Class 7 History Chapter 3 The Delhi Sultanate Notes
•The Turkish Invasion |
Turks were the feudatories of the Caliph. With the downfall of the Caliphs they started assuming an independent status. Mahmud who was the ruler of Ghazni, was the first Turk invader to invade India. He attacked India 17 times during the course of 25 years, i.e., 1001 AD to 1025 AD to plunder India’s wealth. One of Mahmud’s successor Muhammad Ghori attacked India in 1191 AD and then in 1192 AD and defeated Prithviraj Chauhan, the Rajput ruler of the time. The defeat of Prithviraj Chauhan marked the end of Rajput rule in India. Ghori appointed Qutb-ud-din Aibak as his Governor.
•The Sultanate Period
The period between 1206 AD and 1526 AD is known as the Delhi Sultanate in Indian History, as the Muslim rulers who ruled during this period got the title of ‘Sultan’ and with Delhi as their capital city. The Delhi Sultanate saw the rise and fall of five dynasties :
• The Slave dynasty (1206–1290)
• The Khalji dynasty (1290–1320)
• The Tughlaq dynasty (1320–1413)
• The Sayyid dynasty (1414–1451)
• The Lodhi dynasty (1451–1526)
• The Khalji dynasty (1290–1320)
• The Tughlaq dynasty (1320–1413)
• The Sayyid dynasty (1414–1451)
• The Lodhi dynasty (1451–1526)
•The Slave Dynasty (1206-1290)
The earliest three rulers of this dynasty are called the Mamluks or slaves, because they were either slaves or the sons of the slaves. So, the whole dynasty is called the slave Dynasty) in History.
Qutb-ud-din Aibak (1206-1210 AD) : The first slave ruler of the Slave dynasty was Qutbud- din Aibak. Following the assassination of Muhammad Ghori in 1206 AD Qutb-ud-din Aibak assumed the title of Sultan and was acknowledged as the ruler of the Indian territories by the Muslim chiefs.
Born in Turkistan to Turkish parents, little Aibak was sold to a Qazi who educated him and trained him to be a soldier. Aibak was sold to Muhammad Ghori after the Qazi’s death. His strength of character, his loyalty to his master apart from his military skills earned him the position of Commander in Ghori’s army. He was left in charge of Ghori’s conquests in India after the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192 AD.
CONQUESTS
Aibak suppressed rebellions in Ajmer, Meerut and conquered the rich city of Badaun. He also entered into matrimonial alliances with his rivals and thus strengthened his position apart from setting the newly created Islamic state in order.
Aibak suppressed rebellions in Ajmer, Meerut and conquered the rich city of Badaun. He also entered into matrimonial alliances with his rivals and thus strengthened his position apart from setting the newly created Islamic state in order.
HIS CHARACTER AND ACHIEVEMENTS
He was a tolerant ruler and treated his subjects with justice without discriminating between Hindus and Muslims. He was kind and generous. He was a pious Muslim and built two mosques. He started the construction of the Qutb Minar at Delhi which was completed by his son-in-law and successor, Iltutmish. Many scholars lived in his court as he encouraged learning.
He was a tolerant ruler and treated his subjects with justice without discriminating between Hindus and Muslims. He was kind and generous. He was a pious Muslim and built two mosques. He started the construction of the Qutb Minar at Delhi which was completed by his son-in-law and successor, Iltutmish. Many scholars lived in his court as he encouraged learning.
ILTUTMISH (1210-1236 AD)
Iltutmish was one of the greatest rulers of the Slave dynasty. He belonged to the Albari tribe of Turkistan and was brought to India as a slave by Qutb-ud-din Aibak. It was due to his intelligence and nobleness of character that he was married to his master’s daughter and appointed Governor of Gwalior.
Iltutmish was one of the greatest rulers of the Slave dynasty. He belonged to the Albari tribe of Turkistan and was brought to India as a slave by Qutb-ud-din Aibak. It was due to his intelligence and nobleness of character that he was married to his master’s daughter and appointed Governor of Gwalior.
After Aibak’s sudden death, Iltutmish ascended the throne in 1211 AD.
HIS CONQUESTS
lltutmish acted wisely. He suppressed the high nobles, defeated the rulers of Sind and Ghazni, and brought Bihar and Bengal under his control.
lltutmish acted wisely. He suppressed the high nobles, defeated the rulers of Sind and Ghazni, and brought Bihar and Bengal under his control.
Once he had got rid of his rivals and had consolidated his position, he turned his attention towards the Rajput and Hindu rulers. Over the years, he conquered their territories and extended his Turkish empire right up to the banks of the Narmada river.
In 1221 AD Iltutmish had to face another danger from Central Asia when India was threatened by Chengiz Khan the fierce leader of the Mongols. The Mongols followed JalalJalalud-din who tried to enter India for shelter. Iltutmish politely refused to give shelter to the enemy of the Mongols. This greatly pleased Chengiz Khan as Jalal-ud-din had to flee back to Persia. The Mongols also withdrew. Iltutmish’s intelligence and farsightedness saved India from the horrors of Mongol invasion.
CHARACTER AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF ILTUTMISH
• Iltutmish has occupied a place among the outstanding rulers of Medieval India. From the life of a slave he rose to the status of the Sultan of Delhi by his talent and meritorious services.
• He was a great patron of art and literature. He decorated the city of Delhi with construction of mosques and the famous Qutub Minar.
• He also invited scholars, Muslim saints, artists and artisans to Delhi to make the city developed both culturally and economically.
• Iltutmish trained a band of good slaves numbering forty and placed them in responsible posts for better and efficient administration
• Iltutmish has occupied a place among the outstanding rulers of Medieval India. From the life of a slave he rose to the status of the Sultan of Delhi by his talent and meritorious services.
• He was a great patron of art and literature. He decorated the city of Delhi with construction of mosques and the famous Qutub Minar.
• He also invited scholars, Muslim saints, artists and artisans to Delhi to make the city developed both culturally and economically.
• Iltutmish trained a band of good slaves numbering forty and placed them in responsible posts for better and efficient administration
•The Khalji Sultans (1290- 1320)
Jalal-ud-din Khalji (1290 to 1296 AD) : Jalal-ud-din Khalji was the founder of the Khalji Dynasty. He was known as a very generous, trusting and a simple man by
nature. He was killed by his nephew in 1296 AD.
Ala-ud-din Khalji (1296-1316 AD) : Alauddin Khalji ascended thorne the in 1296 after killing his uncle and father-in-law Jalalud- Din Khalji, the founder of Khalji dynasty. He ruled for about twenty years from 1296 to 1316.
• He was a very ambitious monarch and liked to be called ‘The Second Alexander’. He took the title ‘Sikander : i-Sani’.
• His Empire extended from the river Brahmaputra in the east to the Arabian sea in the west from the Himalayas in the north to Madurai in the south.
EXPEDITIONS AND CONQUESTS (NORTH INDIA)
1. Gujarat : In 1299 AD Ala-ud-din sent his great army under his generals to Gujarat against Raja Karan Baghela. Without offering a fight, the Raja ran away. The Muslim army looted the Somnath temple, the ports of Gujarat and others.
A Hindu slave was bought for one thousand dinars. His name was Malik Kafur, who later on conquered Deccan for his master.
1. Gujarat : In 1299 AD Ala-ud-din sent his great army under his generals to Gujarat against Raja Karan Baghela. Without offering a fight, the Raja ran away. The Muslim army looted the Somnath temple, the ports of Gujarat and others.
A Hindu slave was bought for one thousand dinars. His name was Malik Kafur, who later on conquered Deccan for his master.
2. Rajasthan : Ala-ud-din after conquering Gujarat turned towards the Rajput states. He captured Ranthambhor. Later on he was successful in conquering Chittor, and Malwa.
3. Conquest of the Deccan (1305-1311 AD) : On becoming the master of the whole of the northern part of India, Ala-ud-din turned towards the South. He sent his large army under his able general, Malik Kafur. From 1306 to 1311 AD Malik Kafur defeated the rulers of Devagiri, Warrangal, Dwarasamudra and Madurai.
ADMINISTRATION OF ALA-UD-DIN KHALJI
1. The Mongol Invasions : During Alaud-din’s reign, the Mongols invaded India five times. But every time they faced a defeat from Ala-ud-din’s generals. He had made strong arrangements to check the Mongols. He got all the forts, along the routes of attack, repaired and reinforced. Secondly, he paid special attention towards the organization, training and discipline of his army. He also punished those Mongols who settled near Delhi at the time of Jalal-ud-din Khalji.
1. The Mongol Invasions : During Alaud-din’s reign, the Mongols invaded India five times. But every time they faced a defeat from Ala-ud-din’s generals. He had made strong arrangements to check the Mongols. He got all the forts, along the routes of attack, repaired and reinforced. Secondly, he paid special attention towards the organization, training and discipline of his army. He also punished those Mongols who settled near Delhi at the time of Jalal-ud-din Khalji.
2. Measures against nobles : On his accession to the throne, Ala-ud-din had to face a number of revolts by the nobles and some of his own relatives. He analysed the causes of these revolts and made some reforms to root out these :
• He reduced the economic and political power of nobles.
• He prepared a very strong spy system.
• He prepared a very strong spy system.
3. Economic Reforms :
• Ala-Ud-Din Khalji introduced many economic reforms during his rule.
• Alauddin fixed the prices of food grains, cloth and other commodities, and had them enforced rigorously.
• No one was permitted to purchase grain from the cultivators directly. Only the authorized traders could do so.
• Ala-Ud-Din Khalji introduced many economic reforms during his rule.
• Alauddin fixed the prices of food grains, cloth and other commodities, and had them enforced rigorously.
• No one was permitted to purchase grain from the cultivators directly. Only the authorized traders could do so.
CHARACTER AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF ALA-UD-DIN KHALJI
Ala-ud-din was undoubtedly a great conqueror and a noble administrator. He built a vast empire, equal to that of Ashoka. It was the first of its kind in the Medieval period. He linked the South with the North. He did not allow religion to shadow his administration. He had great qualities of head and heart. He was an absolute despot; that is why, he suppressed the nobility to such an extent that no one could ever think of revolting against him. His chief aim was the welfare of his subjects. He made various military reforms such as branding of horses and preparing descriptive rolls. Although he was illiterate, yet he was a great patron of art and architecture. There were many poets and scholars in his court.
Ala-ud-din was undoubtedly a great conqueror and a noble administrator. He built a vast empire, equal to that of Ashoka. It was the first of its kind in the Medieval period. He linked the South with the North. He did not allow religion to shadow his administration. He had great qualities of head and heart. He was an absolute despot; that is why, he suppressed the nobility to such an extent that no one could ever think of revolting against him. His chief aim was the welfare of his subjects. He made various military reforms such as branding of horses and preparing descriptive rolls. Although he was illiterate, yet he was a great patron of art and architecture. There were many poets and scholars in his court.
Amir Khusro was a renowned poet of his court. Ala-ud-din was also a great builder. To commemorate his Deccan conquests, he built the famous Alai Darwaza, near Qutab Minar. He also built the new town of ‘‘Siri” near Delhi and got constructed Hauz Khas, a royal tank. Ala-ud-din died in 1316 AD. After his death, his slave, Malik Kafur, acted as the regent of Ala-ud-din’s minor son. His intrigues greatly made him unpopular and unreliable. As a result of these acts Malik Kafur was killed 36 days after the death of Ala-ud-din Khalji.
The last Khalji ruler was killed in 1320 AD by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq.
•The Tuqhlaqs Sultans (1320-1413 AD)
Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq (1320-1325 AD) : Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq was the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty. He was a competent ruler. He followed a vigorous foreign policy.
He reformed judiciary and police departments. He reduced land revenue to one tenth of the produce. He also built dams and laid canals for irrigation. He built forts for the protection of the people. He also built a new city name Tughlakabad, near Delhi. He also conquered Warrangal, and a great portion of Bengal. When he returned from his Bengal expedition, his son, Juna Khan, constructed a pavilion for his welcome in 1325.
Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq was a scholar of mathematics, philosophy, astronomy, logic, medicine and physical sciences. He was a great poet and a good orator also. But all his qualities failed in his practical life. He was a strange man. He was liberal in religious outlook, yet his ideas were not rational. Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq’s reign is known for many ambitious schemes. These schemes failed because of his poor judgement and impatient nature. These brought ruin to the empire. That is why some historians called him half-mad
INVASION OF AMIR TIMUR (1398 AD)
In 1398 AD Amir Timur or Tamerlane (Timur, the lame) a great conqueror from Central Asia, invaded India and brought great miseries to the people. His main aim to attack India was to loot its rich booty. On his way back, he plundered many cities and took away from India a huge wealth in the form of gold, silver, jewels, etc. He also carried with him a large number of Indian artisans, stone cutters and carpenters. He left Delhi in ruins. Timur stayed for a fortnight at Delhi. He marched to Meerut, Hardwar, Nagarkot and Jammu and then left for Afghanistan.
In 1398 AD Amir Timur or Tamerlane (Timur, the lame) a great conqueror from Central Asia, invaded India and brought great miseries to the people. His main aim to attack India was to loot its rich booty. On his way back, he plundered many cities and took away from India a huge wealth in the form of gold, silver, jewels, etc. He also carried with him a large number of Indian artisans, stone cutters and carpenters. He left Delhi in ruins. Timur stayed for a fortnight at Delhi. He marched to Meerut, Hardwar, Nagarkot and Jammu and then left for Afghanistan.
Before leaving India, Timur appointed Khizar Khan as his Governor at Lahore. The invasion of India by Timur had a great significance in the Indian History. Timur’s invasion of India led to the destruction of the agricultural fields and crops, granaries were plundered, trade and commerce fell sharply. There was a terrible famine in Delhi after the war. The Tughlaq Empire was completely liquidated. Delhi lost its richness, its glory, its people, and its rule. The North India could not recover from this blow for quite a long time. This also opened the way for Babur’s invasion on India.
The Sayyid Dynasty (1414-1451 AD)
The Sayyid dynasty was founded in 1414 AD by Khizar Khan, who was appointed as the Governor of Punjab by Timur. He marched towards Delhi and defeated Daulat Khan. This dynasty ruled till 1451 AD when its last ruler Ala-ud-din Alam Shah was defeated by Bahlol Lodhi, the then governor of Lahore.
•The Lodhi Dynasty (1451-1526 AD)
Lodhi dynasty, of Afghan origin (1451–1526), was the last ruling family of the Delhi Sultanate. The first Lodhi ruler was Bahlol Lodhi (reigned 1451–89), the most powerful of the Punjab chiefs, who replaced the last king of the Sayyid dynasty in 1451.
After his death his son Sikandar Lodhi proved to be a capable ruler who brought back the lost prestige of the Sultan. He maintained friendly relations with the neighbouring states. He brought Gwalior and Bihar under his rule. He was a religious fanatic but encouraged education and trade. His military skill helped him in bringing the Afghan nobles under his control.
Sikandar Lodhi was succeeded by Ibrahim Lodhi who is said to have been the last great ruler of the Lodhi dynasty. Ibrahim Lodhi came to the throne in 1517 AD. He conquered Gwalior, and came into conflict with Rana Sanga the ruler of Mewar who defeated him twice.
Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodhi in the First Battle of Panipat in 1526. Ibrahim Lodhi was killed in a fierce fight. With this defeat the Delhi Sultanate was laid to rest. The History of India added a new outlook with the coming of Babur. This was the beginning of the Mughal dynasty in Indian History.
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