propagate their new religion in India.
However, the opportunity to invade Sind came to the Arabians in the beginning of the eighth century.
With the passage of time, the History of India, after the occupation of Sind had entered into its medieval phase.
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The widespread political instability in India after the death of Harshavardhan, the last independent Hindu King had inspired the foreign elements once again to attack and enter India. The Arabs were no exception to it. After the rise of Islam, the Arabs having successfully implanting it in Syria, Palestine, Egypt and Persia had cast a covetous eye on Sind. In 712 A.D. they were successful in occupying Sind.
Causes:
Several factors were responsible for the Arab invasion on Sind.
(i) Propagation of Islam:
Propagation of Islam was one of the key factors behind the Arab invasion of Sind. After the spread of Islam in Egypt and Syria, the Caliph Walid 1 of Damascus had permitted the Arabs to go ahead with their Indian mission. Further the followers of Islam were dead against idolatry practice of the Hindus of India. So they thought the spoliation of the idolaters would be a means of earning.
(ii) Fabulous Wealth of India:
India was known to the world for her fabulous wealth and splendor. So like other invaders of the past, it had tempted the Arabs to grab her wealth.
(iii) Political Condition of India:
The then Political condition of India was also a major factor behind the Arab invasion of Sind. There was mutual rivalry and wars among the kings of petty provinces of India. Dahir, the ruler of Sind was unpopular and not liked by many. The Arabs took full advantage of it.
(iv) The Immediate Cause:
The immediate cause of the Arab invasion of Sind was the looting of the eight Arab ships which carried the gifts and treasures sent by the king of Ceylon to the Caliph, at the port of Debal near Sind. Some Historians have opined that the ships were also carrying some beautiful women as well as valuable articles for the khalifa. This unlawful act of piracy was strongly protested by Hajaj, the governor of Iraq.
He demanded compensation from Dahir, the king of Sind. But Dahir refuted Hajaj’s demands by saying that he had no control over pirates. This infuriated Hajaj who decided to send military expeditions to Sind. He also obtained permission from the Caliph in this regard.
However, the first two expeditions sent by Hajaj against Sind were beaten back by Dahir. Enraged at the repeated failures, Hajaj sent his nephew and Son-in-law Imaduddin Muhammad- bin-Qasim at the head of a huge army to Sind. Muhammad-bin- Qasim was an able and young commander-in-chief.
Invasion of Sind by Muhammad-bin-Qasim:
Muhammad-bin-Qasim was a young man of hardly seventeen years when he was entrusted with the work of invading Sind. He was very bold, courageous and ambitious. The story of his adventures, “Writes Stanley Lame-poole,” is one of the romances of history. Reflecting of his rise to power, his achievements and his fall, Ishwari Prasad writes, “His blooming youth, his dash and heroism, his noble deportment throughout the expedition and his tragic fall have invested his career with the halo of martyrdom.”
However towards the end of 711 A.D. Muhammad-bin-Qasim at the head of a huge army consisting of three thousand infantry, six thousand cavalry and six thousand Iraqian camelmen appeared at the north western border near Makran.
Capture of Debal:
Muhammad-bin-Qasim led his army towards Debal, a famous seaport, where the Arab’s ships were looted by some pirates. The port town Debal was well protected by strong fortifications, and it was not easy on the part of the Qasim’s army to penetrate into it so easily. A nephew of Dahir was the governor of Debal. Though he had an army of very small size with him, he tried to resist Qasim. But it became futile, when a treacherous Brahmin deserted the fortress and gave Qasim all the information’s regarding the secrets of its defence.
He also came to know from the Brahman that the strength of the Sind army lay in the massive Hindu temple inside the fort of Debal and as long as the red flag fluttered atop the temple, he could not defeat the Hindus. The temple was also garrisoned by 4000 Rajput’s and 3000 Brahmins serving at the temple. However, after a fierce battle Qasim brought down the red flag and the Arabian army resorted to a massacre. Despite a bold fight, the Hindus of Debal were defeated
Answer:
The Arabs and the conquest of Sind
The Arabs built up a vast Islamic Empire. Under Muhammad Bin Qasim, they invaded Sind and Multan in 712 A.D. and brought the territories under their control. But could not advance further because the army General Muhammad Bin Qasim was asked to return home by the Caliph in 714A.D. (Caliph-Meaning)
After his going back to Arabia, Sind again became free of the Arab rule.
. By 871 AD, the Arab influence in India had disappeared except in religion.
SPREAD OF CULTURE
Through Sind, the Indian learning reached the Arabs.
Indians learnt many things from the Arabs.
The Arab merchants had settled in the western coast of India.
Indians started direct trade with the Arabs rather than sending goods to the western countries.
Thus the trade between India and the West became indirect.
Indian trade with the Central Asia also increased.
Scholars from India appeared at the court of the great Caliph, Harun –ul- Rashid.
Indian works on astronomy, philosophy, medicines, chemistry and other subjects were translated into Arabic.
Arabs adopted the Indian system of numerals.
They also learnt the concept of zero and decimal system from the Indians.