The essays, contained in this book are substantially drawn from the writings of great historians and authorities on the period. Thus, as a whole this makes an authentic history. The themes competently discussed herein are: The Arab Conquest of Sind; Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni; Shihabuddin of Ghur; Delhi Sultanate; Turko-Mongol Theory of Kingship; Retrieval of Monarchy; Hegemony or Monarchy?; The Muslim Theory of Sovereignty; Heritage of the Delhi Sultans; Experiments of the Albari Turks; The Zenith of Despotism or Tribals; Reaction and Collapse etc.

For nearly eight hundred years, the medieval period of Indian history is grouped round the Mohammedan rulers who gradually brought under their control nearly the whole country from Himalayas to the Krishna river. Here an effort has been made to provide to the readers, students, teachers, a cross-section of writings on the study of medieval history during Pre-Mughal India. Major topics given competent treatment are: Life and Thought of Ziyauddin Barani; The Campaigns of 'Alauddin Khalji; Heritage of the Slave Kings; Accession, Reforms and Public Works; Campaigns against the Mughals; Food Dushes and the Catering Profession in Pre-Mughal India; Gujarat, Rajputana, Malwa and Deogir; Campaign of Arangal; Campaign of Ma'abar; The Deccan Expeditions; Muhammad Bin Tughluq; Babur's Relations with the Tribes Kabul and the Punjab; Lahore Under the Rule of Babur and Humayun; The Bayaz presented to Humayun by Shah Tahmasp of Persia; The Growth of Timur's Authority and his Relations with Nobility etc.

With the advent of the Mughals begins a clearly defined period of Indian history. It will be well at this stage to consider briefly the political condition of India at the time of the advent of the Mughals. As had happened more than once in past history, the internal dissensions of the country made it an easy prey to a determined invader. The old Sultanate of Delhi was reduced to a state of helpless impotence under a series of weak and feeble rulers, and its authority extended to a mere remnant of territory in the vicinity of the capital. Such then was the condition of India at the hour of the advent of the Mughals. While 1526, the year of Babur's final invasion, is generally accepted as the beginning of the Mughal Empire. Topics like-the Coming of the Mughals-Babur, Humayun; New Synthesis; India at the Opening of the Sixteenth Century; Foundation of the Mughal Empire, Humayun and the Sur Afghans etc., provide rich and authentic information on the theme. Students and teachers of history and politics besides those appearing for various competitive examinations will find this of utmost use.

The transformation of the Timurid rulers from a Central Asian power into a South Asian one reflect the geo-physical and inter-regional inter-relationship so characteristic of the historical evolution of these areas. This transformation took place in that age old 'round about' of cultures (modern Afghanistan) consisting of Heart, Kabul, Lamghan, Zabul (Ghazni) and Afghanistan (are south-east of Kabul, peopled by the Afghan tribes). This treatise narrates the real story of Babur's coming to India and founding the great Mughal dynasty's rule over Indian subcontinent. The chapters included in the book are: The Coming of the Moghuls; Babur's Relations with the Tribes: Kabul and the Punjab; Lahore under the Rule of Babur and Humayun; The Ebb of the Tide; The Bayaz Presented to Humayun by Shah Tahmasp of Persia; The United Empire; Akbar's Reforms; The Great Moghul; Jahangir: A Glorious Epoch; Jahangir: The British View etc.