Final answer:
Muslim invaders defeated Hindu forces largely because of their strategic military tactics, political fragmentation of Hindu states, and superior warfare technology. Leaders like Muhammad of Ghur established Muslim rule through the Delhi Sultanate. Later, the Marathas under Shivaji offered formidable resistance, but Islamic rule persisted in parts of the Indian subcontinent.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Muslim invaders were able to defeat Hindu forces through a combination of strategic military tactics, political fragmentation of the Hindu states, and superior warfare technology. Various invasions by Arab and then Turkic invaders over the course of nearly five centuries introduced Islam into northern India and stimulated political integration. Notably, the Ghurids, led by Muhammad of Ghur, were able to defeat the Rajputs in 1192, establishing the Muslim state of the Delhi Sultanate which lasted over three centuries. Despite the Hindu opposition, exemplified by leaders such as Shivaji and his Maratha forces who frequently bested the Mughal armies, the Muslim rulers successfully maintained their presence. The tribute-based relationship with Hindu states under the Delhi Sultanate, despite religious differences, and the sultan's military strategies such as Timur's use of burning camels to disrupt war elephants during his attack on Delhi, are key examples of the strategic approaches employed by the Muslim invaders. Ultimately, the invaders' military strengths, coupled with political acumen, allowed for successful campaigns against the more fragmented Hindu forces, leading to the establishment and maintenance of Islamic rule in parts of the Indian subcontinent until the advent of European colonialism.