(977–1186) Turkish dynasty that ruled in Khorāsān (northeastern Iran), Afghanistan, and northern India.
It was founded by Sebüktigin (r. 977–997), a former slave. His son Ferdowsī wrote the epic Shāh-nāmeh ("Book of Kings"). Maḥmūd's grandson Masʽūd I (1031–41) lost the western half of the empire to the Seljūq dynasty . The Ghaznavids continued to rule their eastern provinces until they were defeated by the Ghūrid dynasty in 1186. They are noted for their architecture and for their patronage of the arts and sciences. See also al-{{link=Biruni, al-">Bīrūnī .