The establishment epoch of the Delhi-Turkish Sultanate (1206-1320)

The Delhi Sultanate was established in North India and Bengal, emerging out of the Ghur State, whose core territory was located in modern Afghanistan, and which briefly acquired the nature of an empire in the XII. century. This process, which was the result of the collision of organizations that seemed to be diametrically opposed to each other in terms of geography, warfare, life practices and beliefs, led to the permanent Islamization of India and South Asia over the centuries. The most crucial political incentive and factor in this process was the rivalry between the Ghurids and the Khwarezmshahs following the decline of the authority of the Great Seljuk Empire in Khorasan. The fact that the Gūrlu core lands had great disadvantages in regard to climate, geography and human resources caused them to direct their armies to the north of India in this rivalry. The involvement of climate in this process is far from stimulating, albeit there are many theories to the contrary, including paleoclimatology studies. On the other hand the arguments the administrative, social and religious structure of the belligerent Indian states in the X-XIII. centuries accelerated these conquests are rendered meaningless by comparative assessments of the primary sources which have their unique problems. The superiority of the Ghurid (Ghorid) military elements in organization, human resources and war technology over the Indian states with more limited resources stands out as the most important factor in the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate, which is considered a turning point in Indian history. Invii campaigns and battles, capable commanders trained in the mamluk/ghulam organization, especially Qutb al-Din Aybeg, effectively led armored cavalry units, the representatives of steppe warfare culture, against Indian armies consisting of war elephants and archer-infantry. Their experience in the conquest and defense of fortresses was another important factor in their success.