On The Early Ghaznavid Dynasty

Through describing the history of the early Ghaznavid Dynasty from the rise to the mightiness, the article analyzed the historical background of its establishment in the period from 10th to 11th centuries. Moreover, the article pointed out that the Sāmānid experienced the internal rebellion and foreign invasion in the second half of 10th century, and as the power of Turkic bodyguard in the Sāmānid court had been rising, all of these promoted the foundation of the Ghaznavid Dynasty. The early Ghaznavid Dynasty experienced the process from the splendor to the decline, and the main reason of its fall was its internal conflict and the rising of Seljuqs in the middle of 1030s. The rulers of the Dynasty took a series of political means to reinforce the autarchy system and the centralization. On the other hand, they adopted the indirect rule over the tributary regions. The adoption of the centralization system had got the close contact with the conditions at that time. It was influenced by the Sāmānid in Transoxiana and the Būyids in West Asia. Meanwhile, the Turkic people were an important factor. The soldiers of the early Ghaznavid Dynasty army came from such races as Turks, Indians, Dailams, Kurds and Arabs as well. They joined Ghaznavid Dynasty army by the way of slave-purchase, adoption, employment, or as war captives. The arm of the early Ghaznavid Dynasty army mainly included the cavalry, the infantry, the elephant troops and the sappers. In spite of the fact that the early Ghaznavid Dynasty's rulers paid attention to such economic activities as agriculture, livestock husbandry, handicraft industry and commerce as well, the speed of economic development in the empire was not very fast because of the long-term wars. The sources of revenue of the Dynasty mainly included crown lands and private possessions of the Sultans, escheats to the crown and confiscation, tribute and presents, war plunder, normal taxation. The culture of the early Ghaznavid Dynasty was based on the culture of Transoxiana. It played an important part in the history of Islamic-Persia and Islamic-Arabic culture.