Multan in Punjab province of Pakistan is one of the oldest cities in South Asia, though its exact age has yet to be determined. Multan remained the capital and largest city of Punjab region in late ancient times and most of the medieval era. The Multan region was centre of many civilizations throughout its history, and has witnessed warfare across millennia because of its location on a major invasion route between South and Central Asia. Multan reached the height of its splendour during the Arab rule of 9th and 10th century when it was made a separate state, the Emirate of Multan, as it controlled large parts of Punjab and Kashmir. It is famous for its Sufi shrines. Multan province was one of the largest and first-established provinces of the Mughal Empire.
Ancient era
Multan was founded by great grandson of Prophet Noah according to historian Firishta, before 3000 BC era and was home to ancient Aryan civilization of ethnic Iranian descent. According to Hindu tradition the ancient name of Multan was Mulasthana and the current name Multan was possibly associated with the Mallian people who faced Greek army and were defeated by Alexander the Great's army after a fierce battle. "Once Keshap Puri (Multan) was capital of the Raja Hurnakas.
Darius the great's invasion
Multan was conquered and included in the province of Arachosia by Achaemenid ruler Darius the great in 500 BC era. At the time Multan was part of Gandharan civilization.
After Islamic Conquest
After the conquest of Multan one had pointed out Muhammad bin Qasim about treasure hidden beneath the fountain which was buried by Raja Jesubin. Muhammad bin Qasim found 330 chests of treasure containing 13,300 maunds gold. Entire treasure was shifted from Debal to Basra on ships. Al Beruni also visited the city during Mahmud Ghaznavi's rule".
Greek Invasion (327-325 BC)
Multan was ruled by the various native empires before the invasion of Alexander the Great. It is said by some historians that when Alexander was fighting for the city, a poisoned arrow struck him, making him ill and eventually leading to his death. The exact place where Alexander was hit by the arrow can be seen in the old city premises. The noted Chinese traveller Huen Tsang visited Multan in 641.
Under Sindh's Dynasties(489-712 AD) Multan later remain under control of Rai dynasty and Brahman Dynasty of Sindh.
Medieval era
In the 7th century, Multan had its first arrival of the Muslim armies. Armies led by Al Muhallab ibn Abi Suffrah launched numerous raids from Persia into India in 664 for inclusion of the area into their empires.
Arab Sindh (711-815AD) However, only a few decades later, Muhammad bin Qasim would come on behalf of the Arabs, and take Multan region along with Sindh. His conquest was accompanied by much plundering. Umayyads inhabited Arabs in Multan who then ruled large parts of Punjab and Kashmir from their centre in Multan. The descendents of these Arabs are still found in various parts of Pakistan and India. Islam strengthened in the region reaching towards emerging cities of Delhi and Lahore.
Following bin Qasim's conquest, the city was securely under Muslim rule, although it was in effect an independent state, but around the start of the 11th century, the city was attacked twice by Mahmud of Ghazni who destroyed the Sun Temple and broke its giant Idol. A graphic detail is available in Al-Biruni's writings:
During this era, the Multan Sun Temple was noted by the 10th-century Arab geographer Al-Muqaddasi to have been located in a most populous part of the city, between the city's ivory and coppersmith bazaars. The Hindu temple was noted to have accrued the Muslim rulers large tax revenues, by some accounts up to 30% of the state's revenues.
Abbasid Amirate (855-959 AD)
By the mid-800s, the Banu Munabbih (also known as the Banu Sama), who claimed descent from the Prophet Muhammad's Quraysh tribe came to rule Multan, and established the Emirate of Banu Munabbih, which ruled for the next century.
During this era, the Multan Sun Temple was noted by the 10th century Arab geographer Al-Muqaddasi to have been located in a most populous part of the city. The Hindu temple was noted to have accrued the Muslim rulers large tax revenues, by some accounts up to 30% of the state's revenues. During this time, the city's Arabic nickname was Faraj Bayt al-Dhahab, ("Frontier House of Gold"), reflecting the importance of the temple to the city's economy.