The Origin and Early History of the Ghorid Dynasty
Minoru Inaba | Kyoto University
Abstract As far as we know, the Ghurid dynasty is the only mighty empire that emerged from the rugged mountainous region of central Afghanistan. Not only did it have a significant impact on the history of the Iranian plateau in the 12th century, but it also became the progenitor of later Islamic regimes in northern India, marking the beginning of the Islamic era in India. However, despite its importance, much of the history of this empire remains shrouded in mystery, and even the identification of its capital, Firuzkuh, was long debated. In the early 21st century, however, David C. Thomas and his team, who ventured into Ghur to investigate the Minaret of Jam, which was on the verge of collapse, discovered several important archaeological sites and structures in Jam and its surroundings. Today, the identification of Jam as Firuzkuh is widely accepted. Nonetheless, many aspects remain unclear regarding the period before the Ghurids rose to power as an empire in Afghanistan and northern India, during which the Shanasbani family was still a local power. In this lecture, based on new research findings and using the identification of Mandesh, the homeland of the Shanasbani family, as a clue, I will explore how they expanded their power out of the mountains and, additionally, will further consider the possible continuity of people from the pre to the early Islamic period.