Medieval and Islamic History

Sind was ruled by the Brahmin dynasty founded by Chach (c. 632-712 CE) when Arabs invaded in 712 CE. Chach, a Brahmin official, usurped the throne and established a dynasty that ruled until Muhammad bin Qasim's conquest. This facilitated the first Islamic foothold in the subcontinent.

The Vijay Stambha (Tower of Victory) at Chittorgarh Fort was commissioned by Rana Kumbha in 1448 CE to commemorate his victory over the combined armies of Malwa and Gujarat led by Mahmud Khilji. This 37-meter tall nine-story tower is an architectural marvel. Rana Pratap (A) was Rana Kumbha's descendant who fought against Akbar, Rana Sanga (B) preceded Rana Kumbha, and Shivaji (C) was a Maratha leader from a different era.

Al-Biruni (Alberuni) was a Persian scholar who accompanied Mahmud of Ghazni during his invasions of India in the early 11th century (around 1017-1030 CE). He wrote the famous book 'Tarikh Al-Hind' (History of India) documenting Indian culture, science, and religion. He did not come with Timur, Alexander, or Babur - these were different conquerors who came to India in different time periods.

Ibrahim Lodi was the last ruler of the Lodi dynasty (1517-1526 CE) and the final Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate. He was defeated by Babur in the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, which ended the Delhi Sultanate and began the Mughal Empire. The Lodi dynasty was an Afghan dynasty that ruled parts of northern India from 1451 to 1526. Ibrahim was not from the Suri, Hanover (European), or Mughal dynasties.

Alauddin Khalji was the second and most famous ruler of the Khalji dynasty (1296-1316 CE). He is known for his military conquests in South India, market reforms, and administrative innovations. The Khalji dynasty ruled the Delhi Sultanate from 1290 to 1320 CE. Alauddin was not from the Vardhana (ancient dynasty), Tudor (English dynasty), or Mughal (later dynasty) dynasties.

Emperor Akbar granted the land and permission to construct the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in 1577 CE to Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru. This occurred during Akbar's policy of religious tolerance and syncretism. The temple was later completed and adorned with gold by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the 19th century. Jahangir, Babar, and Shah Jahan were not the emperors who granted this site.

Iltutmish, the third Sultan of Delhi and son-in-law of Qutubuddin Aibak, completed the construction of Qutub Minar. Qutubuddin Aibak had started construction, but Iltutmish added three more stories and completed the monument. The tower is 73 meters tall.

Babar (also spelled Babur) was the first Mughal Emperor who founded the Mughal Empire in India in 1526 after defeating Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat. He was a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan, and his dynasty ruled India for over 300 years. Babar established the empire that would reach its zenith under Akbar the Great.

Fakr-un-nissa (also spelled Fatima Fakhr-un-Nissa) was the mother of Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore. She was the wife of Hyder Ali, Tipu's father and the previous ruler of Mysore. Historical records confirm this as the correct name of Tipu Sultan's mother, though she is less frequently mentioned in historical narratives than her husband and son.

Aurangzeb's full name at birth was Muhiuddin Muhammad (also spelled Muhi-ud-din Muhammad). He was the sixth Mughal emperor and ruled from 1658 to 1707. The name 'Aurangzeb' was actually a title meaning 'Ornament of the Throne,' which he adopted later. His birth name Muhiuddin Muhammad is well-documented in historical records.

Babar (also spelled Babur) founded the Mughal Empire in 1526 after defeating Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat. He was a descendant of Timur on his father's side and Genghis Khan on his mother's side. Babar's victory marked the beginning of Mughal rule in India, which would last for over three centuries until 1857.

Babar, the founder of the Mughal Empire in India, walked three times around the bed of his sick son Humayun and prayed to God to exchange his own life for his son's recovery. This incident is recorded in the Baburnama and reflects both his deep fatherly affection and his religious devotion. Humayun eventually recovered, though Babar himself died shortly after.

Ustad Ahmed Lahori (also called Isa Khan) is widely credited as the chief architect of the Taj Mahal, commissioned by Shah Jahan. The other Lahori names (Akram, Abdul, Javed) are not historically documented as the Taj Mahal's designer.

Sher Shah Suri built the Grand Trunk Road (GT Road) connecting Sonargaon in Bengal to Peshawar. This was a major trade route that facilitated commerce and military movement across northern India. The road still exists today and remains one of India's most important highways.

Shah Jahan's birth name was Prince Khurram. He was the third son of Jahangir and received the name Shah Jahan (King of the World) upon his accession to the throne in 1628. Khurram means 'happy' or 'joyful' in Persian.