Socio-cultural and Economic impact of Central Asian Muslim rulers in Sub-Continent (India)

Abstract

The geo-graphical factors of the Indian continent have determined its history. As a landform the subcontinent has not changed, however historically the political map of the Indian subcontinent has changed. The abundance of natural resources and hospitable climate has attracted both the settlers and invaders. Its own settlers were bestowed with all basic necessities and economic resources and did not need to cross their boundaries and invade the region beyond it. Though Central Asia was poor in economic resources till Russian imperialism but it appeared as a strong political power that conquered the world in all directions, North, South, East and West, and established their strength all over the neighborhood such as India, Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, Iraq, China, Mongolia, and even Europe. So it was from ancient times that Central Asia established its relation over middle of the portion of the globe connecting south, east, west Asia and Europe and left its socio-cultural and economic impact on the world. The object of this paper is to analyze the impact of Central Asian Muslim rulers on the Indian sub-continent particularly with reference to their socio-cultural and economic impact. The north-west of the subcontinent constitute the modern day Pakistan and is the corridor through which numerous settlers and invaders from Central Asia entered, first through the western plane territory and then through the natural obstruction in the north-western mountains. Both regions carry their own territorial significance related to wars and invasions and a continued transformation of power from one ruler or dynasty to the other whether inside or outside. Economic incentives have played a significant role in these invasions and in the socio-cultural transformation of the society as well.