Chapter 2 · Topic 2.3 · Prelims + Mains3 of 3
Arab & Turkish Invasions: Why the Turks won
Key points
- Why the Turks won: cavalry, command, disunity.
Prelims box: facts and traps
| Factor | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Cavalry | Swift horses from Central Asia and mounted archers; Indian armies relied on slow elephants and infantry |
| Command | One commander and a regular paid army; Rajput armies were made of many chiefs' levies |
| Disunity | Rajput kings fought each other; the Chauhans and Gahadavalas did not unite |
| Organisation | The iqta system later paid soldiers from land revenue |
| Tactics | Reserves, feigned retreats and attacks on the flanks |
| Society | Fighting was left to one class; the frontier passes were not guarded. |
Why the Turks won
This is a classic Mains theme. Avoid one-line answers like ‘religious zeal’. Historians such as Satish Chandra point to military and social causes.
| Factor | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Cavalry | Swift horses from Central Asia and mounted archers; Indian armies relied on slow elephants and infantry |
| Command | One commander and a regular paid army; Rajput armies were made of many chiefs’ levies |
| Disunity | Rajput kings fought each other; the Chauhans and Gahadavalas did not unite |
| Organisation | The iqta system later paid soldiers from land revenue |
| Tactics | Reserves, feigned retreats and attacks on the flanks |
| Society | Fighting was left to one class; the frontier passes were not guarded |
Use this in GS I for questions on medieval polity, and in Essay for ‘unity and strength’. Link it to the next chapter: the Sultanate built on the iqta and a strong cavalry.
Mains box: analysis and answer points
- Historians such as Satish Chandra point to military and social causes.
- Use this in GS I for questions on medieval polity, and in Essay for 'unity and strength'.
- Link it to the next chapter: the Sultanate built on the iqta and a strong cavalry.
- Likely next angle: Military reform lessons
Practice
Write an answer
In 150 words, explain the significance of Arab & Turkish Invasions with one recent example.
Flashcards (1)
Main military edge of the Turks?
Mounted archers and swift cavalry.
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Next chapter · 3. Delhi Sultanate →Delhi Sultanate: Mamluks and KhaljisSyllabus: Prelims GS-I · History of India and Indian National Movement.