Why do you think Mahmud of Ghazni carry out repeated raids from Afghanistan into India, while Muhammad Ghuri sought territorial expansion into India and long-term control? Write a short note on how their motives shaped the outcomes of their campaigns.

Question

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Mahmud of Ghazni’s repeated campaigns were primarily characterised by plunder, driven by the need to loot the immense wealth from temples (like Somnath) to finance his large army and build his capital in Ghazni. He did not seek to establish a permanent base beyond Punjab, so his motive shaped the outcome as a series of destructive raids that only weakened existing Indian kingdoms.
Conversely, Muhammad Ghuri was motivated by territorial expansion and longterm control. After his decisive victory at the Second Battle of Tarain, he left his general Qutb-ud-din Aibak to consolidate the gains and establish control over Delhi and the Gangetic plains. Thus, Ghuri’s motive directly shaped the outcome of his campaigns to establish a new, enduring political authority the foundation of the Delhi Sultanate.

Turning Tides 11th and 12th Centuries — Question 8