Introduction
Delhi became a prominent city in India in the twelfth century. It was the capital city of the Tomara Rajputs who were defeated by the Chauhans of Ajmer in the middle of the 12th century. When Mohamed Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan and captured Delhi in 1192, he marked the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate. However, it was Qutub-ud-din Aibak, one of his slaves and general who proclaimed himself as the ruler of Delhi. He led to the foundation of the Delhi sultanate with his lineage of rulers known as the Slave Dynasty. Later on, many other notable Delhi sultanate dynasties also ruled the land.
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The subject of history is a very important subject for the students because it helps the students in learning about our past, and the struggle as well as the glories of our forefathers. India is a country which has a wide and Profound history, and importantly we have a record of the same with us. And the same goes with the history of the Delhi Sultanate, who for a little more than three centuries, has ruled a rather greater part of India, and hence learning about their rules is vital for the students in the subject of History. That is to say the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate, their Administration, and their Dynasties.
Therefore, to help the students in understanding the part of the history that deals with the reign of the Delhi Sultanate, Vedantu provides the complete explanation of the same. The explanation that Vedantu provides, is prepared by the teachers who have years of experience in teaching the subject of history to the students, and therefore there is a guarantee of quality, and also, the complete explanation is provided totally free of cost.
Brief Account of the Introduction on Delhi Sultanate
The introduction of the Delhi sultanate marks the period when various Muslim dynasties ruled in India ( 1210-1526). It all started with the campaigns of Muhamed bin-Sams and his lieutenant Qutub-ud-din Aibak between 1175-1206. It was the victory against the Rajput kings which marked the foundation of Delhi sultanate.
It was Prithviraj Chauhan who ruled the land of Delhi till the 12th century. During his rule, he fought many prominent battles which also included the two battle of Tarain. In both of these battles, he fought against Mohamed of Ghur from the Ghuride dynasty of Afghanistan. In the first battle of Tarain fought in 1191 A.D between Mohamed of Ghur and Prithviraj Chauhan with other Indian rulers, the former faced a harsh defeat and had to retreat. However, in 1192 A.D he came with more reinforcement and a stronger army that eventually made him succeed. The defeat of the Rajputs ended their supremacy in northern India and gave way for the Turkish rulers to establish themselves under the Delhi sultanate.
Write about the Delhi Sultanate Administration
The Delhi sultanate administration was governed as per the Muslim laws that were based on the Quran and Sharia. About the Delhi sultanate, there are primary duties of the Sultan and nobles to observe the Islamic laws in the matters of the state. The planned administration has various departments with different ministers appointed to carry specific responsibilities.
Sultan-
The sultan was regarded as the head of state and enjoyed unlimited power in every sphere.
Naib-
He also held an equivalent position to that of the sultan.
Wazir-
It was the position of the prime minister who also looked after the financial department.
Diwan –I- Ariz-
It was the military establishment that was headed by the Sultan as commander in chief.
Diwan –I- Risalat-
The foreign minister was in charge of establishing charges with the neighbouring kingdoms and alliance with powerful rulers.
Diwan-I-Insha-
The minister was responsible for local correspondence and different offices.
Sadr –Ur -Sadar -
It is the religious department that safeguarded the Islamic laws.
Amir –I-Mazls -Shahi -
Headed by the minister of the state for public conveniences and the arrangement of festivals.
Delhi Sultanate Dynasties
The Delhi sultanate dynasty was a brief period of 1210- 1526 where many Muslim leaders ruled Delhi. It all begins with the second battle of Tarain fought between Mohhamed Ghori and Prithviraj Chauhan in 1192 A.D. After winning, Ghori left his kingdom to his trusted lieutenant and former slave Qutub-ud-din Aibak who started the Slave or Mamluk Dynasty. He laid the foundation of the famous Qutub Minar which was later completed by Illtutmish.
After this, the Khilji Dynasty came into existence with Jalaluddin Khilji as the founder and first ruler of the dynasty. He killed the last ruler Kaikubad of the Slave dynasty.
Later, with the collapse of the Khilji dynasty, Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq took charge of Delhi and established the Tughlaq dynasty. Feroz Tughlaq and Muhammad bin-Tughlaq were the prominent rulers from this dynasty. Eventually, the Tughlaq dynasty also came to an end in the 14th century with the invasion of the Turkish ruler Timur. Soon Timur left a local governor from Multan known as Khizir Khan. He then declared himself as the ruler of Delhi and established the Sayyid dynasty.
An Overview of the Delhi Sultanate.
From 1206 to 1526, that is to say, about 320 years Delhi Sultanate, which was an Islamic empire, had ruled a substantial part of India. The capital of the Sultanate was Delhi and it was expanded to the great part of the Indian Subcontinent. In these 320 years, a total of 5 dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate had ruled over Delhi and the subsequent Indian sub-continent. These five dynasties were Mamluk, Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, Lodi. If we have to understand the territorial region of the Delhi Sultanate in modern geographical terms, then we can say that the territory of the Delhi Sultanate covered modern-day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and some regions of Nepal.
The Delhi Sultanate was originally ruled by Muhammad Ghori, who was a Turkic slave general, and who managed to win over a large part of northern India, and also in many terms, the Delhi Sultanate can also be termed as the successor of the Ghurid dynasty.
Before 1000 AD India was ruled by the Hindu and Buddhist kingdom. But starting from 962 AD, the invasion began from Central Asia, more specifically from Afghanistan. These raids and invasions continued for many years it did not establish the permanent boundaries of their kingdom, not until 1173. In 1173 Muhammad Ghori made a systematic attack in order to expand his rule to north India, and hence he created his kingdom. Ghori died in 1206, and one of the mamluks who were Turkic Qutb al-Din – Aibak became the first sultan of Delhi.
Qutb al – Din – Aibak reigned as the sultan for 4 years, that is to say, from 1206 to 1210. After him, the power was given to Aram Shah, who ruled for a brief period of one year. In such a manner the reign of the Delhi Sultanate expanded over the course of the next three centuries, until in 1526, when Ibrahim Lodi lost the battle of Panipat to Babur, and hence ended the Delhi Sultanate.
Also, if you are looking for the notes of Delhi Sultanate, then you may like to follow this CBSE Class 7 History Chapter 3 Notes - Delhi Sultans (vedantu.com)
Did You Know?
A religious tax ‘zakah’ was imposed on the wealthy and rich Muslims in India. It was during the rule of the Delhi sultan, jakath meant 2 ½ percent of the income. This religious tax was a vital source of revenue for the administration. The other taxes that fall under the religious and land categories comprise the khams, kharja, jizya, and usher.
FAQs on The Delhi Sultanate
1. What was the economic condition like during the Delhi Sultanate period?
During the Delhi Sultanate, the economy saw significant growth in trade and commerce. Textile trading became very prominent, with goods like ivory, horses, and spices being exchanged with regions in China and West Asia. Arab merchants played a major role, alongside Indian communities like Tamilians, Gujaratis, and Kalingas. The communication system improved with efficient postal services, and new roads connected important cities like Lahore, Delhi, and Bengal. Industrial centers emerged in places such as Lahore, Multan, Delhi, and Lakhnauti, focusing on paper making, textiles, and metal works. While Sultans and nobles enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle, and landowners were prosperous, the middle class consisted of artisans and shopkeepers. Laborers often lived at a subsistence level, and slavery was also a common practice during this era.
2. What are the main sources of information about the Delhi Sultanate?
Our understanding of the Delhi Sultanate period comes from various important sources:
- Inscriptions: Historical monuments, tombstones, milestones, and old coins often bear inscriptions that provide valuable information about the rulers, their policies, and significant events.
- Monuments: The grand structures built by the Delhi Sultans, such as those found in the Qutub Minar complex, offer insights into the architectural styles, cultural traditions, religious beliefs, and daily life of the period.
- Chronicles (Tarikh/Tawarikh): Many history books written in Persian by contemporary writers, known as tarikh or tawarikh, document the rise and fall of different dynasties and provide detailed accounts of the political and social conditions.
3. Which were the major dynasties that ruled during the Delhi Sultanate?
The Delhi Sultanate was ruled by five distinct dynasties that succeeded each other over a period of more than 300 years. These dynasties were:
- The Slave Dynasty (also known as the Mamluk Dynasty, 1206-1290)
- The Khalji Dynasty (1290-1320)
- The Tughlaq Dynasty (1320-1414)
- The Sayyid Dynasty (1414-1451)
- The Lodi Dynasty (1451-1526)
4. Who was the only female ruler of the Delhi Sultanate?
The only female ruler to ascend the throne of the Delhi Sultanate was Razia Sultan. She ruled from 1236 to 1240 AD and was the daughter of Sultan Iltutmish of the Slave Dynasty. Despite being a highly capable and intelligent ruler, her reign was short-lived due to resistance from conservative nobles who were unwilling to accept a female monarch.
5. What was the general timeline and significant periods of the Delhi Sultanate?
The Delhi Sultanate broadly spanned from 1206 AD to 1526 AD. It began with the establishment of the Slave Dynasty after the Ghurid invasions and the demise of Muhammad Ghori. The Sultanate saw its peak under dynasties like the Khaljis and Tughlaqs, expanding its territorial control significantly across the Indian subcontinent. The period concluded with the defeat of the Lodi Dynasty by Babur in the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, which marked the beginning of the Mughal Empire.
6. Why did the Delhi Sultanate decline over time?
The decline of the Delhi Sultanate was a gradual process influenced by several factors. One major reason was the frequent change of rulers and the lack of a strong, consistent succession policy, which led to constant internal conflicts and rebellions by ambitious nobles. Rulers like Muhammad bin Tughlaq implemented unpopular and experimental policies that weakened the state's economy and administration. Furthermore, the Sultanate faced continuous external threats and invasions, most notably by Timur in the late 14th century, which severely crippled its power and territorial integrity. The rise of independent regional kingdoms also chipped away at the Sultanate's authority, ultimately leading to its fragmentation and eventual fall.
7. How did the Delhi Sultanate influence Indian society and culture?
The Delhi Sultanate had a profound and lasting impact on Indian society and culture. In architecture, it introduced unique Indo-Islamic styles, blending native Indian and Central Asian elements, as seen in monuments like the Qutub Minar and Alai Darwaza. The official language of the court was Persian, which led to its widespread adoption and influence on local languages, giving rise to new dialects like Urdu. The period also witnessed the spread of Sufism and the growth of the Bhakti movement, both emphasizing devotion and spiritual harmony, which fostered a new syncretic culture. Administratively, systems like the Iqta system for land revenue collection were established, shaping future governance structures.
8. What were the main administrative and military features of the Delhi Sultanate?
The Delhi Sultanate developed a robust administrative and military structure to maintain control over its vast territories. The administration was highly centralized, with the Sultan as the supreme authority. A key administrative feature was the Iqta system, where land was assigned to military commanders (Iqtadars) in lieu of salary, who were responsible for maintaining troops and collecting revenue from their assigned areas. The Sultanate also maintained a powerful standing army, crucial for defense and territorial expansion. Military administration included a system of branding horses (dagh) and maintaining a descriptive roll of soldiers (chehra) to prevent corruption. Justice was administered through a hierarchy of courts, with the Qazi-ul-Quzat being the chief justice.
