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.