Medieval history of Pakistan

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Ancient Palaeolithic Soanian culture, c. 500,000 – 250,000 BCE Neolithic Mehrgarh, c. 7000 – c. 3000 BCE Bronze Age Indus Valley Civilisation, c. 3300 – c. 1700 BCE Gandhara Civilization, c. 1500 BCE – c. 1000 CE Vedic Civilization, c. 1500 – c. 500 BCE Achaemenid Empire, c. 550 – c. 330 BCE Gedrosia, c. 542 – c. 330 BCE Gandhara, c. 518 – c. 330 BCE Arachosia, c. 518 – c. 330 BCE Hindush, c. 517 – c. 330 BCE Sattagydia, c. 516 – c. 330 BCE Ror dynasty, c. 489 – c. 450 BCE Macedonian Empire, c. 329 – c. 323 BCE Arachosia, c. 323 – c. 312 BCE Gedrosia, c. 323 – c. 312 BCE Paropamisadae, c. 323 – c. 312 BCE Porus, c. 323 – c. 312 BCE Taxiles, c. 323 – c. 312 BCE Mauryan Empire, c. 322 – c. 200 BCE Seleucid Empire, c. 312 – c. 63 BCE Greco-Bactrian Kingdom, c. 190 – c. 140 BCE Indo-Greek Kingdom, c. 170 – c. 50 BCE Indo-Scythian Kingdom, c. 110 BCE – c. 95 CE Apracharajas, c. 25 BCE – c. 50 CE Paratarajas, c. 120 – c. 300 CE
Classical Parthian Empire, c. 90 BCE – c. 25 CE Indo-Parthian Kingdom, c. 25 – c. 80 CE Kushan Empire, c. 60 – 345 CE Sasanian Empire, c. 250 – 655 CE Indo-Sasanians, c. 240 – 410 CE Kushano-Sasanian Kingdom, c. 240 – 410 CE Gupta Empire, c. 345 – c. 455 CE Rai dynasty, c. 415 – 644 CE Hephthalite Empire, c. 450 – 560 CE Brahman dynasty, c. 641 – 725 CE Zhangzhung, c. 500 BCE - 624 CE Patola Shahis, c. 6th - 8th centuries CE Tibetan empire, c. 618 - 842 CE
Medieval Caliphate, c. 643 – 860 CE Rashidun Caliphate, c. 643 – 661 CE Umayyad Caliphate, c. 670 – 860 CE Habbari dynasty, c. 841 – 1024 CE Hindu Shahi, c. 870 – 1010 CE Samanid Empire, c. 905 – 999 CE Ghaznavids, c. 999 – 1186 CE Soomra dynasty, c. 1024 – 1351 CE Ghurid dynasty, c. 1170 – 1215 CE Makpon Empire, c. 1190 - c. 1840 CE Delhi Sultanate, c. 1206 – c. 1526 CE Mamluk dynasty, c. 1206 – c. 1290 CE Khalji dynasty, c. 1290 – c. 1320 CE Tugluq dynasty, c. 1320 – c. 1413 CE Sayyid dynasty, c. 1414 – c. 1451 CE Lodhi dynasty, c. 1451 – c. 1526 CE Mongol Empire, c. 1221 – c. 1327 CE Chagatai Khanate, c. 1225 – c. 1485 CE Ilkhanate, c. 1256 – c. 1353 CE Raees dynasty, c. 1320 – 1620 CE Katoor dynasty, c. 1570 – c. 1947 CE Samma dynasty, c. 1351 – c. 1524 CE Yabgo dynasty, before c. 1500 - 1972 CE Arghun dynasty, c. 1520 – c. 1554 CE Mughal Empire, c. 1526 – c. 1707 CE Bombay Presidency, c. 1618 – c. 1947 CE Suri dynasty, c. 1540 – c. 1556 CE Tarkhan dynasty, c. 1554 – 1591 CE
Early modern Durrani Empire, c. 1747 – c. 1826 CE Las Bela, c. 1802 – c. 1947 CE Misl, c. 1716 – c. 1799 CE Maratha Empire, c. 1758 – c. 1760 CE Sikh Empire, c. 1799 – c. 1849 CE British Raj, c. 1858 – c. 1947 CE Independence Movement
Modern Pakistan, c. 1947 CE – present Dominion of Pakistan, c. 1947 – 1956 CE Islamic Republic, c. 1956 CE – present
History of provinces Azad Kashmir Balochistan East Pakistan Gilgit-Baltistan Islamabad Capital Territory Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Punjab Sindh
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Medieval history of Pakistan encompasses a significant era in the history of Pakistan or the greater Indus region, bridging the "ancient period" and the "modern period."^[1] This era is generally considered to span from the advent of Islam in the 6th century CE to the early modern period, marked by the rise of the Mughal Empire in 1526. However, some historians may adjust these dates based on specific regional developments and historical perspectives. The medieval period is further divided into the early medieval and late medieval eras.^[2]

In the early medieval period, the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent was home to over 40 distinct states, each characterized by diverse cultures, languages, writing systems, and religions.^[3] Buddhism was predominant at the beginning of this era, with significant institutions and influence by the end of this period much of the region embraced Islam and it became the dominant religion in the region.^[4][5]

The late medieval period saw a consolidation of Islamic power in the region. Many local rulers converted to Islam, leading to the establishment of prominent Islamic dynasties, including the Delhi Sultanate, which dominated the region until the early 16th century.^[6] Buddhism declined during this period, but Hinduism persisted and strengthened in areas under Muslim control. The turn of the 16th century marked a significant shift with the introduction of gunpowder and the rise of the Mughal Empire. The Mughals, alongside the Ottoman Empire and Safavid Persia, were one of the major Islamic gunpowder empires.^[7][8][9] The ensuing cultural and technological advancements during the Mughal era transformed society, transitioning the region from the medieval to the early modern period.

1. ↑ Ahmed, Mukhtar (2014-10-25). Ancient Pakistan - An Archaeological History: Volume V: The End of the Harappan Civilization, and the Aftermath. Amazon. ISBN 978-1-4997-0982-7.
2. ↑ Khan, Yar Muhammad (1996). Recent Studies in Medieval History of Indo-Pakistan Subcontinent. Institute of Secular Studies, with special arrangement from S. Chand Publisher's Distributors, Beawar, Rajasthan.
3. ↑ Keay, John (2000). India: A History. Grove Press. pp. xx–xxi.
4. ↑ Auer, Blain; Strauch, Ingo (2019-08-19). Encountering Buddhism and Islam in Premodern Central and South Asia. Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. ISBN 978-3-11-063168-5.
5. ↑ History of Asia by B.V. Rao p.211
6. ↑ Berger et al. 2016, p. 107.
7. ↑ Dodgson, Marshall G.S. (2009). The Venture of Islam. Vol. 3. University of Chicago Press. p. 62. ISBN 978-0-226-34688-5.
8. ↑ "Notes on the Gunpowder Empires". novaonline.nvcc.edu. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
9. ↑ Streusand, Douglas E. (2011). Islamic gunpowder empires: Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals. Boulder, Colo: Westview Press. ISBN 978-0-8133-1359-7. OCLC 191926598.