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History of Sindh (Ancient & Medieval)

Part of the SPSC (Sindh) study roadmap. Sindh Studies topic sindh--002 of Sindh Studies.

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History of Sindh (Ancient & Medieval)

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History of Sindh (Ancient & Medieval) — Key Facts for SPSC (Sindh)

  • Sindh’s history traces to the Indus Valley Civilization (Mohenjo-daro, Harappa — 2600 BCE)
  • Conquered by Alexander the Great in 325 BCE; subsequent Greek rule under the Mauryan and Greco-Bactrian kingdoms
  • Under Buddhist influence from 3rd century BCE (Ashoka’s missionaries)
  • Arab conquest in 711 CE under Muhammad bin Qasim — Islam arrived in Sindh
  • Samma dynasty (1351–1524) and Argon dynasty (1556–1592) were major medieval rulers
  • ⚡ Exam tip: Arab conquest of Sindh (711 CE), important dynasties, and key historical figures are high-yield for SPSC

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History of Sindh (Ancient & Medieval) — SPSC (Sindh) Study Guide

Ancient Sindh — Early Civilizations

Prehistoric Period

  • Soan culture (in Potohar region, not Sindh proper) — early Paleolithic
  • Sindh’s prehistory shows hunter-gatherer cultures transitioning to agriculture

Indus Valley Civilization (2600–1900 BCE)

  • Mohenjo-daro ( Larkana district) and Harappa (Punjab) were the two principal cities
  • Belonged to the Bronze Age — sophisticated urban planning, drainage systems, grid-pattern streets
  • Decline around 1900 BCE — reasons debated (climate change, river shift, disease)

Post-Indus Civilizations

  • Vedic period (1500–500 BCE): Sindh was part of the Vedic cultural sphere; mentioned in the Rigveda as “Sindhu”
  • Arya tribes migrated into the region; cultural synthesis of Indo-Aryan and indigenous cultures

Greek and Mauryan Periods

Alexander the Great (325 BCE)

  • Alexander invaded Sindh in 325 BCE as part of his campaign against the Persian Empire
  • Crossed the Indus River near Hazara; defeated local rulers including M资料显示
  • Alexander founded several cities ( Alexandria, Nysa) in the region
  • His generals ( Seleucus Nicator) established Greco-Bactrian rule in parts of modern Pakistan/Afghanistan

Mauryan Empire (321–185 BCE)

  • Ashoka (268–231 BCE), the Mauryan Emperor, sent Buddhist missionaries to Sindh and Gandhara
  • Buddhism spread extensively in Sindh (especially in the Buddhist centers of Jaulan and Sehwan)
  • Rock edicts of Ashoka found near Mansehra (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, not Sindh)

Indo-Greek and Indo-Scythian Periods

  • Indo-Greek kingdom (180 BCE – 10 CE): blend of Greek and Indian cultures; Bactria, Punjab, Sindh
  • Indo-Scythians (Sakas) (90 BCE – 10 CE): migrated from Central Asia; ruled parts of Sindh and Gujarat
  • Kushan Empire (1st–3rd century CE): under Kanishka (100–126 CE); Gandhara art flourished; Buddhism major religion

Arrival of Islam — Arab Conquest of Sindh (711 CE)

Background

  • Arab governor of Iraq, Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, sent expeditions to expand Islamic rule eastward
  • Muhammad bin Qasim (17 years old) was appointed commander

The Conquest (711 CE)

  • Muhammad bin Qasim crossed the desert from Persia with 6,000–10,000 troops
  • First battle: defeated Raja Dahir (the Hindu King of Sindh) near the Indus River
  • Siege of Debal: the port city of Debal (near modern Karachi) was captured after a brief siege
  • Battle of Aror: Raja Dahir defeated and killed (712 CE)
  • By 715 CE, most of Sindh was under Arab control

Significance

  • Islam became established in Sindh — first region of South Asia to convert
  • Arabic became the language of administration in conquered areas
  • Syncretic culture developed — Islamic practices blended with existing local customs
  • Muhammad bin Qasim is a revered figure in Sindh (his shrine is in Karachi)

Unfinished Conquest

  • Eastern Sindh and the Kashmir region remained outside Arab control
  • The Brahminical and Buddhist establishments coexisted with Islamic administration

Medieval Period — Major Dynasties

Summas (Memon) Dynasty (645–1029 CE)

  • Samma dynasty (also called “Memon” or “Makers”): ruled lower Sindh from their capital at Neroon (Niron)
  • Nanda dynasty: preceded the Summas; Hindu rule before the Turkic conquests
  • Not to be confused with the later Samma dynasty (14th–16th century)

Turkic and Afghan Dynasties (1029–1351)

Ghaznavid Rule (977–1186):

  • Sabuktigin and then Mahmud of Ghazni conquered parts of Sindh (Punjab, Multan)
  • Established Ghaznavid administrative control over western Punjab and Sindh

Ghorid Rule (1186–1206):

  • Muhammad Ghori defeated the Ghaznavids at the Battle of Mainpat (1161)
  • Qutb-ud-din Aibak became governor of Ghaznavid territories in India (including parts of Sindh)

Delhi Sultanate Period (1206–1526):

  • Mamluk/Delhi Sultanate controlled Sindh partially through ** governors and local rajas
  • Sindh served as a frontier province — partially autonomous

Samma Dynasty (1351–1524) — Golden Age of Sindh

Founding and Rulers:

  • Founder: Samma (Jám Unar); established capital at Thatta
  • Jam Nizamuddin II (r. 1461–1509): most prominent Samma ruler; patronized arts and architecture
  • Thatta became a major port city and center of trade with the Middle East, East Africa, and Southeast Asia

Achievements:

  • Thatta emerged as a center of Islamic scholarship — Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai compiled the Shah Jo Risalo here
  • Production of calibrated weights — Thatta’s gold coins were renowned across Asia
  • Trade and commerce flourished — textiles, indigo, cotton, silk
  • Architecture: Shah Jahan Mosque (Thatta) built 1644 under Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan

Decline:

  • 1493: Arghun Dynasty under Nawab Hussain Langah entered Sindh
  • 1524: Arghun rulers captured Thatta; Samma dynasty ended

Arghun Dynasty (1556–1592)

Founding:

  • Muhammad Hussain Langah (Arghun descendant) established control over Thatta
  • The Arghuns had previously served under the Timurids (Timur’s descendants)

Rulers:

  • Muhammad Hussain Langah (r. 1556–1561)
  • Mirza Jan Beg Arghun (r. 1561–1585)

End of Arghuns:

  • Conquered by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1592 — Sindh became part of the Mughal Empire
  • Thatta’s importance declined as Akbar moved the administrative center to Nawabshah

Medieval Religious and Cultural Developments

Sufism in Sindh

  • Sufi saints played a critical role in the Islamic character of Sindh:
  • Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (1690–1752): compiled the Shah Jo Risalo in Thatta; Sufi poet of the highest order
  • Sachal Sarmast (1739–1829): Sufi poet of the Thal desert; wrote in Sindhi and Persian
  • Shah Baz Qalander (1179–1262): Sufi saint of the Sehwan area; shrine is a major pilgrimage site
  • Shah Jo Risalo: collection of 46 stories (betraying folk tales) set to musical modes (sur); first compiled 1848

Buddhist Legacy

  • Buddhist shrines and monasteries existed in Sindh (particularly in the Sehwan area and Nawabshah) until the 17th–18th centuries
  • Hindu Buddhist cultural synthesis persisted in some areas despite Islamization

Key Historical Figures

FigurePeriodSignificance
Raja Dahir7th–8th centuryLast Hindu king of Sindh; defeated by Muhammad bin Qasim
Muhammad bin Qasim711 CEArab conqueror; established Islamic rule
Jam Nizamuddin II1461–1509Most prominent Samma ruler; patronized Thatta
Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai1690–1752Poet; compiled Shah Jo Risalo
Sachal Sarmast1739–1829Sufi poet; “Sufi saint of the desert”

SPSC Exam Focus Points

  • Muhammad bin Qasim conquered Sindh in 711 CE (under Al-Hajjaj’s command)
  • Raja Dahir was defeated at the Battle of Aror (712 CE)
  • Samma Dynasty capital at Thatta — thatta became a center of Islamic scholarship
  • Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai: compiled the Shah Jo Risalo (1848 verses) — very important for SPSC
  • Mughal conquest of Sindh: 1592 under Akbar

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