Ghaznavid Empire

The Ghaznavid Empire (Persian: غزنویانcode: fa is deprecated Ġaznaviyān) was a Persianate Sunni Muslim state of Turkic origin, which existed from 975 to 1187. It was mainly centred in Ghazni, a city in the present day Afghanistan. It ruled much of present day Afghanistan, Persia, Transoxania, Pakistan and the northern parts of India. The Ghaznavids are known for laying the foundation of Islamic rule in northern India when they conquered Peshawar and the entire Punjab region including Haryana up to Delhi in the year 1001. Their last outpost of conquest in north India was in Meerut city in present day Uttar Pradesh. The Ghaznavids relied strongly on Persian language and Persian culture and are therefore classified heavily as a "Persianate" empire.

Ghaznavid Empire Ġaznaviyān غزنويون غزنویان
963–1186
Capital	Ghazni
Common languages	Persian (official) Turkic languages (dynasty and army)
Religion	Sunni Islam (Hanafi)
Government	Monarchy
Sultan
History
•	963
•	1186
Preceded by Succeeded by 20px Saffarid dynasty 22px Samanid dynasty Ghurid dynasty 20px Seljuk Empire 22px

Ghaznavid Empire Media

• Mahmud ibn Sebuktegin attacks the fortress of Zarang.jpg

  Sultan Mahmud and his forces attacking the fortress of Zaranj in 1003 CE. Jami al-Tawarikh, 1314 CE.

• Portrait from the Palace courtroom, Lashkari Bazar.jpg

  Ghaznavid portrait, Palace of Lashkari Bazar. Schlumberger noted that the turban, the small mouth and the strongly slanted eyes were characteristically Turkic. 11th century

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  Ghaznavid fortress of Lashkari Bazar in Lashkargah, ancient Bost, southern Afghanistan. It was founded by Mahmud of Ghazni in 998–1030 CE.

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  Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni. Majma al-Tavarikh' (1425)

• Mahmud coin minted in Ghazni.jpg

  Coin of Mahmud minted in Ghazni. Most coins were minted in Parwan, they were made of gold, silver, and copper. Mahmud was the first Muslim ruler to commission coinage featuring bilingual inscriptions and dates in both Arabic and Sanskrit/Devanagari.

• Mas'ud III b. Ibrahim minaret, Ghazni, built between 1099 and 1115 CE (graphical reconstruction, colorized).jpg

  Mas'ud III's minaret in Ghazni was at least 44 meters tall, before its top half crumbled in 1902 due to an earthquake. It was built between 1099 and 1115 CE. It stood next to the Palace of Sultan Mas'ud III.

• Vessel with bull's head spout, Ghaznavid dynasty, late 11th to early 12th century, bronze - Linden-Museum - Stuttgart, Germany - DSC03872.jpg

  Vessel with bull's head spout, Ghaznavid dynasty, late 11th to early 12th century, bronze. Linden-Museum – Stuttgart, Germany

• Detail of the Intricate Brickwork on the Mas'ud III Tower.jpg

  Detail of the Intricate Brickwork on the Mas'ud III Ghazni minaret.