Map of Medieval India 

  • A number of powerful empires arose in Northern India and the Deccan between 750 A.D.–1000 A.D. i.e. Rajput Age. There are Gurjara Prathihars, Palas, Rastrakutas, Chauhan, Parmars, Chalukya, Gahadawal Tomars etc.
  • Mahmud Ghazni invaded Kannauj in 1018 A.D. and Somnath in 1025 A.D.
  • In 1194 A.D. Muhammad Ghori returned to India. The battles of Tarain and Chandawar laid the foundations of Turkish rule in India.
  • After the death of Muhammad Ghori, his slave Qutubuddin Aibak laid the foundation of Slave dynasty in 1206 A.D.
  • The Khalji Dynasty was founded by Jalaludding Khalji.
  • The Tughlaq dynasty was founded by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq.
  • The Vijayanagar Empire was founded by Harihar-I and Bukka-I in 1336 A.D.
  • The Bahamani Kingdom was founded by Zafar Khan in 1347.

  • Babur was the founder of the Mughal empire of India.
  • Firdausi was the poet laureate at the court of Mahmud.
  • Firdausi wrote ‘Shah Namah’.
  • Mahmud claimed descent from Iranian legendary king Afrasiyab.
  • Mahmud is said to have made 17 raids into India.
  • The initial raids were directed agaisnt the Hindustani rulers.
  • In 1001 Jayapala, the Hindushahi, ruler was defeated.
  • Jaypala’s son Anandpal succeeded him to the throne.
  • The Battle of Waihind(1008-1009) was fought between Mahmud and Ananda.
  • After the battle, Punjab passed into the hands of Ghaznavis.
  • The subsequent raids of Mahmud into India were aimed at plundering the rich temples and cities.
  • Mahmud died at Ghazni in 1030 A.D.

  • mahmud gazni’s 17 attacks

    1.

    1000-1001

    (against Jaipal of Peshawar) Sindh

    2.

    1001

    (against Anandpal of Peshawar) Sindh

    3.

    1002-1004

    Multan

    4.

    1005-1006

    Multan

    5.

    1007-1008

    Nawasa Shah of Multan

    6.

    1008-1009

    Anandpal of Hindushahi of Sind

    7.

    1009-1010

    Narayanpur (Rajasthan)

    8.

    1010-1011

    Daud of Multan

    9.

    1012-1013

    Thaneswar (The Mecca of Hindus)

    10.

    1013-1014

    Nandana (against Anandpal)

    11.

    10-15-1016

    Kashmir valley (unsuccessful)

    12.

    1016-1018

    Kannauj, Mathura

    13.

    1020-1021

    Kalinjar

    14.

    1021-1022

    Lahore

    15.

    1025-1026

    Somnath

    16.

    1026-1027

    Jats of Sind

    17.

    1027

    Khokars of Punjab

     

    • The Turkish Conquest
    • The Ghurid empire rose into prominence in North-West Afghanistan.
    • The Ghurids had started as vassals of Ghazni, but had soon thrown off its yoke.
    • The power of the Ghurids increased under Sultan Alauddin who earned the title of ‘jahan-soz’ (World burner).
    • In 1173, Shahabuddin Muhammad (Muhammad Ghori) ascended the throne at Ghazni.
    • By 1190, Muhammad Ghori had conquered Peshawar, Lahore and Sialkot.
    •  In India Chauhans had captured Delhi from the Tomars.
    • Conflict between Muhammad Ghori and Prithviraj Chauhan started with rival claims for Tabarhinda (Bhatinda)
    • The First Battle of Tarain was fought in 1191 A.D.
    • In this battle the Ghori forces were completely routed. Muhammad Ghori’s life was saved by a young Khalji horseman.
    • The Second battle of Tarain was fought in 1192 A.D.
    • This battle is regarded as one of the turning points in Indian History.
    • Prithviraj Chauhan was captured near Saraswati.
    • After Tarain Muhammad Ghori returned to Ghazni.
    • Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti came with Muhammad Ghori from Afghanistan.
    • He left the affairs in India in the hands of his trusted slave Qutubuddin Aibak.
    • In 1194 A.D. Muhammad Ghori returned to India.
    • The battle of Chandawar (1194 A.D.) was fought between Muhammad Ghori and Jaichandra.
    • Jaichandra was defeated in the battle of Chandawar.
    • The battles of Tarain and Chandawar laid the foundations of Turkish in India.

    Delhi  Sultanate

    • The Sultanate of Delhi had five ruling dynasties –

    1. The Ilbari   —      1206-1290 AD.

    2. The Khalji   —      1290-1320 AD.

    3. The Tughluq        —        1320-1413 AD.

    4. The Saiyid  —      1414 - 1451 AD.

    5. The Lodhis —      1451 - 1526 AD

    • Qutubuddin Aibak (1206-1210)
    • He was a Turk of the Aibak tribe.
    • He was crowned at Lahore later the death of Muhammad Ghori.
    • He did not make any fresh conquests and ruled from Lahore.
    • He died in 1210 while playing chaugan (horse polo)
    • He was famous for his generosity and earned sobriquet of Lak-Baksha (giver of Lakhs).
    • He married Yaldauz’s daughter.
    • He got his sister married to Qubacha.
    • He got his daughter married to Iltutmish
    • He laid the foundation of Qutab Minar in Delhi after the name of the famous sufi saint Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki which was completed by Iltutmish.
    • He patronized ‘Hasan Nizami’ who wrote first official history of Delhi sultanate “Taj-ul-Masi”.
    • He was succeeded by his inexperiened and incapable son Aram Shah who ruled at Lahore for about eight months before being defeated and deposed by his son-in-law-Iltutmish
    • The Turks only introduced polo in India.
    • Aibak constructed the first mosque in India named Quwwat-ul-Islam in Delhi and Adhai Din ka Jhopara in Ajmer, Rajasthan.
    • Victory of Aibak
    •   1194   – Ajmer
    •   1197   – Anhilvad, Badaun, Varanasi, Chandravar
    • 1202-03 –    Bundelkhand, Kalinjar, Mahoba, Khajuraho.
    • Iltutmish (1210–1236)
    • At the time of Qutubuddin’s death, he was the governor of Badaun.
    • He made Delhi the capital of his empire.
    • He was the real founder of Delhi Sultanate.
    • He was the slave of Qutubuddin Aibak.
    • He first defeated rivals Particularly Tajuddin Yalduz and Nasiruddin Qubacha who were two surviving officers of Mohd. Ghori.
    • He prevented changiz Khan’s attack by refusing to give refuge to an enemy of Khan, Jalaludiin Manga Barani.
    • He was skilled in diplomacy.
    • Due to his deplomatic skill, he prevented Mongol attack.
    • He formed ‘Turkan-i-Chahalgani or chalisa.
    • Chalisa was a group of 40 powerful Turkish nobles to suppress rebels.
    • He divided his empire into ‘Iqtas’. It is an assignment of land in lieu of salary, which he distributed to his officers.
    • He introduced the silver ‘Tanka’ and two copper ‘Jital’-basi coins of the sultanate.
    • He introduced ‘Arabian coin’ first time.
    • He transfered his capital to Delhi from Lahore.
    • In 1229, he received a deed of investiture from the Abassid caliph of Baghdad. It was a formal recognition of his independent position as a sultan of the sultanate of Delhi and as a member of the world fraternity of Islamic states.
    • He completed the construction of Qutub Minar which was started by Aibak.
    • Ruknuddin Firoz
    • After the death of Iltutmish, the Turkish nobles raised his son Ruknuddin Firoz to the throne.
    • But Razia took help of some powerful disgruntled nobles and won over the throne of Delhi and deposed Firoz.

    Razia : (1236-40)

    • She was the first and last muslim woman ruler of Delhi Sultanate.
    • She appointed an Abysinian Slave, Jamaluddin Yakut as the ‘Amir-e-Akhur’ (Superintendent of horses)
    • Altunia, the governor of Sirhind revolted. She won over Altunia and married him however both of them were killed by bandits when they were enroute to Delhi to defeat the revolt there.
    • Muizuddin Bahramshah (1240-42) & Masud ShaH (1242-46)
    • The successors of Razia were Muzuddin Bahramshah and Alauddin Masud Shah
    • Both fell to prey to the power struggle between powerful nobles.
    • Nasiruddin Mahmud (1246-65)
    • In 1246, Nasiruddin Mahmud ascended the throne but the real power was in the hands of Balban.
    • He awarded tittle ‘Ulugh Khan’ (Great Khan) to Balban.
    • He married with Balban’s daughter.
    • Minhaj -us-Siraj dedicated his book, ‘Tabaqati-Nasiri’ to him.
    • He was a calligraphist.

    Balban (1265-1287)

    • He strengthened forts of Bhatinda, Sunam and Sumtra as parts of his Mongol policy.
    • He defeated Tughril Khan’s rebellian in Bengal and appointed his son Bugra/Bughra Khan as new governor of Bengal.
    • He was a liberal patron of persian literature and showed special favour to the Port, Amir Khusro.
    • KaiqubaD (1287-1290)
    • After Balban’s death, Kaiqubad and Kaymurs became sultans.
    • After 3 months Kaymurs the last Ilbari was killed and Jalaluddin ascended the throne.

    Jalauddin Khalji (1290-1296) 

    • Alauddin Khalji’s real name was Aligurshasp.
    • He was the governor of Kara.
    • Maximum number of Mongol attacks happend during his reign. He fought and diminished the Mongol menace.
    • He adopted the title of Sikandar-i-Saini.
    • Amir Khusro was given the title of Tota-i-Hind.
    • He created the first regular standing army of Delhi Sultanate. They were paid in cash.
    • Targhil were defeated near Siri, near Delhi.
    • He captured Gujrat in 1297 AD, which was ruled by Rai Karan. He sacked Dhilwara and Somnath and married Kamla Devi, The queen of Rai Karan.
    • He also captured Malik Kafur and took him to the royal court.
    • In 1300 AD, he captured Ranthambhor which was under Hammirdev.
    • In 1303 AD, under Ratan Singh, Chittor was captured.
    • Khizra Khan was made Governor of Chittor which was renamed Khizrabad.
    • Alauddin sent Malik Kafur to capture South India.
    • Malik Kafur attacked Devgiri.
    • According to Amir Khusro, Malik Kafur reached as far as Rameshwaram.
    • Malik Kafur was given the title of ‘Malik Naib’
    • Malik Kafur was Eunuch.
    • Alauddin Khalji centralized his administration and introduced many reforms.
    • Barid & Munhis were appointed to strengthned the spy system.
    • Social gathering of nobles and matrimonial alliances among them were prohibited. Wine and gambling also prohibited.
    • He was the first sultan to collect land revenue was based on measurement and Biswa was the unit of measurement.
    • He was also the first sultan to fix ‘land revenue in cash’.
    • Cultivators were brought under direct control of states and middleman were deprived of powers and privileges.
    • He appointed Diwan-i-Mustakharaj to collect arrears.
    • ‘Ghari’ (house tax) and ‘Chari’ ‘Chari’ (Grazing tax) levied.
    • All patwari accounts were audited.
    • Prices of goods were fixed on the principle of Bar Award (productions cost). Wheat 7.5 Jitals per maund barley 4, rice 5.
    • Land revenue from Khalisa village was paid in cash.
    • Malik Qabul looked after grain market.
    • Sarai Adl was near Badaun gate under Rais Parwana.
    • Nayaks were grain merchants
    • Merchants had to register themselves.
    • Multanis is traded mainly in cloth.
    • Dagh or branding of horse was introduced.
    • Khams collected 4/5 th.
    • He built Alai minar (incomplete) height twice of Qutub Minar) Ali Darwaza, Siri Fort and the second capital Mahal Hazar Satoon (palace of thousand Pillars) and Jamat Khana mosque.
    •  Ali Darwaza was first sultanate building on scientific method. Arc and dome were used. It is now entrance of Qutub Minar complex.
    • Mubarak Khalji (1316-1320
    • After the death of Alauddin, Mubarak Khalji acquired the throne.
    • He declared himself the Khalifa and took the title “Al Wasiq Billah”.
    • He was killed and succeeded by Nasiruddin Khusrau Shah.
    • He was the only Hindu convert to sit in the throne of Delhi
    • Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (1320-1325)
    • He ascended the throne after murdering Khusrau Shah.
    • He ruled from 1320 to 1325 AD.
    • He belonged  to the qarauna tribe.
    • He was the first sultan to use term ‘Ghazi’ with his name.
    • During Allauddin Khalji’s reign, he was crown as Kazi Malik, governor of Dipalpur.
    • He was the first sultan to start irrigation works.
    • His son Jauna Khan conquered Warangal.
    • He suppressed the revolt in Bengal. It was at the victorious welcome arranged by Jauna Khan.
    • He died due to collapse of Pavillion.
    • He built the fortified city of Tughlaqabad and made it capital of the empire
    • Muhammad Bin Tughlaq (1325-1351)
    • He is one of the most controversial figures in sultanate history.
    • His real name was Jauna Khan.
    • During his reign, Delhi Sultanate reached its maximum territorial extent.
    • He was called the ‘wisest fool’ by historian Isami.
    • He fixed the land revenue at half the produce and not on the basis of actual produce but on arbitrary basis, this led to wide spread rebellion which was accompanied by severe famine.
    • He instituted agricultural reforms by setting up a separate department of agriculture called Diwan-I-Amir-Kohi.
    • He gave ‘sondhar’ and ‘Taqqavi’ loans to farmers.
    • He died in ‘thatta’ where he had gone to quell one of the many rebellians that took place during his reigns
    • Bahamani and Vijayanagar kingodm were formed during his reign.
    • He was succeeded by his nephew Firoz Tuglaq.
    • Ibn Batuta a famous traveller came to Delhi in the reign of Muhammad Bin Tughlaq in 1334 AD.
    • Ibn Batuta has recorded the contemporary Indian scene in his safarnamah called Rehla.
    • Firoz Tughlaq (1351-1388)
    • Irrigation extended massively by digging canals and wells.Gardens and orchard’s planted. Established 1200 gardens around Delhi for grapes.
    • As well as 23 taxes were abolished. Only 4 taxes sanctioned by shariat were levied.

       (i)  Kharaj (1/10th of produce)

      (ii)  Zakat (Alms for poor Muslims).

     (iii)  Jaziya (poll tax on non- muslims)

       (iv)  Khams (1/5th of the spoils of war).

    • Jaziya was separated from land tax, earlier it was part of land tax.
    • Jaziya was also imposed on Brahmins (earlier exempted) only women, children, disabled exempted.
    • Sharb (irrigation tax) 1/10th of produce was imposed.
    • Free hospitals (Darul Shafa), marriage bureau and employment bureau were set up.
    • Officials were paid by iqta grants, very few were paid in cash.
    • Soldiers and higher officials post became hereditary.
    • In 1353 led campaign against Haji Illyas of Bengal but failed in siege of Ikadalamud fort.
    • In 1358 second Bengal campaign against Sikandar Shah Ilyas who accepted Firoz’s suzerainty.
    • Raja Gajpati of Jajnagar (Orissa) was attacked and Jagannath temple of Puri was sacked