Delhi Sultanate History

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Questions and Answers

What was the name of the ruler who built the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque in Delhi?

Iltutmish

Qutb-ud-din Aibak (correct)

Visaldeo

Muhammad Ghori

What was the approximate year when the city of Delhi was possibly built by the Tomaras?

736 (correct)

1526

1106

1206

Who was the ruler who captured the city of Delhi from the Tomaras?

Iltutmish

Visaldeo (correct)

Qutb-ud-din Aibak

Muhammad Ghori

What was the name of the dynasty established by Qutb-ud-din Aibak?

Slave or Mamluk dynasty Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of Delhi's location?

It was a strategic location Signup and view all the answers

Who completed the Qutb Minar?

Iltutmish Signup and view all the answers

What was unique about Ala-ud-din's standing army?

It was paid in cash and supplied with imported horses Signup and view all the answers

What was the origin of the Sayyid and Lodi dynasties?

Afghan origin Signup and view all the answers

What was Muhammad Ghori's relationship with Qutb-ud-din Aibak?

Qutb-ud-din Aibak was Muhammad Ghori's slave Signup and view all the answers

What was done to prevent theft of horses in Ala-ud-din's army?

Horses were branded with the royal insignia Signup and view all the answers

What was Ala-ud-din's policy regarding land revenue?

He fixed new rates of revenue Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of storing surplus grains in granaries?

To meet natural crises like famines and floods Signup and view all the answers

What was a notable feature of Muhammad-bin-Tughluq's reign?

He received education in literature, religion, and philosophy Signup and view all the answers

Who succeeded Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq in 1325?

Jauna Khan Signup and view all the answers

Who built the mosque Arhai Din ka Jhunpra at Ajmer?

Qutb-ud-din Aibak Signup and view all the answers

What was Muhammad-bin-Tughluq's policy regarding merit?

He laid stress on merit, and even raised people of humble origins to high positions Signup and view all the answers

What was built by Ala-ud-din in Delhi?

A new city called Siri and a reservoir called the Hauz Khas Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of Iltutmish's refusal to provide shelter to the ruler of Iran?

India was saved from a Mongol attack Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the group of powerful Turkish nobles organised by Iltutmish?

The Chalisa Signup and view all the answers

What did Iltutmish do to stabilise the Delhi Sultanate?

He crushed his rivals or won them over with land grants Signup and view all the answers

What was the result of Iltutmish's reorganisation of the currency of the Sultanate?

The Sultanate's economy became more efficient Signup and view all the answers

Who was the son-in-law of Qutb-ud-din Aibak?

Iltutmish Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the Mongol chief who ousted the ruler of Iran?

Chenghiz Khan Signup and view all the answers

In what year did Iltutmish ascend the throne?

1211 Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of Muhammad-bin-Tughluq's experiment with token currency?

The treasury suffered a heavy loss Signup and view all the answers

What was the consequence of Muhammad-bin-Tughluq's unsuccessful experiments?

Revolts broke out in many parts of his empire Signup and view all the answers

What did Firoz Tughluq do to win over the nobles?

He made their posts and land rights hereditary Signup and view all the answers

What was Firoz Tughluq's policy towards the ulemas?

He imposed the jiziya Signup and view all the answers

What was one of Firoz Tughluq's reforms?

He wrote off a number of loans Signup and view all the answers

What did Firoz Tughluq promote through the construction of wells and irrigation canals?

Agriculture Signup and view all the answers

What was the impact of Firoz Tughluq's removal of taxes on the movement of goods?

Commerce improved Signup and view all the answers

What did Firoz Tughluq impose on the use of irrigation water from state canals?

A tax Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Delhi Sultanate

The Delhi Sultanate had five dynasties between 1206 and 1526: Slave, Khalji, Tughluq, Sayyid, and Lodi.
Delhi was possibly built by the Tomaras around 736 and grew into a significant administrative center in North India.

Slave or Mamluk Dynasty (1206-1290)

Qutb-ud-din Aibak, a former slave of Muhammad Ghori, founded the Slave or Mamluk dynasty.
Qutb-ud-din Aibak was a generous ruler and a great builder who constructed India's oldest mosque, the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque in Delhi, and began the construction of the Qutb Minar.
Iltutmish, Qutb-ud-din Aibak's son-in-law, stabilized the Delhi Sultanate, crushed his rivals, and won over others with land grants.
Iltutmish refused shelter to the ruler of Iran, who had been ousted by the Mongol chief Chenghiz Khan, saving India from a Mongol attack.
Iltutmish introduced an efficient system for collecting land revenue and reorganized the currency of the Sultanate.

Ala-ud-din's Policies and Contributions

Ala-ud-din was the first Delhi sultan to maintain a well-equipped standing army, paid his soldiers in cash, and supplied them with imported horses of good breed.
Ala-ud-din had land reassessed, fixed new rates of revenue, and stored surplus grains in granaries to meet natural crises like famines and floods.
He fixed the prices of all items of daily use, standardized weights and measures, and punished cheating severely.

Tughluq Dynasty (1320-1412)

The Tughluq dynasty was started by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq in 1320.
Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq was a just and efficient ruler who suppressed revolts and repelled a Mongol invasion.
Muhammad-bin-Tughluq (1325-1351) had received education in literature, religion, and philosophy, and composed verses in Persian and Arabic.
He laid stress on merit and raised people of humble origins to high positions.
Muhammad-bin-Tughluq's experiment with token currency failed, causing a heavy loss to the treasury and leading to revolts and the breakaway of provinces.
Firoz Tughluq (1351-1388) succeeded Muhammad-bin-Tughluq and inherited an empty treasury.
Firoz made the posts and land rights of civil and army officials hereditary, imposed the jiziya tax on non-Muslims, and promoted agriculture by ordering the digging of wells and the construction of irrigation canals.

Firoz's Reforms

Firoz wrote off a number of loans, abolished certain taxes, and reduced the rates of land revenue.
He promoted commerce by removing taxes on the movement of goods and improved the condition of artisans by establishing karkhanas (workshops).
Free medical care was given to the poor.
Firoz built many towns, such as Jaunpur and Firozpur, with hospitals, libraries, mosques, and palaces.

Timur's Invasion

Timur Lang, the ruler of Samarkand, invaded India in 1398 and occupied some territories in the north-west.
He faced resistance from the people of Delhi, whom he massacred on his orders.
Timur plundered many cities and carried away enormous wealth, taking skilled artisans to work on monuments in Samarkand.

Decline of the Tughluqs and Rise of the Sayyid Dynasty

The Tughluq dynasty declined after Timur's invasion and ended in 1412.
In 1414, Khizr Khan, an Afghan chief, occupied Delhi and established the Sayyid dynasty, which lasted till 1451.

Lodi Dynasty (1451-1526)

The Lodis were Afghan tribesmen who had entered India during Muhammad-bin-Tughluq's reign.
In 1451, Bahlul Lodi founded the Lodi dynasty, extending Lodi rule from Punjab to the western borders of Bihar.

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Description

Learn about the Delhi Sultanate's five dynasties, from Slave to Lodi, and their significance in North India's administrative center. Discover the founders and their contributions.