Life in the Sultanate Period

Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq, the first ruler, was disliked the famous saint, Nizam-ud-din Auliya.

Four social groups existed: Aristocracy, Priests, Townspeople, and Peasants.

The ruling class, very powerful, including Sultans, nobles, Hindu princes, and landholders.

Land grants held by nobles (iqtadars), who provided troops to the sultan.

Brahmans (Hindu) and Ulema (Muslim) advised sultans on religious matters.

Merchants, traders, and artisans who traded locally and internationally.

Rural farmers who paid taxes and endured poverty.

A change in rulers had little effect on the peasants' lives.

Trade flourished between local communities (like Chaniyag and Multanis) and other regions like China, Malaya, West/Central Asia, and East Africa.

India exported textiles, handicrafts, and spices during this era.

A system of government run by the sultan and supported by ministers managing different areas like finance, religion, and the military.

A formal and ceremonial court where the sultan held power and officials performed duties.

Architectural style merging Indian and Islamic elements (using arches and domes) in buildings like palaces, mosques, and forts.

A department of the sultan's government concerning financial matters.

The sultan held significant power and authority, making important decisions.

Architectural features used to support roofs, allowing for larger buildings without needing many pillars.

The style of architecture developed during the Delhi Sultanate period, characterized by intricate carvings and decorations.

First mosque built in India by a ruling dynasty (1193).

A tall, ornate tower that's a masterpiece of Indo-Islamic architecture, built in stages by different rulers.

A grand red sandstone gateway built by Ala-ud-din Khalji, located near the Qutb Minar.

The Delhi Sultanate's architecture influenced the building styles of nearby kingdoms.

Prominent mosque in Ahmadabad.

Grand structures, including the Jama Masjid, Hindola Mahal, and others, built by Malwa rulers.

Buildings of lesser decorative carvings than those of earlier Delhi Sultanate.

Languages like Odia, Bengali, Marathi, Hindi, and Punjabi emerged in India around the 9th and 10th centuries, evolving from Prakrit and Sanskrit.

Urdu, meaning 'camp,' emerged as a link language used by soldiers in the camps of the Turkish invaders. It combined Persian and Hindi influences.

Medieval Indian literature encompassed translations of Sanskrit works into regional languages, Persian, and Arabic. It also featured original works like Amir Khusraw's Persian poetry and Malik Muhammad Jayasi's 'Padmavat' in Awadhi.

During the medieval period, Indian palaces and temples were adorned with murals. Miniature painting evolved, depicting rulers, nobles, and illustrating books.

Medieval Indian music saw a fusion of Persian, Arabic, and Indian musical forms, creating a new style. Instruments like the rabab and sarangil were introduced.

Amir Khusraw, a renowned poet and musician, combined Persian and Indian musical forms, creating new ragas and popularizing qawwali music.

Some famous original works include Amir Khusraw's Persian writing, 'Rinaadhas Haravilasa' in Telugu, Malik Muhammad Jayasi's 'Padmavat' in Awadhi, and Vidyapati's poems in Maithili.

Painting was influenced by royal patronage and evolved from murals to miniature paintings, which were used to decorate and illustrate books, and to create portraits of rulers.

Sufi saints held musical gatherings in their khanqahs (Sufi monasteries) where both commoners and skilled musicians participated.

A musical work, Rag-darpan, was translated into Persian during the reign of Firoz Shah Tughluq.

A work on different forms of music, Lahjat-i-Sikandar Shahi, was written during the reign of Sikandar Lodi.

Bhakti saints used devotional music to spread their message, expressing their love for the divine through songs.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Mirabai were two prominent Bhakti saints who expressed their bhakti (devotion) through devotional songs.

The rulers of Jaunpur were patrons of music, and two works on music, Ghunyal-ul-Munyas and Sangeet Siromani, were compiled there.

Sultan Husain Shah Sharqi of Jaunpur took great interest in music, believed to have created new ragas (melodies).

Raja Man Singh Tomar of Gwalior, another patron of music, wrote a book on music, Man Kautuhal (Curiosities of Raja Man).