The Delhi Sultanate combined
Delhi Sultanate
From 1206 CE – 1526 CE
Items in this lesson
Delhi Sultanate
From 1206 CE – 1526 CE
A Brief Over view:
Before the consolidation of Delhi Sultanate the Indian regions was conquered by Mahmud of Ghazni. However Mahmud did not stay here for long and returned to his Ghaznivid empire. He had not even included the Indian kingdoms in his empire which leads to the conclusion that he just wanted to plunder this region due to its wealth.
After more than a hundred years another brave and valiant ruler Muhammad Ghori, from the state of Ghor in Afghanistan invaded and conquered part of India. He defeated the most well known Prithvi Raj Chauhan in the battle of Terrain. This Battle is known in History for the establishment of the Muslim rule.
What Is the Delhi Sultanate?
Delhi Sultanate was an administrative body that ruled over the Northern and North Western part of the subcontinent. It mainly included areas of Pakistan and India.
It was a Persian-speaking mixed society of Turkish and
Afghan origin
Many of these dynasties ruled from Delhi as the capital of the Sultanate
Following dynasties were part of the Delhi Sultanate
Mamluk dynasty (1206-90)
Khilji dynasty (1290-1320)
Tughlaq dynasty (1320-1413)
Sayyid dynasty (1414-51)
Lodi dynasty (1451-1526)
Timeline of the Delhi Sultanate
Delhi Sultanate
Mamluk Dynasty
From 1206
Till 1290
Khilji Dynasty
From 1290
till 1320
Tughlaq Dynasty
From 1320
Till 1414
Sayyid Dynasty
From 1414
Till 1451
Lodhi
Dynasty
From 1451
Till 1526
Features of Delhi Sultanate
Qutb-Ud-Din Aibak a former slave was the first sultan of Delhi and
later his dynasties captured a large area of Northern India
Delhi Sultanate was the first and only empire that was ruled by a women- Razia Sultana (1236-1240)
Khilji Dynasty was also able to conquer most of Central India
Introduced Indo-Muslim cultures resulting education, literature, music,
and poetry
Delhi Sultanate reached its peaks during the Tughlaq Dynasty
Delhi Sultanate also showed grandeur in its architecture accomplishments like Qutb Minar, Tomb of Balban, Quwwat ul Islam Mosque, Fort at Daulatabad to name a few.
Expansion under the different Dynasties
Mamluk Dynasty (The 1st Muslim dynasty)
After Muhammad Ghori was assassinated near Lahore his able general Qutbuddin Aibak took control as the First Sultan of the Mamluk dynasty. Qutab Uddin was a former slave but had proven himself worthy of statesmanship. He also made a group of Nobles called ‘The forty’ who advised and guided him throughout.
Area: Ghaznavids from southern to as far as Lahore, Rajsthan and the Punjab
Rulers:
Qutb-Ud-Din Aibek
Iltutmish (Son in law of Qutb-ud Din Aibak)
Razia Sultana (Daughter of Iltutmish)
Nasir Uddin
Balban
The Qutab Minar
Balbans Tomb
Masjid Quwwat Ul Islam
Khilji Dynasty
The term Khilji was their-designation, meaning in Turkic languages "swordsman". Although they had played a conspicuous role in the success of Turkic armies in India, they had always been looked down upon by the leading Turks, the dominant group during the Slave dynasty.
Jalauddin Khilji: 1290-1296 CE
His former name was Malik Feroz Khilji and he founded Khilji dynasty
He followed mild and generous policies
He defeated the Mongol leader who was Halaku Khans grandson
His ruler lasted for only 6 years
Alauddin Khilji: 1296-1316 CE
He was a nephew and son-in-law of Jalaluddin Khilji. Alauddin Khilji killed him and succeeded the throne in 1296.
He was the first Turkish Sultan of Delhi
who seperated religion from politics.
The most important experiment undertaken by the Alauddin was the attempt to control the markets.
Allauddin’s one weakness was his reliance on Malik Kafur whom he thought to be the most trusted of the nobles.
Tughlaq dynasty
Tughlaq Dynasty
Tughlaq Dynasty was basically of Turkish origin and the family religion was Muslim. In the year 1321, Ghazi Malik succeeded the throne and was given the title as Ghiyas Ud-Din Tughlaq.
He died in a sudden accident.
Mohammad-bin Tughlaq (1325-
1351 CE)
Originally named Prince Fakhr Malik Jauna Khan, the son of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq ascended the throne in 1325
He tried to introduce many administrative reforms.
He died while campaigning in Sindh against Taghi, a Turkish slave.
Firoz Shah Tughlaq(1351-1388 CE)
He was a cousin of Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq.
Established of Diwan-i-Khairat department for
Bundagan
poor and needy people and Diwan (department of slaves)
Making Iqtadari system hereditary.
The Tughlaq dynasty would not survive much after Firoz Shah's death. The Malwa, Gujarat and Sharqi (Kingdoms broke away from the Sultanate.
Sayyid dynasty
Sayyid dynasty
Khizr-Khan , a lieutenant of Timur, was a Sayyid and so his dynasty is called
Sayyid Dynasty.
Khizr Khan (1414-1421):Timur's nominee captured Delhi and was proclaimed the new Sultan and the first of the Sayyid Dynasty. They ruled over Delhi and surroundings districts.
Mubarak Shah (1421-1434):He succeeded Khizr at the throne after his successful expeditions against Mewatis, Katehars and the Gangetic Doab area. He was killed by the nobles in his own court.
Alam Shah (1443-1451):The last Sayyid king descended in favour of Bahlol Lodhi and himself retired. Thus began the Lodhi dynasty, which confined to Delhi and a few surrounding areas.
Lodi dynasty
Lodi dynasty
Buhlul Lodi established the Lodhi Dynasty and he ruled from 1451-1526. He was previously the governor of Sarhind (in Punjab), under the Sultan of Delhi Buhlul Lodi first occupied the province of Punjab and later on, captured Delhi and became the Sultan of Delhi on April 19, 1451 under the title of Sultan Abul Muzzaffar Buhlul Shah Ghazi.
Economic Conditions during Delhi Sultanate
Agriculture: Agriculture was a major occupation at that time. Land was the source of production. Produce was generally sufficient. The village was a self-sufficient unit.
Industries: There were village and cottage industries. The labour employed was the family members; the technique was conservative. There were industries of sugar, scents and spirits.
Trade and Commerce
Inland and foreign trade flourished. As for the internal trade we had the various classes of merchants and shop-keepers.
Tax system
The Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate collected five categories of taxes which fall under the economic system of the empire
Downfall of Delhi Sultanate
Inherent weakness
Absence of strong rules
Wrong decisions and experimentation
Absence of popular support
Invasions of the Mongols
Attack by Babur
Conclusion
For more than three centuries India saw many upheavals and internal disputes while the Muslim rulers from Turkic and Afghans descendants ruled here.
The Sultanate ruled between 1206 – 1526, when the last was replaced by the Mughal dynasty established by Babur.
There were many accomplishments that are accredited to the Turks and the Afghans of the Delhi Sultanate.
There was prosperity however due to some unfavorable rules and laws people became unhappy.
