Question

World religion

1. Why did almost all of the Indian subcontinent fall under the rule of Muslim overlords? Do you believe that this was inevitable? Do you see any similarity between the Muslim Conquest and the so called Aryan Conquest?

Why did both Muslims and Hindus feel deep respect for Nanak? What was the essence of his teaching?

Answer 1

1. the early 12th century saw the emergence of several Islamic states which were ruled by military cadres in the Indian subcontinent which ultimately led to a gradual expansion of a Muslim dynasty in the Indian subcontinent. With the collapse of the centralised Abbasid Caliphate in  Central Asia, there emerged a state of political rivalries
amongst the different nomadic warrior bands who ventured further beyond the Ural mountains and began to raid the towns and villages on the outer frontiers of the subcontinent. The increasing fractions within the different princely kingdoms of India gave the Muslim invaders an opportunity to make their incursions into the subcontinent as they were supported by far larger armies. While their initial political actions were marked by a practice of  plundering the defeated towns and villages, they soon multiplied their incursions into the Indian subcontinentwith the intention of conquering and settling in the fertile and heavily populated river valleys and irrigated plains of west and central India. Thus, the advent of the Muslim warlords from Central Asia was similar in its blue print to the Aryan conquest centuries ago as both the Muslim tribesmen and the Aryans first came as invaders in search of booty and they both later changed their policy into one of Settling as rightful conquerors and owners of the fertile plains of the Gangetic and Indus basins which made the birth of thriving civilisations and kingdoms a strong possibility.