The Ghurids (or Ghorids) were a Persianized Sunni Muslim dynasty that emerged from the mountainous region of Ghor in present-day central Afghanistan, rising to prominence in the 12th and early 13th centuries. Originally local chieftains, they became powerful after breaking free from Ghaznavid control. Under rulers like Ala al-Din Husayn and later Mu'izz al-Din Muhammad of Ghor (also known as Muhammad Ghori), the Ghurids expanded dramatically, establishing a vast empire that stretched from Iran and Afghanistan to northern India.

They played a critical role in the Islamization and political transformation of the Indian subcontinent, defeating the Rajput kingdoms and laying the foundations for Muslim rule in northern India, which was later consolidated by the Delhi Sultanate. While their empire fragmented soon after Muhammad Ghori’s death in 1206, the Ghurids' military successes and administrative innovations had a lasting impact on the region’s history. Their architecture, including grand mosques and minarets, also reflected their growing sophistication and influence.