The Kachi Plain, in modern-day Pakistan, is hemmed in on two of its three sides by the mountains of Baluchistan, while its southeastern side opens up to the Indus Valley.
[1]
The region it is part of, Sindh (also known as Sind), was a vital tribute paying territory of the Arab empire, first under the Ummayad and then the Abbasid Caliphates. However, in 836 CE, the Abbasid Caliphate lost control of its western territories, and Sind plunged into a civil war.
[2]
Here we consider the period going from the middle of the ninth century, when the Habari lineage became rulers of an independent Sind, to the middle of the thirteenth, when the Samma dynasty seized power. Throughout these centuries, Sind experienced a peaceful power transition from the Habari to the Soomra, in 1010, annexation to the Delhi Sultanate, and a long civil war caused by political instability resulting from Mongol invasions.
[3]
Population and political organization
Panwhar believes that the population of Sind at this time is unlikely to have exceeded one million.
[4]
As for political organization, the polity was ruled by an emir, who delegated power over regions and districts to specially appointed governors, who were closely related to the emir himself.
[5]
[1]: (Jarrige & Enault 1976, 29) Jean-Francois Jarrige and Jean-Francois Enault. 1976. Fouilles de Pirak. Arts Asiatiques 32: 29-70.
[2]: (Panwhar 1983, 178-179) M.H. Panwhar. 1983. Chronological Dictionary of Sindh. Karachi: Institute of Sindology.
[3]: (Panwhar 1983, 19-33, 188, 293-294) M.H. Panwhar. 1983. Chronological Dictionary of Sindh. Karachi: Institute of Sindology.
[4]: (Panwhar 1983, 189) M.H. Panwhar. 1983. Chronological Dictionary of Sindh. Karachi: Institute of Sindology.
[5]: (Panwhar 2003, 134) M.H. Panwhar. 2003. An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh. Karachi: Sangam Publications.
42 R |
Sind - Abbasid-Fatimid Period |
Bania | |
Mansura | |
Thatta | |
Muhammed Tur | |
Thatta |
Habari Amirate of Mansura | |
Habari Arab Kingdom | |
Soomras of Sindh |
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Year Range | Sind - Abbasid-Fatimid Period (pk_sind_abbasid_fatimid) was in: |
---|---|
(862 CE 1192 CE) | Kachi Plain |
Bania: 811-892 CE; Mansura: 892-1026 CE; Thatta: 1026-1241 CE, Muhammed Tur: 1241-1317 CE; Thatta: 1317-1351 CE
[1]
The original capital of Mansura was sacked in 1026 CE, when the Soomra dynasty moved the capital to Thatta. Shifts in river courses resulted in a transfer of the capital to Muhammed Tur during the years 1241 CE-1317 CE. After declaring independence from Delhi a period of instability took place, with some semblance of authority claimed from the former capital of Thatta.
[2]
[1]: Panhwar, M. H. "Chronological Dictionary of Sind, (Karachi, 1983) pp. 188;Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh p. 93
[2]: Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh p. 93
Bania: 811-892 CE; Mansura: 892-1026 CE; Thatta: 1026-1241 CE, Muhammed Tur: 1241-1317 CE; Thatta: 1317-1351 CE
[1]
The original capital of Mansura was sacked in 1026 CE, when the Soomra dynasty moved the capital to Thatta. Shifts in river courses resulted in a transfer of the capital to Muhammed Tur during the years 1241 CE-1317 CE. After declaring independence from Delhi a period of instability took place, with some semblance of authority claimed from the former capital of Thatta.
[2]
[1]: Panhwar, M. H. "Chronological Dictionary of Sind, (Karachi, 1983) pp. 188;Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh p. 93
[2]: Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh p. 93
Bania: 811-892 CE; Mansura: 892-1026 CE; Thatta: 1026-1241 CE, Muhammed Tur: 1241-1317 CE; Thatta: 1317-1351 CE
[1]
The original capital of Mansura was sacked in 1026 CE, when the Soomra dynasty moved the capital to Thatta. Shifts in river courses resulted in a transfer of the capital to Muhammed Tur during the years 1241 CE-1317 CE. After declaring independence from Delhi a period of instability took place, with some semblance of authority claimed from the former capital of Thatta.
[2]
[1]: Panhwar, M. H. "Chronological Dictionary of Sind, (Karachi, 1983) pp. 188;Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh p. 93
[2]: Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh p. 93
Bania: 811-892 CE; Mansura: 892-1026 CE; Thatta: 1026-1241 CE, Muhammed Tur: 1241-1317 CE; Thatta: 1317-1351 CE
[1]
The original capital of Mansura was sacked in 1026 CE, when the Soomra dynasty moved the capital to Thatta. Shifts in river courses resulted in a transfer of the capital to Muhammed Tur during the years 1241 CE-1317 CE. After declaring independence from Delhi a period of instability took place, with some semblance of authority claimed from the former capital of Thatta.
[2]
[1]: Panhwar, M. H. "Chronological Dictionary of Sind, (Karachi, 1983) pp. 188;Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh p. 93
[2]: Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh p. 93
Bania: 811-892 CE; Mansura: 892-1026 CE; Thatta: 1026-1241 CE, Muhammed Tur: 1241-1317 CE; Thatta: 1317-1351 CE
[1]
The original capital of Mansura was sacked in 1026 CE, when the Soomra dynasty moved the capital to Thatta. Shifts in river courses resulted in a transfer of the capital to Muhammed Tur during the years 1241 CE-1317 CE. After declaring independence from Delhi a period of instability took place, with some semblance of authority claimed from the former capital of Thatta.
[2]
[1]: Panhwar, M. H. "Chronological Dictionary of Sind, (Karachi, 1983) pp. 188;Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh p. 93
[2]: Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh p. 93
nominal allegiance: 854-1010 CE; none: 1010-1025 CE; nominal allegiance: 1025-1030 CE; none: 1030-1218 CE; vassalage: 1218-1237 CE; none: 1237-1243 CE; vassal: 1297-1317 CE; none: 1317-1352 CE
Until 985 CE the Sind were nominally under the control of the Abbasid Caliphate, from 985 - 1010 CE there were increasing ties to the Fatimid dynasty in Egypt. After the replacement of the Habarri by the Soomras the Sind was largely independent, although they saw the Fatimids as the ultimate religious authority. An exception to this is the period of five years during which the Sind paid tribute to Mahmud of Ghazni. After a long period of independence until 1228 CE portions of the territory were annexed by the Delhi sultanate, leading to the Sind being made a vassal of Delhi from 1297 CE to 1317 CE. A chaotic period of civil war and three claims to kingship occurred from 1317 - 1352 CE. This period coincided with the rise of the Samma Jams.
[1]
[2]
[1]: Panhwar, M. H. "Chronological Dictionary of Sindh, (Karachi, 1983) pp. 184-206
[2]: Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh, Karachi, 2003, pp.19-71
nominal allegiance: 854-1010 CE; none: 1010-1025 CE; nominal allegiance: 1025-1030 CE; none: 1030-1218 CE; vassalage: 1218-1237 CE; none: 1237-1243 CE; vassal: 1297-1317 CE; none: 1317-1352 CE
Until 985 CE the Sind were nominally under the control of the Abbasid Caliphate, from 985 - 1010 CE there were increasing ties to the Fatimid dynasty in Egypt. After the replacement of the Habarri by the Soomras the Sind was largely independent, although they saw the Fatimids as the ultimate religious authority. An exception to this is the period of five years during which the Sind paid tribute to Mahmud of Ghazni. After a long period of independence until 1228 CE portions of the territory were annexed by the Delhi sultanate, leading to the Sind being made a vassal of Delhi from 1297 CE to 1317 CE. A chaotic period of civil war and three claims to kingship occurred from 1317 - 1352 CE. This period coincided with the rise of the Samma Jams.
[1]
[2]
[1]: Panhwar, M. H. "Chronological Dictionary of Sindh, (Karachi, 1983) pp. 184-206
[2]: Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh, Karachi, 2003, pp.19-71
nominal allegiance: 854-1010 CE; none: 1010-1025 CE; nominal allegiance: 1025-1030 CE; none: 1030-1218 CE; vassalage: 1218-1237 CE; none: 1237-1243 CE; vassal: 1297-1317 CE; none: 1317-1352 CE
Until 985 CE the Sind were nominally under the control of the Abbasid Caliphate, from 985 - 1010 CE there were increasing ties to the Fatimid dynasty in Egypt. After the replacement of the Habarri by the Soomras the Sind was largely independent, although they saw the Fatimids as the ultimate religious authority. An exception to this is the period of five years during which the Sind paid tribute to Mahmud of Ghazni. After a long period of independence until 1228 CE portions of the territory were annexed by the Delhi sultanate, leading to the Sind being made a vassal of Delhi from 1297 CE to 1317 CE. A chaotic period of civil war and three claims to kingship occurred from 1317 - 1352 CE. This period coincided with the rise of the Samma Jams.
[1]
[2]
[1]: Panhwar, M. H. "Chronological Dictionary of Sindh, (Karachi, 1983) pp. 184-206
[2]: Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh, Karachi, 2003, pp.19-71
unitary state: 854-1218 CE; loose: 1297-1317 CE; nominal: 1318-1352 CE Independence and cohesion in the polity from 854-1218 CE. After this annexation by the Delhi sultanate and then civil war saw a loss of cohesion within the polity. The rise of the Samma Jams saw a degree unity return. [1] [2]
[1]: Panhwar, M. H. "Chronological Dictionary of Sindh, (Karachi, 1983) pp. 184-206
[2]: Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh, Karachi, 2003, pp.19-71
unitary state: 854-1218 CE; loose: 1297-1317 CE; nominal: 1318-1352 CE Independence and cohesion in the polity from 854-1218 CE. After this annexation by the Delhi sultanate and then civil war saw a loss of cohesion within the polity. The rise of the Samma Jams saw a degree unity return. [1] [2]
[1]: Panhwar, M. H. "Chronological Dictionary of Sindh, (Karachi, 1983) pp. 184-206
[2]: Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh, Karachi, 2003, pp.19-71
unitary state: 854-1218 CE; loose: 1297-1317 CE; nominal: 1318-1352 CE Independence and cohesion in the polity from 854-1218 CE. After this annexation by the Delhi sultanate and then civil war saw a loss of cohesion within the polity. The rise of the Samma Jams saw a degree unity return. [1] [2]
[1]: Panhwar, M. H. "Chronological Dictionary of Sindh, (Karachi, 1983) pp. 184-206
[2]: Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh, Karachi, 2003, pp.19-71
Arabic; Sindhi: 950 CE [1] Another language known as Varchada Upbharish was also present.
[1]: Panhwar, M. H. "Chronological Dictionary of Sind, (Karachi, 1983) pp. 198
squared kilometers. This based on the modern area of the Pakistan province of Sindh, but given that the Sind also control the Kachi plain this is most likely an underestimate. [1]
1. City: Mansura, (sacked in 1026 CE),Thatta, Thatti
[1]
2. Town: large numbers destroyed by the shifting current of the Indus river, very little archeological evidence remaining. a full list of 47 sites can be found in An Illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of Sindh.
[2]
3. Village: Bhiro Bham
[3]
[1]: Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh p. 93-103
[2]: Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh p. 94-95
[3]: Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh p. 101
Many other faiths were practiced, and there were substantial religious communities of Buddhist, Hindi, and other faiths in the region. Sunni Islam was the politically dominant faith. In theory the Caliphate and their appointed governors were the head of the Sunni faith, but in practice local religious scholars (ulama) and aesthetics (Sufis) increasingly attracted the wider populace as definers of doctrine. Unlike the Orthodox or Catholic faith, the structure of the Islamic faiths was not clearly hierarchical and all were considered equal before Allah. In the Sind, a large percentage of the population were non-Muslim until 1250 CE. Shiaism was present in the Sind from an early period, but was not the dominant faith, which remained Sunni. In the early tenth century, Ishmailis practitioners became dominant, and the Fatimah Caliphs became the nominal head of the Islamic faith as practiced in the Sind. There is evidence of the repair and upkeep of Buddhist and Hindi places of religious worship.
[1]
Sunni/Ismailism:
1. Caliph as head of the Muslim umma
2. Imams, successors of the prophet and leaders of the Muslim world
By the late 985 CE the Habari’s religious view as Sunni’s was increasingly challenged by the population of the Sind shifting its religious adherence from the Sunni Caliph to Fatimid anti-caliphs in Cairo, with the result that a portion of the population of Sind embraced the Isha’ilis Shi’ite faith.
[2]
[1]: Lapidus, History of Islamic Society p. 82,p. 215; Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh p. 183
[2]: Wink, AndrĂŠ. "Al-Hind: The Making of the Indo-Islamic World, vol. 1." Early Medieval India and the Expansion of Islam, 7th-11th Centuries (1990)pp.212-213
Inferred.
1. Emir
2. Landed elite
3. Common soldiers
The ruling Arab elite had access to both a transplanted Arab military hierarchy and local structures for military ranking. However, in terms of actual structures the evidence is very slim. It can be tentatively posited that the ruling power in Masura had a degree of permanent command as the state was involved in endemic military conflicts with bordering non-Muslim peoples as well as the Muslim Jat and non Muslim Med tribes in the Indus delta. There is also evidence of the presence the state possessing 80 elephants and around 40,000 soldiers during the Habari period. The Soomras did not seem to have had access to elephants, but did have access to large numbers of cavalry.
[1]
[1]: Panhwar, M. H. "Chronological Dictionary of Sind, (Karachi, 1983) pp. 192-3, 196-197
Governors of districts and divisions were appointed directly by the king, and were often closely related to the king, being close blood relatives such as brothers and close kin. <
[1]
1. Emir (King)
2. Governor of region (Uch, Bakhar, Mansura)
3. Governor of district
[1]: Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh p. 134
Inferred as appointments to positions within the state made directly by the king, and were often people closely related to the King, suggesting bureaucracy was not a full-time position. [1] However, it is possible that lower-ranked administrators worked full-time.
[1]: Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh p. 134
"ulama (scholars), both in Baghdad and the outlying provinces."
[1]
"The Qur’an and all the sciences related in one way or another to the study of this sacred book of Islam found a place in the teaching carried on in the cathedral mosques : traditions (hadÄŤth), exegesis (tafsÄŤr), law and legal theory (fiqh, usĹŤl al-fiqh), grammar (nahw), adab (literature). There, also, professors gave legal opinions (fatwÄ) and sermons (wa’z), and held disputations on matters of law (munÄzara)...On the other hand, a class on law was smaller. For law was a more specialized religious science attracting principally those who were preparing for a professional career"
[2]
Inferred from the following quotes, which broadly refer to India under early Muslim rule.
The muhtasib "was primarily a member of the judicial staff and acted as a kind of prosecutor in offences against religious law."
[3]
"Since the sultans were expected to enforce the law of the Shariah, they were also obliged to take the opinion of the ulema."
[4]
[1]: (Hanne 2007, 22) Hanne, Eric J. 2007. Putting the Caliph in His Place: Power, Authority, and the Late Abbasid Caliphate. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press.
[2]: (Makdisi, G., 1961. Muslim institutions of learning in eleventh-century Baghdad. Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, 24(1), pp.1-56. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/3D6X5HUM/item-list)
[3]: Habibullah, A. B. M. (1961). The foundation of Muslim rule in India. Central Book Depot, pp 276.
[4]: (Ahmed 2011, 97) Ahmed, Farooqui Salma. 2011. A Comprehensive History of Medieval India: Twelfth to the Mid-Eighteenth Century. Pearson Education India.
Presumably the late Abbasids employed qadi (judge).
Late Abbasid period: "the religious establishment - that is, the ulama - were responsible for education, administering the awqaf, and the administration of justice".
[1]
[1]: (Elbendary 2015, 40) Elbendary, Amina. 2015. Crowds and Sultans: Urban Protest in Late Medieval Egypt and Syria. The American University in Cairo Press.
The legal code was a fusion of Muslim law, and existing Hindi law codes regarding caste. The legal code was two tiered, with the non-muslim dhimmis allowed to practice there religion but also to pay a tax for the privilege. Alongside this legal system was a system known as Panchat or Bhayat. [1]
[1]: Maclean, Derryl N. ,Religion and society in Arab Sind. pp. 22-49-50
multiple references to courts in following sources referring to the Abbasid period [1] [2] [3]
[1]: (Tillier, M., 2009. Women before the QÄdÄŤ under the Abbasids. Islamic Law and Society, 16(3-4), pp.280-301. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/7SKACCD7/item-list).
[2]: (Tillier, M., 2009. Qadis and the political use of the mazalim jurisdiction under the’Abbasids. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/I4769ESG/item-list)
[3]: (Ziadeh, F., 1996. Compelling defendant’s appearance at court in Islamic law. Islamic Law and Society, 3(3), pp.305-315. https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/TWIBVCXP/item-list)
The river Indus shifted its course three times during the period, substantially altering the areas irrigated for cultivation. This is detailed in a ground water map. Irrigation was the primary responsibility of the state [1]
[1]: Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh pp.121-134
Mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences text from Arabic sources abroad.
The Harari minted coins during their reign. [1] The Habari minted their own coins in gold and silver. Copper coins have been found as well. The Soomra emirs also seemed to have made some small copper coins. The gold Dinar was a standard unit of exchange in the entire Arabian sea. [2]
[1]: Maclean, Derryl N. Religion and society in Arab Sind, pp. 68-70
[2]: Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh p.135
The gold dinar was circulating as was the silver coin called a Tanka. Coins of the Delhi Sultans and early Ghaznavids were also being used locally after 1200 CE. [1]
[1]: Maclean, Derryl N. Religion and society in Arab Sind. Brill, 1989. pp.68-70; Panhwar, M.H, An illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of the Sindh p. 135
A postal service seems to have existed under the Abbasids, but, judging from the literature consulted, it remains unclear whether such a system was present in Sind as well at this time.
"As long-distance trade grew, so, too, did the institutions supporting it. Investment patterns, for example. shifted from mostly land based in the late eighth century to a variety of commercial applications, including ships, horses, and shops in the ninth century. A private express courier service augmented the official Abbasid courier system." (Gutelius 2015, 2)
[1]
[1]: (Pomeranz, K., Northrup, C.C., Bentley, J.H., Topik, S., Eckes Jr, A.E. and Manning, P., 2015. Encyclopedia of World Trade: From Ancient Times to the Present: From Ancient Times to the Present. Routledge.)
A postal service seems to have existed under the Abbasids, but, judging from the literature consulted, it remains unclear whether such a system was present in Sind as well at this time.
"As long-distance trade grew, so, too, did the institutions supporting it. Investment patterns, for example. shifted from mostly land based in the late eighth century to a variety of commercial applications, including ships, horses, and shops in the ninth century. A private express courier service augmented the official Abbasid courier system." (Gutelius 2015, 2)
[1]
[1]: (Pomeranz, K., Northrup, C.C., Bentley, J.H., Topik, S., Eckes Jr, A.E. and Manning, P., 2015. Encyclopedia of World Trade: From Ancient Times to the Present: From Ancient Times to the Present. Routledge.)
A postal service seems to have existed under the Abbasids, but, judging from the literature consulted, it remains unclear whether such a system was present in Sind as well at this time.
"As long-distance trade grew, so, too, did the institutions supporting it. Investment patterns, for example. shifted from mostly land based in the late eighth century to a variety of commercial applications, including ships, horses, and shops in the ninth century. A private express courier service augmented the official Abbasid courier system." (Gutelius 2015, 2)
[1]
[1]: (Pomeranz, K., Northrup, C.C., Bentley, J.H., Topik, S., Eckes Jr, A.E. and Manning, P., 2015. Encyclopedia of World Trade: From Ancient Times to the Present: From Ancient Times to the Present. Routledge.)
Inferred, tension engines being used in this period in the region. [1] "The use of the catapult after the Arab conquest of Sindh became very popular." [2]
[1]: Kennedy, The Armies of the Caliphs p. 184
[2]: (1975, 23) 1975. Journal of the Research Society of Pakistan, Volume 12. Research Society of Pakistan.
According to the Cach-nama "the common weapons of the Indian soldiers in early medieval India were ’swords, shields, javelins, spears, and daggers.’ Other sources indicate that they also carried lances, maces and lassos." [1]
[1]: (Eraly 2015) Abraham Eraly. 2015. The Age of Wrath: A History of the Delhi Sultanate. Penguin.
Not in use until the 15th century. [1] "But it was only in the mid-fourteenth century that gunpowder ... was introduced into India, presumably by Mongols or Turks. This was then used in various explosive devices by the army." [2]
[1]: Wood, Stephen. "matchlock." In The Oxford Companion to Military History. : Oxford University Press, 2001.
[2]: (Eraly 2015) Abraham Eraly. 2015. The Age of Wrath: A History of the Delhi Sultanate. Penguin.
According to the Cach-nama "the common weapons of the Indian soldiers in early medieval India were ’swords, shields, javelins, spears, and daggers.’ Other sources indicate that they also carried lances, maces and lassos." [1]
[1]: (Eraly 2015) Abraham Eraly. 2015. The Age of Wrath: A History of the Delhi Sultanate. Penguin.
According to the Cach-nama "the common weapons of the Indian soldiers in early medieval India were ’swords, shields, javelins, spears, and daggers.’ Other sources indicate that they also carried lances, maces and lassos." [1]
[1]: (Eraly 2015) Abraham Eraly. 2015. The Age of Wrath: A History of the Delhi Sultanate. Penguin.
According to the Cach-nama "the common weapons of the Indian soldiers in early medieval India were ’swords, shields, javelins, spears, and daggers.’ Other sources indicate that they also carried lances, maces and lassos." [1]
[1]: (Eraly 2015) Abraham Eraly. 2015. The Age of Wrath: A History of the Delhi Sultanate. Penguin.
According to the Cach-nama "the common weapons of the Indian soldiers in early medieval India were ’swords, shields, javelins, spears, and daggers.’ Other sources indicate that they also carried lances, maces and lassos." [1]
[1]: (Eraly 2015) Abraham Eraly. 2015. The Age of Wrath: A History of the Delhi Sultanate. Penguin.
Ghaznavids, another Turkish-Islamic dynasty in Central Asia 977-1186 CE, used elephants and camels. [1] Used on Kachi plain. [2] "But there can be little doubt that war-elephants were not used in the same numbers under the Islamic dynasties of India as they were in the early medieval period and before. We have seen that the Arabic sources described the most important ninth- and tenth-century Hindu dynasties as equipped with tens of thousands or more elephants of various kinds. Although it is unlikely that these numbers indicated war-elephants in a state of readiness - they probably included the guessed number of untamed and half-tamed ones -, and although some of the figures are contradictory, they are larger than those of later times. Certainly the Arabs of Sind, the Saffarids, and the later Buyids made almost no use of them at all." [3]
[1]: (Bloom and Blair eds. 2009, 108) Johnathan M Bloom. Sheila S Blair. eds. 2009. Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art & Architecture: Three-Volume Set. Volume I. Abarquh To Dawlat Qatar. Oxford University Press. Oxford.
[2]: Kennedy, the Armies of the Caliphs
[3]: (Wink 1997, 102-103) Andre Wink. 1997. Al-Hind. The Making of the Indo-Islamic World. Volume II. The Slave Kings and the Islamic Conquest 11th-13th Centuries. BRILL. Leiden.
Ghaznavids, another Turkish-Islamic dynasty in Central Asia 977-1186 CE, used elephants and camels. [1] Used extensively in caliphate armies. [2]
[1]: (Bloom and Blair eds. 2009, 108) Johnathan M Bloom. Sheila S Blair. eds. 2009. Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art & Architecture: Three-Volume Set. Volume I. Abarquh To Dawlat Qatar. Oxford University Press. Oxford.
[2]: Kennedy, the Armies of the Caliphs
Used for shields. [1] Reconstructing the exact military equipment of Muslim armies during the period is problematic due to lack of artefactual evidence. As such, sources are scarce. In Muslim armies, a full equipage was rare, and body Armour even more so. Coats of mail was available to the Caliphate armies, but only to a small number of elite military members. Besides mail there is some evidence of lamellar leggings and breastplates. Helmets and shields were more widely available. Shields were smaller than their European counterparts and made of leather and wood. After the Sind gained independence, local resources resulted in less protective clothing. The usual equipment of a foot solider may have been as simple as a spear and cloth clothing.
[1]: Kennedy, the Armies of the Caliphs pp. 168-178
Widely available for soldiers. [1] According to the Cach-nama "the common weapons of the Indian soldiers in early medieval India were ’swords, shields, javelins, spears, and daggers.’ Other sources indicate that they also carried lances, maces and lassos." [2]
[1]: Kennedy, the Armies of the Caliphs pp. 168-178
[2]: (Eraly 2015) Abraham Eraly. 2015. The Age of Wrath: A History of the Delhi Sultanate. Penguin.
"The Delhi Sultanate had no navy and the Mughal Empire made sporadic attempts to construct a navy. The Mughals maintained a riverine fleet for coastal warfare but lacked a Blue Water Navy."
[1]
[1]: (Roy 2015, 9) Kaushik Roy. 2015. Warfare in Pre-British India - 1500 BCE to 1740 CE. Routledge. London.
"The Delhi Sultanate had no navy and the Mughal Empire made sporadic attempts to construct a navy. The Mughals maintained a riverine fleet for coastal warfare but lacked a Blue Water Navy." [1]
[1]: (Roy 2015, 9) Kaushik Roy. 2015. Warfare in Pre-British India - 1500 BCE to 1740 CE. Routledge. London.
Luxury Precious Metal: | Present |
Place(s) of Provenance: | foreign |
Consumption by Ruler: | Inferred Present |
Gold, silver and copper. âFar more important for the Muslim Arabs was Sindâs role as a passway of the India trade at large. This role it acquired in the seventh century - when Syrian merchants are first noted off DebalâŚWhen Debal was conquered, trade between Muslims and the merchants of Sind took off without delay. Sindi, and more generally Arab merchants (on the coast the Azdis of Oman) formed the commercial intermediary between Sind and the rest of India, Kabul, the Himalayas, Gujaray, Malabar, Sri Lanka and beyond, the Malay Peninsula, the Archipelago, and China. Through the same networks of trade, Sind also received its own import articles, such as [...] gold from Tibet [...] And the monetary situation of Sind reflects the development of the transit trade. Beyond doubt, Sind was a very rich kingdom when it was conquered by the Arabs. Huge amounts of gold and silver were found by the Arabs, in treasure or temple decoration or idols but also in money. [...] In addition, silver bullion was of widespread use. The early conquerors collected âimmense wealthâ in Sind through plunder, although not without generating a reverse flow of African gold (zar-i-maghribi) at the same time. Muhammad al-Qasim âcollected gold and silver (zar-o-naqra) wherever he could find themâ. At Multan the gold idol of the temple and the treasures of gold and jewels found in the fort were all carried away and jammed into âa building, ten by eight cubits in dimension, into which whatever was deposited was cast through a window, opening in its roof, (and) from this al-Multan was called âthe frontier of the house of goldâ (farj bayt adh-dhahab). Al-Qasimâs campaign, in effect, yielded twice as much as he had been spent on it (âhe brought back 120,000,000 dirhamsâ). And immediately after the conquest, coins were ordered to be struck in the name of the caliph. Of the eight-century Arab governors of Sind about 6,585 silver coins have been found in parts of Marwar, adjoining SindâŚThe Banbhore collection includes one gold and a number of silver and copper coins of the ninth-century Abbasids, struck in Egypt and Samarqand, except the copper coins which were issued by local governors or chiefs of SindâŚIn the late tenth and eleventh century, with the rise of the Fatimid connection, it is interesting to note that the dirhams of Sing - at least of Multan - also began to be modelled upon the Fatimid-Egyptian coinageâ. [Wink 1991, pp. 173-175] âSindi, and more generally Arab merchants (on the coast the Azdis of Oman) formed the commercial intermediary between Sind and the rest of India, Kabul, the Himalayas, Gujaray, Malabar, Sri Lanka and beyond, the Malay Peninsula, the Archipelago, and China. Through the same networks of trade, Sind also received its own import articles, such asâŚgold from TibetâŚFrom the time of the Indus valley civilization gold had been arriving in Sind from Tibet, as probably also from the south of the peninsula; silver came from Afghanistan and Persia. While the South-Indian supply stopped relatively early, the import of gold from Central Asia and Tibet continued for a very long time. Gold coinage was even brought from Sind further to Indiaâ. [Wink 1991, p. 173] ââŚan old treasure trove hidden by ancient kings was discovered. Two hundred and thirty mans of gold were obtained from it as well as forty jars filled with hold dustâ [footnote: âChach-Namah, pp.182-184. The total weight of these jars was thirteen thousand two hundred monds weight of gold. This is the only instance in which Muhammad bin Qasim found his way to one of those accumulated hoards of gold and precious stonesâ]. [Islam 1990, p. 36]
Luxury Spices Incense And Dyes: | Present |
Place(s) of Provenance: | Sind - Abbasid-Fatimid Period |
Dyes. âDyeing. A flourishing industry of textiles ensured a flourishing trade. Quite large number[s] of the local people were engaged in this profession but the members of the Sumirah tribe were mainly involved in it. Indigo produced at Siwistan was used by the dyers of Thatta. The main agent of dyeing was indigo. So it was considered one of the most important cash crops of Sind. Besides sugarcane and some other items of agricultural produce it was exported to different countries. The local dyers also used a considerable quality of the locally produced indigo in the textile industry and hence they were the major consumers of this commodity.â [Islam 1990, p. 230] For indigo, at least. âDyeing. A flourishing industry of textiles ensured a flourishing trade. Quite large number[s] of the local people were engaged in this profession but the members of the Sumirah tribe were mainly involved in it. Indigo produced at Siwistan was used by the dyers of Thatta. The main agent of dyeing was indigo. So it was considered one of the most important cash crops of Sind. Besides sugarcane and some other items of agricultural produce it was exported to different countries. The local dyers also used a considerable quality of the locally produced indigo in the textile industry and hence they were the major consumers of this commodity.â [Islam 1990, p. 230], [Islam 1990, p. 241]
Luxury Manufactured Goods: | Present |
Place(s) of Provenance: | Sind - Abbasid-Fatimid Period |
Treasuries possibly containing luxury manufactured goods in addition to coins; manufacture of various types of luxury goods using textiles, ivory and other animal and plant products, wood and metal i.e. leather items such as shoes and bags, and hair-dye and perfumes. âAr-Rur. This seems to have been an ancient townâŚnow a very small place near modern Sukkur, in Upper Sind. Before the Muslim conquest Rur and Multan were the two âprops (sutun) of the kingdoms of Hind and Sindâ, âroyal capitalsâ (dar al-mulk-i-shahan) with treasuries and with large mercantile, artisanal and agricultural populationsâ. [Wink 1991, pp. 183-184] âLeather products. As has been already noticed that due to the peculiar climatic conditions of Sind many people in Sind specially those living in the desert and Kohistan regions used to tend large number[s] of animals and hence skins and hides were available in abundance. It was used for different purposes such as the use of hides for making dabhas, big globe like jars for containing liquids and butter oil. The leather shields from Sind were famous for their superior craftsmanship. Leather bags of large size were manufactured in Sind which were used for the storage of costus (Medicine). Shoes were also exportedâ. [Islam 1990, p. 231] ââŚthe region exported several commodities to different countries. Most of the goods were exported from the port of Debal. These included not only the produce of the regions but also those of other parts of the country which were brought there in large quantities for onward shipmentâŚAccording to Masudi hair-dye was exported to the Arabian world which was used to give a natural shine to the hair. Some other items of export included rhinoceros, peacock, parrot, poultry and various perfumes and herbs. Shoes and ivory were produced in Khambayat and exported from Mansuraâ. [Islam 1990, p. 241] âBesides agriculture, horticulture, fishing and animal husbandry, the people of Sind were engaged in several other professions like, handicrafts, textiles, leather work, wood work, dying, sword making and ship building etcâ. [Islam 1990, p. 252] âSome other items of export included rhinoceros, peacock, parrot, poultry and various perfumes and herbs. Shoes and ivory were produced in Khambayat and exported from Mansuraâ. [Islam 1990, p. 241]
Luxury Glass Goods: | Present |
âIncised glass vessels start to appear at Bet Shean in the Umayyad period, but they are more widespread in the Abbasid-Fatimid periodsâŚTwo sherds from the Umayyad period and twenty vessels from the Abbasid-Fatimid periods were discovered at Bet Sheanâ. [Hadad 2000, p. 63]
Luxury Food: | Present |
Place(s) of Provenance: | foreign |
Dry fruits. âDuring the Arab and the Sultanate periods the main items of import from [the] outside world were horses, slaves, arms, and weapons, silk, dry fruits, clothes and gold etc. Sugar was imported from Makran and dates from Basrah. These various items were in much demand not only [in] Sind but other parts of the country as wellâ. [Islam 1990, p. 240] âDuring the Arab and the Sultanate periods the main items of import from outside world were horses, slaves, arms, and weapons, silk, dry fruits, clothes and gold etc. Sugar was imported from Makran and dates from Basrahâ. [Islam 1990, p. 240]
Luxury Fabrics: | Present |
Place(s) of Provenance: | foreign |
Consumption by Ruler: | Inferred Present |
Cotton; silk; wool. âFar more important for the Muslim Arabs was Sindâs role as a passway of the India trade at large. This role it acquired in the seventh century - when Syrian merchants are first noted off Debal [...] When Debal was conquered, trade between Muslims and the merchants of Sind took off without delay. Sindi, and more generally Arab merchants (on the coast the Azdis of Oman) formed the commercial intermediary between Sind and the rest of India, Kabul, the Himalayas, Gujaray, Malabar, Sri Lanka and beyond, the Malay Peninsula, the Archipelago, and China. Through the same networks of trade, Sind also received its own import articles, such as fine cotton cloth (from Kabul for instance)â. [Wink 1991, p. 173] âThere is also evidence to show that woolen and cotton textiles were very common among the people of Sind much before the arrival of Arabs. These industries which were carried on a limited scale for the local consumption received a great impetus because of the possibility of [a] large export of finished goods when Sind became a part of the Islamic Commonwealth. Keen interest exhibited by the Delhi Sultans in the local handicrafts further extended its base. Under the benign rule of the local dynasties, the traditional industries of the region received much patronage and encouragement. [...] The textile was one of the most established industries of Sind and its tradition goes as [far] back as to the pre-historic times. Various cities and towns of the valley were known for this industry like Nasrpur and Thatta. These were big centres with a considerable population of weaversâ. [Islam 1990, pp. 229-230] âSindi, and more generally Arab merchants (on the coast the Azdis of Oman) formed the commercial intermediary between Sind and the rest of India, Kabul, the Himalayas, Gujaray, Malabar, Sri Lanka and beyond, the Malay Peninsula, the Archipelago, and China. Through the same networks of trade, Sind also received its own import articles, such as fine cotton cloth (from Kabul for instance)â. [Wink 1991, p. 173] If rulers patronised local industries, it seems reasonable to infer this included the textile industry, and that they were also able to acquire the more luxurious textiles produced. âKeen interest exhibited by the Delhi Sultans in the local handicrafts further extended its base. Under the benign rule of the local dynasties, the traditional industries of the region received much patronage and encouragement. [...] The textile was one of the most established industries of Sind and its tradition goes as [far] back as to the pre-historic times. Various cities and towns of the valley were known for this industry like Nasrpur and Thatta. These were big centres with a considerable population of weaversâ. [Islam 1990, pp. 229-230]
Luxury Statuary: | Present |
âAccording to Istakhri, the market complex of Multan was very spacious and crowdy. In the centre there was a big temple, which was covered by the arcades of shapes dealing in artifacts made of ivory and bronzeâ. [Islam 1990, p. 57]
Luxury Precious Stone: | Present |
Place(s) of Provenance: | foreign |
Consumption by Ruler: | Inferred Present |
Emerald; possibly other precious stones. âFar more important for the Muslim Arabs was Sindâs role as a passway of the India trade at large. This role it acquired in the seventh century - when Syrian merchants are first noted off DebalâŚWhen Debal was conquered, trade between Muslims and the merchants of Sind took off without delay. Sindi, and more generally Arab merchants (on the coast the Azdis of Oman) formed the commercial intermediary between Sind and the rest of India, Kabul, the Himalayas, Gujaray, Malabar, Sri Lanka and beyond, the Malay Peninsula, the Archipelago, and China. Through the same networks of trade, Sind also received its own import articles, such as [...] emerald from Egypt. [...] At Multan the gold idol of the temple and the treasures of gold and jewels found in the fort were all carried away and jammed into âa building, ten by eight cubits in dimension, into which whatever was deposited was cast through a window, opening in its roof, (and) from this al-Multan was called âthe frontier of the house of goldâ ( farj bayt adh-dhahab)â. [Wink 1991, pp. 173-174] ââŚan old treasure trove hidden by ancient kings was discovered. Two hundred and thirty mans of gold were obtained from it as well as forty jars filled with gold dustâ [footnote: âChach-Namah, pp.182-184. The total weight of these jars was thirteen thousand two hundred monds weight of gold. This is the only instance in which Muhammad bin Qasim found his way to one of those accumulated hoards of gold and precious stonesâ]. [Islam 1990, p. 36] âSindi, and more generally Arab merchants (on the coast the Azdis of Oman) formed the commercial intermediary between Sind and the rest of India, Kabul, the Himalayas, Gujaray, Malabar, Sri Lanka and beyond, the Malay Peninsula, the Archipelago, and China. Through the same networks of trade, Sind also received its own import articles, such as [...] emerald from Egyptâ. [Wink 1991, p. 173]