This is a serious question not political. When we talk of Baluchistan, why do we include it in the subcontinent ? I mean, when I was a student in India, in history, we studied about pre-independent India from ancient times to the British era. Civilizations and places that were mentioned were Gandhara, Kamboj, Kushans, Sindh and its invasion, punjab area, Kashmir and the rest of India as a historical unit. But no mention was made about Balochisthan, only that it was a part of Pakistan after Independence. The only thing I know about Balochistan is that Zoroaster first preached and converted the people there and it was a part of Persia. So the people were probably Pharsees with a few migrant Hindus and Buddhists before Islamization . Of course I understand that Baloch tribes migrated and settled in other parts of British India but I was think of the people who still live there. What is their culture? Do they have more in common with Punjabis and Sindhis or Iranians? What great dynasties emerged from here ?
Re: Balochistan
Will check this later today, Balochistan has usually been part of Persian empires and then it has had more relationship with Sindh. Talpurs etc have been ruling Sindh for centuries after the muslim invasions.
Re: Balochistan
This is a serious question not political. When we talk of Baluchistan, why do we include it in the subcontinent ? I mean, when I was a student in India, in history, we studied about pre-independent India from ancient times to the British era. Civilizations and places that were mentioned were Gandhara, Kamboj, Kushans, Sindh and its invasion, punjab area, Kashmir and the rest of India as a historical unit. But no mention was made about Balochisthan, only that it was a part of Pakistan after Independence. The only thing I know about Balochistan is that Zoroaster first preached and converted the people there and it was a part of Persia. So the people were probably Pharsees with a few migrant Hindus and Buddhists before Islamization . Of course I understand that Baloch tribes migrated and settled in other parts of British India but I was think of the people who still live there. What is their culture? **Do they have more in common with Punjabis and Sindhis or Iranians? **What great dynasties emerged from here ?
I'll cover other aspects of your query later, but as far as cultural identification is concerned, Balochs have now more similarities with Sindhi people. This is probably due to the fact many Baloch tribes migrated into Sindh during 17th century and have adapted culture of Sindh and also had major impacts on Sindhi culture.
Re: Balochistan
This is interesting, did Islam reach Balochistan first?
History of Balochistan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In the 7th century Balochistan was divided into two main regions, its south western parts were part of Karman province of Persian Empire and north eastern region was part of the Persian province Sistan. The southern region was included in Makran, prior to the Islamic era - the suzerainty over the petty rulers of Baluchistan alternative between east and west. In the 14th year of the Hijra, 636-6CE, Rai Chach marched from Sindh and conquered Makran, however in 643 the Arabs reached Makran.[SUP][10]](History of Balochistan - Wikipedia)[/SUP] In early 644 CE, Caliph Umar sent Suhail ibn Adi from Busra to conquer the Karman region of Iran; he was made governor of Karman. From Karman he entered the western Baluchistan and conquered the region near to Persian frontiers.[SUP][11]](History of Balochistan - Wikipedia)[/SUP] South Western Balochistan was conquered during the campaign in Sistan the same year. During Caliph Uthman’s reign in 652, Balochistan was re-conquered during the campaign against the revolt in Karman, under the command of Majasha ibn Masood, it was first time when western Baluchistan came directly under the Laws of Caliphate and gave tribute on agriculture.[SUP][12]](History of Balochistan - Wikipedia)[/SUP] In those days western Baluchistan was included in the dominion of Karman.** In 654 Abdulrehman ibn Samrah was made governor of Sistan, an Islamic army was sent under him to crush the revolt in Zarang, which is now in southern Afghanistan. **Conquering Zarang a column moved north ward to conquer areas up to Kabul and Ghazni in Hindu Kush Mountains, while another column moved towards North western Baluchistan and conquered area up to the ancient city of Dawar and Qandabil (Bolan),[SUP][13]](History of Balochistan - Wikipedia)[/SUP] by 654 the whole of what is now Baluchistan province of Pakistan was under the rule of Rashidun Caliphate except for the well defended mountain town of QaiQan’ (now called Kalat), which was conquered during Caliph Ali’s reign.[SUP][14]](History of Balochistan - Wikipedia)[/SUP] Abdulrehman ibn Samrah made Zaranj his provincial capital and remained governor of these conquered areas from 654 to 656, until Uthman was murdered.
During the Caliphate of Ali, the areas of Balochistan, Makran again broke into revolt. Due to civil war in the Islamic empire Ali was unable to take notice of these areas, at last in the year 660 he sent a large force under the command of Haris ibn Marah Abdi towards Makran, Baluchistan and Sindh. Haris ibn Marah Abdi arrived in Makran and conquered it by force then moved north ward to northeastern Balochistan and re-conquered Qandabil (Bolan), then again moving south finally conquered Kalat after a fierce battle.[SUP][15]](History of Balochistan - Wikipedia)[/SUP] In 663 CE, during the reign of Umayyad Caliph Muawiyah I, Muslims lost control of northeastern Balochistan and Kalat when Haris ibn Marah and large part of his army died on the battle field suppressing a revolt in Kalat.[SUP][16]](History of Balochistan - Wikipedia)[/SUP] Muslim forces latter re-gained the control of the area during Umayyads’ reign. It also remained part of Abbasid Caliphate’s empire.
Arab rule in Balochistan lasted until the end of the 10th century, the parts of Balochistan best known to them were, Turan (the Jhalawan country) with its capital at Khuzdar, and Nudha or Budha (Kachhi). Around 976 Ibn Haukal, during second visit to India, found an Arab governor residing in Kaikanan (probably the modern Nal) and governing Khuzdar.[SUP][10]](History of Balochistan - Wikipedia)[/SUP]
Re: Balochistan
If we call Sindh as Baab ul Islam (door of Islam) in sub-continent, it means we are indirectly saying Balochistan is not part of sub-continent as Makraan (Balochistan) became part of Islamic state in the period of Hazrat Umer, way before the Arab conquest by Muhammad Bin Qasim in 712 AD.
Re: Balochistan
Most of the history of Balochistan has remained with Persia, with some periods of same rulers with other provinces. It seems as if even during the invasions from Central Asia, it was either not fully under control or the rulers didnt consider it important enough.
Re: Balochistan
Nice Info already. How do Pakistani texts tell the story of ancient and medieval Baluchistan ? I just read that it was once a part of the Mughal empire but I don't know anything else. How did it become a part of Mughal empire and later British India ? How close in culture are the original Baluchs to Sindhis( not migrant Baluchs who have settled in Sindh and other places) ?
Was Baluchistan a tribal area from before or did any kings rule over empires from there as capital ?
Re: Balochistan
It has remained part of different civilizations, mostly Persian. I dont think that it has ever ruled per se, other than a small period in which a Baloch Chakar e Azam ruled over a large tract of Balochistan, Sindh and parts of Punjab.
Re: Balochistan
Talpur is a baloch tribe which ruled Sindh from 1743 to 1843.
Re: Balochistan
Nice Info already. How do Pakistani texts tell the story of ancient and medieval Baluchistan ? I just read that it was once a part of the Mughal empire but I don't know anything else. How did it become a part of Mughal empire and later British India ? How close in culture are the original Baluchs to Sindhis( not migrant Baluchs who have settled in Sindh and other places) ? Was Baluchistan a tribal area from before or did any kings rule over empires from there as capital ?
Pakistani texts don't say much about the local people. 95% of the texts revolves around the idea that Pakistan was made on the day when MBQ conquered Sindh. This main idea only give place to Ghaznavi, Ghori and Aurangzeb in Pakistani texts. Other local heroes and related history don't get attention of the text preparing authorities in Pakistan.
Balochistan is a barren land so we can't consider it agriculture society like Punjab. Neither we can call them traders like Sindhis were due to vicinity of sea. Baloch culture is mixture of upper Sindh tribes and Irani tribes, who wandered from one place to other.
Balochistan was divided in different states as Ali mentioned above. I think Qallat was most important and strong state of Balochistan and there was a time when this state got chance to rule Karachi during Mughal era.