MACHMUD of GHAZNI c.971 - 1030 Sultan of Afghanistan Machmud was the ruler of Ghazni, a kingdom comprising Afghanistan and part of Iran. Machmud conquered Kashmir and the Punjab and for twenty-five years made yearly invasions of Northern India. Machmud plundered Northern India and used the booty to patronize his court in Ghazni making it the centre of Persian-Islamic civilization rivalling the splendour of Baghdad. Firdausi, the great Persian poet resided at his court, so did the mathematician Al Biruni. |