The Delhi Sultanate

 

The invasion of Persian invader Muhammad Ghori laid the foundation of Islamic rule in India. After putting an end to Rajput rule in the north, Ghori left his Turkish slave-general-Qutubuddin Aibak, in charge of his territories in India. When Ghori died in AD 1206, a tussle for power began among his generals. Soon, Qutbuddin Aibak managed to establish his control over Delhi and the Indian territories conquered by Ghori. Thus began the rule of the Delhi Sultans. The word 'Sultan' means 'ruler' in Arabic. The rule of the Sultans, or the Delhi Sultanate, lasted more than 3 centuries - from AD 1206 to AD 1526. From their capital in Delhi, they managed to establish their control over large parts of the Indian subcontinent.

 

There were five successive dynasties that comprised the Delhi Sultanate, namely the Slave dynasty founded by Aibak, the Khaljis, the Tughluqs, the Sayyids, and the Lodis. We will read some of the important rulers from all five dynasties in this chapter.

 

 

 

EARLY TURKISH RULERS THE SLAVE DYNASTY

(AD 1206AD 1290)

Raziyya Sultana (AD 1236-AD 1240)

Qutbuddin Aibak had a slave under his command during his reign, called Iltutmish. Raziyya was the daughter of Sultan Iltutmish. Despite having sons, before his death, Iltutmish had nominated his daughter Raziyya as his successor. He felt she would prove a competent ruler. Chronicler Minhaj-i-Siraj also says she was more qualified than her brothers in matters of kingship. However, the nobles were uncomfortable about appointing a woman to the throne of the Sultanate. So they appointed one of Iltutmish's sons to the throne. When he proved to be an incompetent ruler, Raziyya was finally made the Sultan of Delhi. She was the first woman to rule Delhi. To prove she was competent to rule over the Sultanate, she even dressed like a man, hunted, rode horses, and fought bravely against rebels.

 

Although Raziyya proved to be a wise and able ruler, she faced a lot of opposition from her brothers and nobles throughout her rule. The nobles, especially the chalisa, did not like the idea of a woman ruling over Delhi. They were also offended by the preference she showed for one of her slaves. So they began to plot against her. They managed to imprison her and put one of her brothers on the throne. However, one of the nobles, Altunia, was loyal to her. They eventually married, and together, they tried to recapture her lost throne. Unfortunately, but they were caught and put to death.

 

After Raziyya's death, the throne of Delhi was occupied by a few weak rulers. Finally, one of her brothers, Nasiruddin, was made the Sultan. Не, however, left the responsibilities of the empire in the hands of his minister and father-in-law, Ghiyasuddin Balban. Balban, who belonged to the powerful 'group of forty', administered the Sultanate on Nasiruddin's behalf for nearly 20 years. After Nasiruddin's death, he declared himself the Sultan.

 

 

Info Bubble Apart from Raziyya Sultana, there were other women who ruled over other parts of the subcontinent in the medieval period one was Queen Rudramadevi of Warangal and Queen Didda of Kashmir. While Raziyya Sultana dressed in men's clothes, Rudramadevi changed her name in inscriptions and pretended to be a man.

 

Ghiyasuddin Balban (AD 1266-AD 1287)

Ghivasuddin took over the throne of Delhi in AD 1266. His rule was marked with many internal as well as external challenges. He faced strong opposition from his own group, the chalisa, who had become quite powerful. Some Hindu rulers, especially the Rajputs, had also begun to challenge the authority of the Sultan. Besides, the Mongols had become a major threat to the empire. Ghiyasuddin adopted a stern policy of "blood and iron" to consolidate his position. He reorganised the nobility and crushed the powerful chalisa with a heavy hand, punishing them mercilessly. Some were even put to death. He suppressed the rebellions by Hindu rulers and established a network of spies to keep an eye on each province. He also built a large and strong army to protect against any internal rebellions as well as attacks from the Mongols.

 

He even built a number of forts along the north-west boundaries of his empire to guard against any Mongol invasion.

 

Balban's idea of kingship

At the time Balban took over the throne of Delhi, the status of the Sultans had suffered greatly. They were reduced to the status of puppet rulers controlled by the strong chalisa. Balban took many measures to restore the status of the Sultans.

 

He exercised complete control over the administration of the empire and his large army. When in court, he kept a stern and grave face at all times. He did not even allow courtiers to smile in his presence. He believed in the divine status of the Sultans and claimed to be the representative of God on Earth. He even tried to emphasis this by introducing the practice of sijdah and paibos at his court. All nobles and visitors had to prostrate before the Sultan (sijdah) and kiss his feet (paibos). Ghiyasuddin died in AD 1287. After his death, the Slave dynasty swiftly declined, paving the way for the Khalji dynasty.

 

THE KHALJI DYNASTY (AD 1290 AD 1320)

After Ghiyasuddin's death, a tussle for power began between Ghiyasuddin's successors and nobles. Finally, in AD 1290, an Afghan noble called Jalaluddin Khalji killed Ghiyasuddin's heir and took control of the Delhi Sultanate. He laid the foundation for the Khalji dynasty.

 

Jalaluddin Khalji (AD 1290-AD 1296)

Jalaluddin Khalji, also known as Firuz Shah, began his career in the army of the Mamluk Sultans. By the time he took over the throne of Delhi, he was 70 years old. He proved to be a mild and generous ruler. He successfully managed to repel a Mongol invasion during his rule and even gave one of his daughters in marriage to a Mongol leader called Ulugh Khan. His leniency towards the Mongols and other rebels turned many nobles against him. They began to regard him a weak ruler.

 

Jalaluddin ruled for a short time. Barely six years after he took over the throne, he was killed by his ambitious nephew Ali Gurshap, or Alauddin.

 

Alauddin Khalji (AD 1296-AD 1316)

Just like the Greek ruler Alexander, Alauddin Khalji wanted to conquer the world. He even assumed the title of Sikandar-i-Sani or the second Alexander. Although his plans for a world conquest did not materialise, he did manage to build an empire almost as large as that of Ashoka's. Soon after taking over the throne, Alauddin launched a series of the conquests to extend the control of the Sultanate. He conquered Gujarat, Malwa, Ranthambor, and Chittor, and managed to bring almost the whole of Rajasthan under his control. Thus, under Alauddin Khalji, the Sultanate's control was extended over a large part of the subcontinent.

 

Alauddin was also the first Sultan to extend his control over south India. His forces led successful raids in the Deccan and the south, defeating the rulers of Devagiri, Warangal, and Dvarasamudra. They also plundered Madurai, Srirangam, and Rameswaram. The campaigns made Alauddin quite rich. He, however, did not annex the territories he conquered. He allowed the defeated kings to continue as rulers once they agreed to acknowledge his authority and pay him tributes.

 

Rebellions, invasions, and reforms

When he took over the throne of the Delhi, Alauddin faced two threats rebellion by nobles and invasion by Mongols. To prevent revolts by nobles, Alauddin banned them from visiting each other, hold parties, or even enter into matrimonial alliances. He took back the land and other grants made to the nobility to further dilute their power. He also set up a network of spies to keep an eye on the nobles and officials. It was also during Alauddin's rule that the Mongols led by Genghis Khan attacked Delhi repeatedly. To guard his empire, he constructed new forts and repaired old ones along the routes which Mongols were expected to take to enter his territories.

 

In order to maintain his army, Alauddin undertook several measures:

Revenue reforms: To ensure a constant supply of food for his soldiers, Alauddin raised the tax on farmers, known as kharaj, to 50% of the produce. This ensured his granaries were always full. There were also taxes on cattle and houses. To meet the expenses of his army he recalled all land grants and forced samantas to pay taxes. He introduced a system of land surveys to fix revenue and appointed officials to collect taxes directly from the people. He appointed some of the samantas and landlords as revenue collectors. He prevented peasants' exploitation by appointing officials to ensure revenue collectors did not collect taxes other than those imposed by him. He even conducted checks on accounts kept by the officials.

 

Military reforms: Unlike the earlier Sultans who gave soldiers land grants in lieu of salaries, Alauddin paid his soldiers in cash. Officials maintained a detailed record of each soldier. Horses were branded to ensure their owners did not substitute them for inferior ones. The troops were also inspected regularly.

 

Economic reforms: Alauddin's soldiers used the cash they earned to buy supplies from merchants. To ensure the merchants did not charge hefty prices from soldiers, Alauddin put controls on prices of goods in Delhi. He fixed the prices of essential items, such as food, clothes, horses, etc. He also appointed officers who made sure the merchants did not charge higher prices than the approved rates.

 

Many of Alauddin's policies were followed bylater Sultans and the Mughals. After his death there was a tussle of power for the throne of Delhi Eventually, the Sultanate passed into the hands of the Tughluqs.

 

Patron of learning

Although illiterate, Alauddin was a patron of art, architecture, and literature. He built the city of Siri for his soldiers and also constructed several monuments. Many scholars such as Amir Khusrau and Sheikh Nizamuddin Auliya were part of his court. Amir Khusrau was both a poet as well as a musician. He has written in detail about Alauddin in Khazainul Futuh and later about the rule of the Tughluqs.

 

Qutubuddin Mubarak Khalji

(AD 1316-AD 1320)

Qutubuddin was the last and the weakest of all Khalji rulers. He released the prisioners who were captured by his predecessors in wars. He was later murdered by his wazir, Khusraw Khan. His death marked the end of the Khalji Dynasty.

 

THE TUGHLUQ DYNASTY (AD 1320 AD 1414)

The Tughluq dynasty was founded by Ghazi Malik, who had served as a governor under Alauddin Khalji. He took over the Sultanate in the 14th century AD after killing the last Khalji ruler, Khusraw Khan. After taking over the throne of Delhi, he assumed the title of Ghiyasuddin Tughluq.

 

Ghiyasuddin Tughluq (AD 1320-AD1324)

Ghiyasuddin Tughluq proved to be just a ruler, His stern rule helped restore order in the Sultanate. His reforms brought much relief, especially to farmers, Agriculture had suffered a great deal under the policies of Alauddin and his successors. To help the farmers, Ghiyasuddin reduced the farm tax to one-tenth of the produce. (He granted farmers respite from tax in times of drought and put an end to land surveys. He also built a number of bridges, gardens, and even built a new city called Tughluqabad near Delhi.

 

Ghiyasuddin had taken over the throne of Delhi during a period of political unrest. At the time, a number of provinces had asserted their independence from the Sultanate. (Ghiyasuddin reorganised his army, crushed rebellions, and conducted military campaigns in Warangal, Orissa, and Bengal. He succeeded in making them submit to this authority Ghiyasuddin was killed while returning from his campaign in Bengal. He was killed when a wooden shelter collapsed on him during a function organised to celebrate his victory. Historians are split over the question of whether Ghiyasuddin's death was an accident. Some historians believe his son, Jauna Khan, was responsible for his death.

 

Muhammad-bin Tughluq (AD 1324-AD 1351)

After Ghiyasuddin's death, his son Jauna Khan succeeded to the throne and took the title of Muhammad-bin Tughluq. Although a learned man, Muhammad became the centre of much ridicule because of his impractical policies and administrative measures, which nearly ruined the empire. Historians find it difficult to decide whether he was a genius whose policies were ahead of the times or a mad man. Therefore, he has often been called a 'mixture of opposites' and 'the wisest fool in history'. Moroccan traveller Ibn Batuta, who came to India during his rule, has written about Muhammad-bin Tughluq in his travelogue, Rihla.

 

Let us look at some of Muhammad-bin Tughluq's failed policies:

1. Shifting of the capital

One of Muhammad's measures that caused much resentment among the people was the shifting of the capital to Devagiri near Maharastra. At the time, the Tughluq Empire included Delhi, Gujarat, Malabar, and Afghanistan. Ziauddin Barani a historian who lived during the Tughlaq period says, Muhammad began to feel Devagiri was more centrally located than Delhi to rule over his vast empire. He also felt Devagiri would be safe from the Mongols, who were a constant threat during his rule. Therefore, he decided to shift his capital to Devagiri. The city of Devagiri was renamed Daulatabad and the people of Delhi were ordered to shift to the new capital, which was also a long distance away from Delhi. In the scorching summer heat, people began their journey to Daulatabad. Many died of exhaustion.

 

But within five months of shifting to the new capital, Muhammad-bin Tughluq began to feel he had made a mistake. He found he could not control north India effectively from Daulatabad. He also found it was difficult to protect the north-west borders of his empire from Mongols from the new capital. So he ordered people to shift back to Delhi. That brought even more misery and fuelled a lot of resentment among his people".

 

2. Taxes in the Ganga-Yamuna Doab

During Muhammad-bin Tughluq's rule, the Sultanate was attacked by Mongols. He managed to defeat them and began to dream of capturing Khurasan (Central Asia) and Iraq. Confident of success, he raised a large army. But instead of building a garrison town for them, he ordered residents of Dehli-i Kuhna, the oldest of the four cities of Delhi, to move to Daulatabad so that his soldiers could stay in the old city.

 

To maintain his large army, he imposed additional taxes in the fertile Ganga-Yamuna valley. But this was widely resented because the move coincided with famine in the region. The peasants were unable to bear the burden of heavy taxes. When officials forced them to pay taxes, many abandoned their lands and ran away, while others broke out in a revolt. Later, the Sultan did try to correct his mistake by establishing a department for agriculture and providing loans to farmers. But he was too late. Though the scheme of giving loans to farmers failed during Muhammad's rule, it was successfully adopted by later rulers, including the Mughals.

 

 

 

3. Token currency

In AD 1329, Muhammad-bin Tughluq introduced 'token currency' made of cheap metals such as bronze, instead of tankas made of silver. Perhaps the global shortage of silver at the time prompted this move. In the new system of currency, the value of a token coin was deemed to be equal to that of one silver coin. Muhammad even paid his soldiers in the new 'token currency'.

 

However, the experiment proved to be a disaster. As the token coins were made of cheap metals and were easy to copy, people began minting them in their homes. As a result, the empire was flooded with counterfeit coins, creating utter chaos, People even began saving their gold and silver coins. They began using counterfeit coins to buy goods When Tughluq realised his mistake, and pay taxes. he ordered the recall of all token coins. He offered to exchange all token coins with silver coins. This caused a huge loss to his treasury and the experiment was withdrawn.

 

4. Military expeditions

Muhammad's success with the Mongols in the initial years of his rule fuelled his desire to add more territories to his empire. He launched two campaigns-one to capture Khurasan (Central Asia) and Iraq, and another to take control of the Qarachil region in the Himalayas. Both of them failed. Tughluq gave up plans of capturing more territories and also disbanded his army. This caused more pain to the ruler as the unemployed soldiers resorted to plundering the Sultanate's lands.

 

Like Alauddin Khalji, Muhammad-bin Tughluq's control initially extended over a large part of the subcontinent and even included south India. But unlike Alauddin, Muhammad believed in annexing conquered territories. This only created more problems for him as he had to deal with rebellions across the empire after his schemes failed, and the nobles, the ulama (Muslim religious scholars), and his people lost faith in him. In the years after the disastrous scheme of shifting the capital to Daulatabad, south India and parts of Deccan became independent of the Sultanate. Two powerful regional kingdoms - Vijayanagar (south India) and Bahmani (Deccan)-emerged in these areas.

Muhammad-bin Tughluq spent the last years of his rule suppressing revolts in different parts of the country. He was succeeded by his cousin, Firuz Shah.

 

Info Bubble Before Muhammad-bin Tughluq, other Asian rulers such as Qublai Khan of China and Kaikhatu Khan of Iran also introduced token currencies in their kingdoms. In China, Qublai Khan introduced a paper currency called Chao, which was quite successful. This was because he had made alternative arrangements for people who wanted to use gold and silver. The ink and paper used in the currency were made by the government and could not be forged easily.

 

Firuz Shah Tughluq (AD 1351-AD1388)

Firuz Shah Tughluq is known as a great reformer who took many steps to end the suffering caused by Muhammad's policies. He tried to revive agriculture by reforming the revenue system and bringing down taxes. To provide irrigation facilities, he constructed many canals, dams, reservoirs, and embankments. These measures were welcomed by farmers who had suffered a lot under Muhammad's policies and soon agricultural production increased. Firuz Shah also established a special department called 'Diwan-i-Khairat' for the poor and the needy. He built many mosques, hospitals, and colleges for his people. He also built several towns. He also established workshops, or karkhanas, to train slaves in different crafts.

 

Firuz Shah also built a new capital at Delhi and called it Firuzabad (now called Firuz Shah Kotla). He also founded the cities of Firuzabad of Hissar, Jaunpur, and Fatehabad. A great patron of learning, he is known to have established several educational institutions. Eminent scholars like Jalaluddin Rumi were part of his court. Many Sanskrit works were translated into Persian during his rule.

 

However, some of his measures helped hasten the end of the empire:

·     A devout Muslim, Firuz Shah imposed a tax on non-Muslims called jaziya.

·     He also made many efforts to please the nobility and the ulama by giving them generous rewards and land grants. While the influence of the ulama had been curbed during Muhammad-bin Tughluq's rule, they became quite powerful under Firuz Shah. Nobles, too, enjoyed greater powers under him compared to earlier rulers.

·     To strengthen his position, Firuz Shah also revived the system of giving land grants or iqtas, which often became hereditary. He also re-introduced the system of giving land or jagirs to soldiers in lieu of salary. These measures ultimately weakened his control over the Sultanate. Many muqtis and jagirdars became powerful over time and asserted their independence.

·     The number of slaves in the Sultanate increased during Firuz Shah's rule. The maintenance of such a large number of slaves put a considerable strain on the empire's finances.

 

Firuz Shah ruled over the Sultanate for 37 years. After him, the Tughluq dynasty fell into a decline. The last ruler of the dynasty was defeated by Timur of Central Asia. This struck a death blow to the dynasty which disintegrated soon after.

 

TUGHLUQ ADMINISTRATION

Like the Khaljis, the Tughluqs governed their kingdoms with the help of bandagans and clients. Clients were usually people of humble origins. They were often appointed to important positions. These nobles emerged as a powerful group under the Tughluqs.

 

They headed the different departments of the government. Important officials in the administration included the wazir, who headed the revenue department; the bakshi, who served as the paymaster general of the army; the qazi, who served as the chief judge.

 

LAND GRANTS

The Tughluqs also granted iqtas to officials. The Tughluqs were more lenient in granting iqtas to officials. As a result, the number of iqtadars rose during their rule.

 

Under the earlier Sultans, the iqtas were not hereditary and could be reassigned. Under Muhammad-binTughluq, there were strict checks on the iqtadars. They could not collect taxes other than those imposed by the Sultan and had to maintain a prescribed number of soldiers. However, under Firuz Shah, the assignments began to be treated as hereditary. Over time, many iqtadars became quite powerful.

 

THE SAYYID DYNASTY (AD 1414AD 1451)

Khizr Khan (AD 1414-AD 1421)

After establishing his control over Delhi, Khizr Khan tried to extend his control over more territories but met with little success. He and his Mubarak Shah Sayyid, Muhammad successors Shah Sayyid, and Alauddin Alam Shah Sayyid -were involved in a constant struggle to keep their control over their kingdom). It was during Alauddin Alam Shah's rule that Bahlul Lodi, the Afghan governor of Sirhind, managed to carve out a large kingdom in Punjab and set his sights on Delhi. In AD 1451, Bahlul Lodi took over the throne of Delhi and founded the Lodi dynasty.

 

This established the rule of Afghans. The earlier Sultans were Turks.

 

THE LODI DYNASTY (AD 1451 AD 1526)

Bahlul Lodi (AD 1451AD 1489)

After taking over the throne of Delhi, Bablul Lodi tried to consolidate his position by crushing rebellions and conquering new territories, He managed to extend his control over the Ganga-Yamuna valley. He was succeeded by his son, Sikandar Lodi. Sikandar Lodi managed to further extend the control of the dynasty to Gwalior and Bihar. Sikandar Lodi's son, Ibrahim Lodi, was the last ruler of the Delhi Sultanate.

 

HISTORICAL SOURCES

There are many coins, inscriptions, and monuments which give us valuable information about the Delhi Sultanate. Besides them, there are 'histories' known as tarikh (plural tawarikh) which give us insights into important events in the lives of the rulers. The tawarikh were written by administrators, poets, courtiers, etc., and also contained advice for rulers. The 'histories' often urged the Sultans to rule justly and maintain the social order, namely ensuring privileges for nobles and their heirs and superiority of men over women. Besides the tawarikh, there are other literary sources that shed light on the period such as, Amir Khusrau's Tughluq Nama, Ziauddin Barani's Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi, and accounts of travellers like Ibn Batuta and Marco Polo.

 

Apart from literary sources, there are several archaeological sources which tell us about the period. Important monuments built during the rule of the Delhi Sultans include the Qutb Minar, the Quwwat al-Islam mosque, the Begumpuri mosque, the Moth ki Masjid, and the tombs of Ghiyasuddin Tughluq and Sikandar Lodi. Besides them, the various forts constructed by the Sultans and the cities of Delhi also shed light on their rule.

Practice set

1. Q. Who laid the foundation of Islamic rule in India?

a) Qutbuddin Aibak

b) Iltutmish

c) Muhammad Ghori

d) Raziyya Sultana

Answer: c) Muhammad Ghori

Explanation: The invasion of Persian invader Muhammad Ghori ended Rajput rule in the north and laid the foundation of Islamic rule in India.

 

2. Q. Who became the first ruler of the Delhi Sultanate after Ghori’s death in 1206?

a) Iltutmish

b) Raziyya Sultana

c) Qutbuddin Aibak

d) Balban

Answer: c) Qutbuddin Aibak

Explanation: After Ghori’s death in AD 1206, his Turkish slave-general Qutbuddin Aibak took control of Delhi and began the Slave Dynasty.

 

3. Q. What is the meaning of the word ‘Sultan’?

a) King

b) Ruler

c) Protector

d) Emperor

Answer: b) Ruler

Explanation: The word ‘Sultan’ means ‘ruler’ in Arabic.

 

4. Q. For how long did the Delhi Sultanate last?

a) AD 1000 – AD 1300

b) AD 1100 – AD 1400

c) AD 1206 – AD 1526

d) AD 1250 – AD 1500

Answer: c) AD 1206 – AD 1526

Explanation: The Delhi Sultanate ruled for more than 3 centuries, from AD 1206 to AD 1526.

 

5. Q. Who was the first woman ruler of Delhi?

a) Queen Didda

b) Raziyya Sultana

c) Queen Rudramadevi

d) Razia Begum

Answer: b) Raziyya Sultana

Explanation: Raziyya Sultana (AD 1236–1240), daughter of Iltutmish, became the first woman Sultan of Delhi.

 

6. Q. Why did the nobles oppose Raziyya Sultana’s rule?

a) She imposed heavy taxes

b) They disliked a woman ruling the Sultanate

c) She made peace with the Mongols

d) She destroyed forts of Delhi

Answer: b) They disliked a woman ruling the Sultanate

Explanation: The nobles, especially the chalisa, were against Raziyya because they did not accept a woman ruler and were offended by her preference for a slave.

 

7. Q. Who supported Raziyya Sultana and later married her?

a) Balban

b) Nasiruddin

c) Altunia

d) Qutbuddin Aibak

Answer: c) Altunia

Explanation: Noble Altunia remained loyal to Raziyya, married her, and tried to help her regain the throne.

 

8. Q. Who took charge of administration on behalf of Sultan Nasiruddin?

a) Raziyya Sultana

b) Iltutmish

c) Altunia

d) Ghiyasuddin Balban

Answer: d) Ghiyasuddin Balban

Explanation: Nasiruddin left administration to his minister and father-in-law Balban, who later declared himself Sultan.

 

9. Q. Which policy did Ghiyasuddin Balban adopt to strengthen his rule?

a) Divide and Rule

b) Blood and Iron

c) Religious Tolerance

d) Diplomacy

Answer: b) Blood and Iron

Explanation: Balban used the strict policy of “blood and iron” to crush rebels, the chalisa, and Rajput opposition.

 

10. Q. Why did Balban build forts along the north-west boundaries of his empire?

a) To collect taxes from traders

b) To protect against Mongol invasions

c) To house his army

d) To expand his empire into Afghanistan

Answer: b) To protect against Mongol invasions

Explanation: Balban built forts on the north-west frontier to guard the empire against Mongol attacks.

 

 

11.Q. What belief did Balban promote about the status of the Sultan?

a) Sultan was equal to the nobles

b) Sultan was chosen by the people

c) Sultan was the representative of God on Earth

d) Sultan was a warrior chief

Answer: c) Sultan was the representative of God on Earth

Explanation: Balban believed in the divine status of the Sultan and claimed to be God’s representative on Earth.

 

12. Q. Which practices did Balban introduce to emphasize the Sultan’s authority?

a) Zakat and Jizya

b) Sijdah and Paibos

c) Namaz and Hajj

d) Khilafat and Shura

Answer: b) Sijdah and Paibos

Explanation: In Balban’s court, nobles and visitors had to prostrate before him (sijdah) and kiss his feet (paibos).

 

13. Q. What was Balban’s behavior like in court?

a) Friendly and approachable

b) Stern and grave, never allowing courtiers to smile

c) Jolly and humorous

d) Silent and detached

Answer: b) Stern and grave, never allowing courtiers to smile

Explanation: Balban maintained strict discipline and dignity in his court, keeping a stern face at all times.

 

14. Q. Who founded the Khalji dynasty in AD 1290?

a) Alauddin Khalji

b) Ghiyasuddin Balban

c) Jalaluddin Khalji

d) Ulugh Khan

Answer: c) Jalaluddin Khalji

Explanation: In AD 1290, Jalaluddin Khalji, an Afghan noble, killed Ghiyasuddin’s heir and established the Khalji dynasty.

 

15. Q. How old was Jalaluddin Khalji when he took over the throne of Delhi?

a) 50 years

b) 60 years

c) 70 years

d) 80 years

Answer: c) 70 years

Explanation: Jalaluddin Khalji was already 70 years old when he became Sultan.

 

16. Q. Why did many nobles consider Jalaluddin Khalji a weak ruler?

a) He lost battles to Rajputs

b) He gave concessions to the Mongols and rebels

c) He relied on his nephew Alauddin

d) He avoided administration

Answer: b) He gave concessions to the Mongols and rebels

Explanation: Jalaluddin was lenient, even marrying his daughter to Mongol leader Ulugh Khan, which nobles saw as weakness.

 

17. Q. Who killed Jalaluddin Khalji and took the throne?

a) Balban

b) Ulugh Khan

c) Alauddin Khalji

d) Raziyya’s brother

Answer: c) Alauddin Khalji

Explanation: Alauddin Khalji, Jalaluddin’s ambitious nephew, murdered him and became Sultan in AD 1296.

 

18. Q. What title did Alauddin Khalji assume, comparing himself to Alexander?

a) Khalifa-i-Hind

b) Sikandar-i-Sani

c) Ghazi-i-Mulk

d) Sultan-ul-Azam

Answer: b) Sikandar-i-Sani

Explanation: Alauddin assumed the title Sikandar-i-Sani (Second Alexander), though his dream of world conquest did not succeed.

 

19. Q. Which regions did Alauddin Khalji successfully conquer?

a) Gujarat, Malwa, Rajasthan, Deccan

b) Bengal, Kashmir, Assam, Punjab

c) Sindh, Kabul, Multan, Bengal

d) Odisha, Gujarat, Nepal, Sindh

Answer: a) Gujarat, Malwa, Rajasthan, Deccan

Explanation: Alauddin’s conquests included Gujarat, Malwa, Ranthambor, Chittor, and raids in the Deccan and south India.

 

20. Q. How did Alauddin manage newly conquered southern territories?

a) Annexed and directly ruled them

b) Allowed rulers to continue under his authority by paying tributes

c) Converted them into provinces

d) Appointed Mongol generals as governors

Answer: b) Allowed rulers to continue under his authority by paying tributes

Explanation: Alauddin did not annex southern territories; instead, he let defeated rulers govern under his suzerainty and tribute system.

 

21. Q. What measures did Alauddin take to prevent revolts by nobles?

a) Increased their salaries

b) Banned parties, marriages, and land grants

c) Made them provincial governors

d) Allowed them to form councils

Answer: b) Banned parties, marriages, and land grants

Explanation: Alauddin restricted social gatherings and confiscated land grants to weaken the nobility.

 

22. Q. Who repeatedly attacked Delhi during Alauddin Khalji’s reign?

a) Persians

b) Rajputs

c) Mongols

d) Afghans

Answer: c) Mongols

Explanation: The Mongols under Genghis Khan attacked repeatedly, forcing Alauddin to strengthen forts and defenses.

 

23. Q. What percentage of farmers’ produce was fixed as kharaj by Alauddin Khalji?

a) 25%

b) 33%

c) 50%

d) 75%

Answer: c) 50%

Explanation: Alauddin raised kharaj to 50% of the produce, filling state granaries and ensuring steady food supply for his army.

 

24. Q. What system did Alauddin Khalji introduce to regulate land revenue?

a) Land surveys

b) Land reforms by samantas

c) Free land grants

d) Zamindari system

Answer: a) Land surveys

Explanation: Alauddin introduced land surveys to fix revenue and appointed officials to collect it directly from the people.

 

25. Q. How were Alauddin’s soldiers paid?

a) With land grants

b) With gold ornaments

c) In cash salaries

d) In kind (grain)

Answer: c) In cash salaries

Explanation: Unlike earlier rulers, Alauddin paid soldiers in cash instead of land grants, making the system more efficient.

 

26. Q. What was the purpose of horse branding under Alauddin Khalji?

a) To increase their strength

b) To prevent substitution with inferior horses

c) To identify horses for trade

d) To protect horses from theft

Answer: b) To prevent substitution with inferior horses

Explanation: Soldiers’ horses were branded to ensure they were not replaced with weaker animals.

 

27. Q. Why did Alauddin fix the prices of essential goods in Delhi?

a) To make trade profitable

b) To prevent inflation during wars

c) To stop merchants from overcharging soldiers

d) To punish greedy traders

Answer: c) To stop merchants from overcharging soldiers

Explanation: Since soldiers were paid in cash, Alauddin fixed market prices so merchants could not exploit them.

 

28. Q. Who among the following was a famous scholar and poet in Alauddin’s court?

a) Firdausi

b) Amir Khusrau

c) Ibn Battuta

d) Al-Biruni

Answer: b) Amir Khusrau

Explanation: Amir Khusrau, poet and musician, wrote works like Khazainul Futuh describing Alauddin’s reign.

 

29. Q. Which new city did Alauddin Khalji build for his soldiers?

a) Tughluqabad

b) Agra

c) Siri

d) Daulatabad

Answer: c) Siri

Explanation: Alauddin founded the city of Siri, where he stationed his army.

 

30. Q. Who was the last ruler of the Khalji dynasty?

a) Alauddin Khalji

b) Jalaluddin Khalji

c) Qutubuddin Mubarak Khalji

d) Khusraw Khan

Answer: c) Qutubuddin Mubarak Khalji

Explanation: Qutubuddin Mubarak Khalji (AD 1316–1320) was the last and weakest Khalji ruler.

 

31. Q. Who killed Qutubuddin Mubarak Khalji, ending the Khalji dynasty?

a) Alauddin Khalji

b) Ghiyasuddin Tughluq

c) Khusraw Khan

d) Amir Khusrau

Answer: c) Khusraw Khan

Explanation: Qutubuddin was murdered by his wazir Khusraw Khan, marking the end of the Khalji dynasty.

 

32. Q. Who founded the Tughluq dynasty after overthrowing Khusraw Khan?

a) Ghiyasuddin Tughluq

b) Muhammad-bin-Tughluq

c) Firoz Shah Tughluq

d) Ulugh Khan

Answer: a) Ghiyasuddin Tughluq

Explanation: Ghiyasuddin Tughluq, earlier a governor under Alauddin, founded the Tughluq dynasty in AD 1320.

 

33. Q. Which new city was built by Ghiyasuddin Tughluq near Delhi?

a) Daulatabad

b) Siri

c) Tughluqabad

d) Fatehpur Sikri

Answer: c) Tughluqabad

Explanation: Ghiyasuddin constructed Tughluqabad, along with bridges and gardens, as part of his development works.

 

34. Q. What major relief did Ghiyasuddin Tughluq give to farmers?

a) Abolished kharaj completely

b) Reduced tax to one-tenth of produce

c) Paid them subsidies

d) Exempted them from land surveys

Answer: b) Reduced tax to one-tenth of produce

Explanation: To help suffering farmers, Ghiyasuddin reduced farm tax to 1/10th of the produce and granted relief in droughts.

 

35. Q. How did Ghiyasuddin Tughluq die?

a) Assassinated by Mongols

b) Killed in battle

c) Collapsed wooden shelter during a function

d) Poisoned by Khusraw Khan

Answer: c) Collapsed wooden shelter during a function

Explanation: Ghiyasuddin was killed when a wooden pavilion collapsed during a victory celebration; some historians suspect his son.

 

 

36. Q. Who succeeded Ghiyasuddin Tughluq to the throne?

a) Khusraw Khan

b) Jauna Khan (Muhammad-bin Tughluq)

c) Firuz Shah Tughluq

d) Alauddin Khalji

Answer: b) Jauna Khan (Muhammad-bin Tughluq)

Explanation: After Ghiyasuddin’s death, his son Jauna Khan became the ruler and took the title Muhammad-bin Tughluq.

 

37. Q. Who called Muhammad-bin Tughluq a 'mixture of opposites' and 'the wisest fool in history'?

a) Ibn Batuta

b) Amir Khusro

c) Historians

d) Ziauddin Barani

Answer: c) Historians

Explanation: Historians were divided on Muhammad-bin Tughluq’s character, often describing him as both a genius and a fool.

 

38. Q. Which Moroccan traveller wrote about Muhammad-bin Tughluq in his book Rihla?

a) Marco Polo

b) Ibn Batuta

c) Al-Biruni

d) Fa-Hien

Answer: b) Ibn Batuta

Explanation: Ibn Batuta visited India during Muhammad-bin Tughluq’s reign and recorded his experiences in Rihla.

 

39. Q. Which city did Muhammad-bin Tughluq shift his capital to?

a) Lahore

b) Multan

c) Devagiri (Daulatabad)

d) Gulbarga

Answer: c) Devagiri (Daulatabad)

Explanation: He shifted his capital from Delhi to Devagiri, renamed Daulatabad, but later reversed the decision.

 

40. Q. Why did Muhammad-bin Tughluq shift his capital to Devagiri?

a) To escape famine

b) To protect from Mongols and due to central location

c) Because Delhi was destroyed

d) To please nobles

Answer: b) To protect from Mongols and due to central location

Explanation: Muhammad felt Devagiri was centrally located and safe from Mongol invasions.

 

41. Q. Why did Muhammad-bin Tughluq’s tax policy in the Ganga-Yamuna Doab fail?

a) Tax officials were corrupt

b) The region faced famine

c) Nobles refused to pay taxes

d) The Sultan canceled tax collection

Answer: b) The region faced famine

Explanation: Heavy taxation during famine caused peasants to abandon lands or revolt.

 

42. Q. Which failed experiment by Muhammad-bin Tughluq involved bronze coins?

a) Revenue reform

b) Token currency

c) Military expedition

d) Agriculture loans

Answer: b) Token currency

Explanation: He introduced bronze token currency, but it failed due to widespread counterfeiting.

 

43. Q. Which two regions did Muhammad-bin Tughluq attempt to conquer but failed?

a) Gujarat and Malabar

b) Khurasan and Qarachil

c) Bengal and Punjab

d) Sindh and Kashmir

Answer: b) Khurasan and Qarachil

Explanation: His expeditions to Central Asia (Khurasan) and the Himalayas (Qarachil) failed.

 

44. Q. Which two kingdoms emerged in the south after Muhammad-bin Tughluq’s failures?

a) Bahmani and Vijayanagar

b) Marathas and Rajputs

c) Bengal and Orissa

d) Sindh and Gujarat

Answer: a) Bahmani and Vijayanagar

Explanation: After Daulatabad’s failure, the Bahmani Kingdom and Vijayanagar Empire rose in the Deccan and South.

 

45. Q. Who succeeded Muhammad-bin Tughluq?

a) Khusraw Khan

b) Ghiyasuddin Tughluq II

c) Firuz Shah Tughluq

d) Timur

Answer: c) Firuz Shah Tughluq

Explanation: After Muhammad-bin Tughluq’s death, his cousin Firuz Shah Tughluq came to power.

 

46. Q. Which department did Firuz Shah Tughluq set up for the poor and needy?

a) Diwan-i-Insha

b) Diwan-i-Khairat

c) Diwan-i-Wazarat

d) Diwan-i-Riyasat

Answer: b) Diwan-i-Khairat

Explanation: Firuz Shah established Diwan-i-Khairat to support the poor and needy.

 

47. Q. Which capital was built by Firuz Shah Tughluq?

a) Siri

b) Tughlakabad

c) Firuzabad

d) Jahanpanah

Answer: c) Firuzabad

Explanation: Firuz Shah built Firuzabad (present-day Firuz Shah Kotla) as his capital.

 

48. Q. Which tax was re-imposed by Firuz Shah Tughluq on non-Muslims?

a) Zakat

b) Khiraj

c) Jaziya

d) Ushr

Answer: c) Jaziya

Explanation: Firuz Shah imposed Jaziya tax on non-Muslims, increasing resentment.

 

49. Q. Which system revived by Firuz Shah weakened the Sultanate in the long run?

a) Iqta and Jagir system

b) Token currency

c) Branding of horses

d) Standing army

Answer: a) Iqta and Jagir system

Explanation: He revived iqtas and jagirs, which later became hereditary and weakened central authority.

 

50. Q. Who defeated the last ruler of the Tughluq dynasty?

a) Babur

b) Timur of Central Asia

c) Alauddin Khilji

d) Nadir Shah

Answer: b) Timur of Central Asia

Explanation: Timur invaded India and defeated the last Tughluq ruler, leading to the dynasty’s decline.

 

51. Q. Who headed the revenue department in the Tughluq administration?

a) Bakshi

b) Qazi

c) Wazir

d) Iqtadar

Answer: c) Wazir

Explanation: The wazir was in charge of the revenue department, while the bakshi served as the paymaster general and the qazi acted as the chief judge.

 

52. Q. What change did Firuz Shah Tughluq introduce in the iqtas system?

a) Made iqtas transferable every year

b) Treated iqtas as hereditary assignments

c) Abolished the iqtas system completely

d) Collected revenue only in kind

Answer: b) Treated iqtas as hereditary assignments

Explanation: Under Firuz Shah Tughluq, iqtas began to be treated as hereditary, which increased the power of iqtadars over time.

 

53. Q. Who among the following was the paymaster general of the army under the Tughluqs?

a) Qazi

b) Wazir

c) Bakshi

d) Amir Khusrau

Answer: c) Bakshi

Explanation: The bakshi was responsible for managing the payments and accounts of the army.

 

54. Q. Who founded the Sayyid Dynasty?

a) Alauddin Alam Shah

b) Khizr Khan

c) Bahlul Lodi

d) Muhammad Shah Sayyid

Answer: b) Khizr Khan

Explanation: Khizr Khan founded the Sayyid dynasty in AD 1414 and ruled till 1421.

 

55. Q. Which Afghan governor ended the rule of the Sayyids and established the Lodi dynasty?

a) Sikandar Lodi

b) Ibrahim Lodi

c) Bahlul Lodi

d) Daulat Khan

Answer: c) Bahlul Lodi

Explanation: Bahlul Lodi, the Afghan governor of Sirhind, took over Delhi in AD 1451 and founded the Lodi dynasty.

 

56. Q. Who was the last ruler of the Delhi Sultanate?

a) Bahlul Lodi

b) Sikandar Lodi

c) Ibrahim Lodi

d) Alauddin Alam Shah

Answer: c) Ibrahim Lodi

Explanation: Ibrahim Lodi, son of Sikandar Lodi, was the last ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. He was defeated by Babur in the Battle of Panipat (1526).

 

57. Q. Which ruler of the Lodi dynasty extended its control to Gwalior and Bihar?

a) Bahlul Lodi

b) Ibrahim Lodi

c) Khizr Khan

d) Sikandar Lodi

Answer: d) Sikandar Lodi

Explanation: Sikandar Lodi, son of Bahlul Lodi, successfully extended his empire to Gwalior and Bihar.

 

58. Q. Which historian wrote Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi during the Delhi Sultanate?

a) Ibn Batuta

b) Amir Khusrau

c) Ziauddin Barani

d) Marco Polo

Answer: c) Ziauddin Barani

Explanation: Ziauddin Barani authored Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi, which provides valuable information about the Tughluq period.

 

59. Q. What does the term 'tawarikh' refer to in the context of Delhi Sultanate sources?

a) Architectural monuments

b) Coins issued by Sultans

c) Histories written by administrators and poets

d) Religious texts

Answer: c) Histories written by administrators and poets

Explanation: The tawarikh were histories written by administrators, courtiers, and poets, often giving advice to rulers and documenting events.

 

60. Q. Which monument was built during the Delhi Sultanate period?

a) Red Fort

b) Qutb Minar

c) Taj Mahal

d) Charminar

Answer: b) Qutb Minar

Explanation: The Qutb Minar, Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, Begumpuri mosque, Moth ki Masjid, and tombs of rulers like Ghiyasuddin Tughluq were important monuments of the Delhi Sultanate.