Comprehensive Timeline of Medieval Indian History: From Early Invasions to the Mughal Decline
1. Early Medieval Period (c. 700 – 1206 CE)
This era is defined by the struggle for supremacy between regional powers and the first waves of Islamic invasions.
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712 CE: Muhammad bin Qasim (Arab) invades Sindh; first Muslim invasion of India.
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750 – 1150 CE: Reign of the Palas in Eastern India (Founder: Gopala). Known for patronising Buddhism (Vikramshila University).
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752 – 973 CE: Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta (Founder: Dantidurga). Famous for the Kailasa Temple at Ellora.
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8th – 10th Century: Tripartite Struggle between the Palas, Pratiharas, and Rashtrakutas for control over Kannauj.
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850 – 1279 CE: Rise of the Imperial Cholas (Founder: Vijayalaya). Peak under Rajaraja I and Rajendra I.
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1000 – 1027 CE: Mahmud of Ghazni conducts 17 raids into India; destroys the Somnath Temple (1025 CE).
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1191 CE: First Battle of Tarain – Prithviraj Chauhan defeats Muhammad Ghori.
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1192 CE: Second Battle of Tarain – Muhammad Ghori defeats Prithviraj Chauhan, laying the foundation of Muslim rule.
2. The Delhi Sultanate (1206 – 1526 CE)
Five successive dynasties ruled from Delhi during this period.
| Dynasty | Period | Key Highlights |
| Slave (Mamluk) | 1206–1290 | Founded by Qutubuddin Aibak; consolidated by Iltutmish; Razia Sultan (first female ruler). |
| Khilji | 1290–1320 | Founded by Jalaluddin; peak under Alauddin Khilji (Market reforms, southern expeditions). |
| Tughlaq | 1320–1414 | Founded by Ghiyasuddin; Muhammad bin Tughlaq (Token currency, capital shift); Firoz Shah Tughlaq (Canals). |
| Sayyid | 1414–1451 | Founded by Khizr Khan. |
| Lodi | 1451–1526 | Founded by Bahlul Lodi; Sikandar Lodi founded Agra; Ibrahim Lodi (last Sultan). |
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1336 & 1347 CE: Rise of the Vijayanagara Empire (Harihara & Bukka) and Bahmani Kingdom in the South.
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1398 CE: Invasion of Timur (Tamerlane) during the reign of Nasiruddin Mahmud Tughlaq.
3. The Mughal Empire (1526 – 1707 CE)
The peak of centralised imperial power and Indo-Islamic architecture.
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1526 CE: First Battle of Panipat – Babur defeats Ibrahim Lodi; foundation of the Mughal Empire.
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1539 & 1540 CE: Battles of Chausa and Bilgram – Sher Shah Suri defeats Humayun; establishment of the Sur Empire (1540–1555).
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1556 CE: Second Battle of Panipat – Akbar (under Bairam Khan) defeats Hemu.
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1576 CE: Battle of Haldighati – Mughals defeat Maharana Pratap.
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1605 – 1627 CE: Reign of Jahangir; arrival of British Captain William Hawkins and Sir Thomas Roe.
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1628 – 1658 CE: Reign of Shah Jahan; "Golden Age" of Mughal architecture (Taj Mahal).
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1658 – 1707 CE: Reign of Aurangzeb; empire reaches maximum extent; rise of the Marathas under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
4. Later Mughals & The Transition (1707 – 1857 CE)
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1707 CE: Death of Aurangzeb; beginning of the decline of Mughals.
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1739 CE: Invasion of Nadir Shah; takes away the Peacock Throne and Koh-i-Noor diamond.
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1757 CE: Battle of Plassey – British East India Company defeats Siraj-ud-Daulah; start of British political influence.
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1761 CE: Third Battle of Panipat – Ahmad Shah Abdali defeats the Marathas.
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1857 CE: The Great Revolt; Bahadur Shah Zafar (the last Mughal) is deposed, ending the medieval period.