10 Questions
Which civilization is the history of Bangladesh traced back to?
Chalcolithic civilization
What religious faiths dominated the Bengal region before the arrival of Islam?
Hinduism and Buddhism
When did Islam first arrive in the Bengal region?
8th century AD
Who were the main figures responsible for the spread of Islam in the Bengal region?
Bakhtiyar Khalji and Shah Jalal
What was the name of the currency introduced by Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah?
Fakhruddin's currency
Which region did Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah conquer for the first time and merge with the Bengal Sultanate?
Chittagong
What infrastructure project did Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah undertake?
He constructed a highway from Chandpur to Chittagong
How was the Bengal Sultanate described by Europeans during the rule of Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah?
The wealthiest country to trade with
Under which empire did the Bengal region come after the decline of the Mughal Empire?
The Nawabs of Bengal
How did the British East India Company gain control of the Bengal region?
By conquering the region in the Battle of Plassey
Study Notes
Ancient History of Bangladesh
- The country's civilized history dates back to the Chalcolithic period, over four millennia ago.
Early Kingdoms and Empires
- The early recorded history of Bangladesh is characterized by Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms and empires that fought for control of the Bengal region.
Arrival of Islam
- Islam arrived in Bangladesh in the 8th century AD.
- It became dominant in the early 13th century with the conquests led by Bakhtiyar Khalji.
- Sunni missionaries, such as Shah Jalal, also played a significant role in spreading Islam.
Bengal Sultanate
- The Bengal Sultanate was founded by Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah in the 14th century.
- He introduced a currency with his name etched on it.
- He conquered Chittagong for the first time and merged it with the Bengal Sultanate.
- He constructed a highway from Chandpur to Chittagong.
- King Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah extended the Bengal Sultanate, leading to a period of economic prosperity and military dominance.
- The region was referred to by Europeans as the richest country to trade with.
Mughal Empire
- The Bengal Sultanate was eventually absorbed into the Mughal Empire.
- Historian C.A. Bayly described it as probably the wealthiest province of the Mughal Empire.
Decline of Mughal Empire and British Conquest
- The Mughal Empire declined in the early 1700s.
- Bengal became a semi-independent state under the Nawabs of Bengal, led by Siraj ud-Daulah.
- The region was conquered by the British East India Company at the Battle of Plassey in 1757.
Explore the rich history of Bangladesh as a nation dating back over four millennia, from the Chalcolithic era to the emergence of Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms, followed by the gradual dominance of Islam starting from the 8th century AD.
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