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Central Asian Politics & advance of Babar towards India | History Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Introduction

  • Throughout Indian history, events and developments in Central Asia have significantly impacted India.
  • During the 10th to 12th centuries, changes in Central Asia led to the invasions of the Ghaznavids and later the Ghurids into India.
  • Similarly, in the 15th and early 16th centuries, events in Central Asia resulted in a new Turkish incursion into India, represented by Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur.

The Rise of Timur in Central Asia:

  • The rapid rise and fall of the Mongols, along with their internal conflicts, paved the way for the emergence of a new Central Asian empire in the 14th century.
  • Timur, the founder of this empire, was from the Barlas clan of Turks in Transoxiana and had intermarried with the Mongols.
  • Timur claimed descent from Chingiz Khan through his marriage to a Mongol Khan’s daughter.
  • Chingiz Khan's legacy inspired many Central Asian rulers to legitimize their rule by claiming descent from him.

Timur's Conquests:

  • Timur's conquests spanned nearly 25 years and included Khurasan(eastern Iran),Iran,Georgia,Iraq, and parts of the Ottoman Empire in Syria and Anatolia.
  • He also campaigned against the Mongol Golden Horde but did not incorporate them into his empire.
  • Timur invaded Delhi and laid claims over the Punjab, with plans for an invasion of China at the time of his death.

Timur's Legacy and Methods:

  • Timur is regarded as one of history's most formidable conquerors, using terror as a weapon of war.
  • He destroyed cities that resisted him, killing and enslaving many, and took artisans, craftsmen, and scholars to his capital,Samarqand.
  • Despite his conquests, Timur did not establish lasting institutions, and his empire quickly disintegrated after his death.
  • However, the cultural values and norms he introduced influenced later states, including the Mughals in India, the Uzbeks, the Safavids, and the Ottomans.
  • Timur, while claiming to be a pious Muslim, was influenced by Mongol traditions, including the secret code of law yassa laid down by Chingiz Khan.

Timurid State and Culture:

  • The Timurid state was characterized by a more liberal approach, treating the yassa as a supplement to sharia.
  • Timurid rulers supported the new liberal thought based on Ibn Arabi’s philosophy and promoted Persian literature and Chaghtai Turkish as a literary language.
  • Timur's successors, like Sultan Husain Baiqara, encouraged arts and left a legacy of a liberal Muslim state that included people of all faiths.
  • The loyalty to the chief, a Mongol tradition, gave stability to the Timurid and later empires, influencing the Mughal, Safavid, Uzbek, and Ottoman states.

The Timurid-Uzbek and the Uzbek-Iranian Conflict and Babur 

Rise of Powerful Empires Post-Timurid Empire:

  • After the disintegration of the Timurid Empire in the late 15th century, three dominant empires emerged in Central and West Asia:
  • Uzbek Empire in Transoxiana.
  • Safavid Empire in Iran.
  • Ottoman Empire based in Anatolia (modern Turkey) and Syria, extending into Eastern Europe and dominating the Mediterranean Sea.

Ottoman Empire:

  • Unique as the only Asian power with a large navy.
  • Engaged in conflicts with the Safavids over control of Baghdad, southwestern Iran, and Azerbaijan.

Safavid Empire:

  • Established in the early 16th century by Shiite Muslims claiming descent from an ancient order of saints.
  • Persecuted Sunnis in Iran and attempted to spread Shiism into Syria and Anatolia.

Uzbek Empire:

  • Consisted of nomadic Turkish and Mongol tribes from modern Kazakhstan.
  • Rebuilt under Muhammad Shaibani Khan after the destruction of the original Uzbek khanate.

Conflict Over Transoxiana:

  • The main prize for these empires was Transoxiana, fragmented among various Timurid princelings.
  • The struggle centered around Samarqand, a city of great prestige and wealth, formerly the capital of the Timurids.
  • Babur, the future founder of the Mughal Empire, was born into this turbulent period.

Babur's Early Struggles:

  • Ascended to the principality of Farghana at age 12 after his father's death.
  • Faced attacks from uncles and rivals but managed to defend his territory.

Attempts to Capture Samarqand:

  • Babur conquered Samarqand twice but could not hold it due to lack of resources and internal strife.
  • His first capture in 1497 occurred with the help of a split in the Timurid camp.
  • Forced to leave due to desertion of mercenaries and lack of supplies.

Decline and New Opportunities:

  • After losing both Samarqand and Farghana, Babur sought refuge with his maternal uncles.
  • Babur's fortunes changed when he conquered Kabul and Ghazni, gaining a strategic position between Hindustan and Khurasan.

Conquest of Samarqand and Bukhara:

  • With Persian support, Babur conquered Bukhara and Samarqand, asserting his independence.
  • However, tensions with the Persian ruler grew due to interference in local affairs.

Final Attempts and Shift to India:

  • Babur's last attempts to secure Samarqand were thwarted by Uzbek resilience and Persian miscalculations.
  • Forced to abandon Transoxiana, he turned his attention to India, laying the groundwork for the Mughal Empire.

Babur’s Advance Towards India 

Babur's Ambition to Conquer India:

  • Babur was inspired by Timur's conquests in India and aimed to reclaim the Punjab region.
  • After conquering Kabul in 1504, Babur constantly thought about invading Hindustan.
  • His early expeditions into Hindustan were more about asserting control over Afghan tribes rather than preparing for a full invasion.
  • Babur's focus shifted to India after his failed attempt to reclaim Samarqand in 1514, influenced by changes in Indian politics and his financial struggles.
  • The income from Kabul was insufficient to support Babur and his followers, leading him to conduct plundering expeditions.
  • He expanded his territories by conquering Qandahar and Badakhshan to support a large army.
  • In 1518, Babur began his campaign in Punjab, claiming lands as part of Timur's empire.
  • His initial goal was to conquer parts of Punjab with hereditary claims, gradually expanding his ambitions.
  • After several incursions and consolidating power in Afghanistan, Babur was ready to challenge Ibrahim Lodi for control of Punjab and eventually North India.
The document Central Asian Politics & advance of Babar towards India | History Optional for UPSC (Notes) is a part of the UPSC Course History Optional for UPSC (Notes).
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