Category 2 · Medieval History

The Delhi Sultanate

15 micro topics in Medieval History for UPSC Prelims, in book order: Slave (Mamluk) Dynasty (Qutb-ud-din Aibak, Iltutmish, Razia Sultan, Balban); Khalji Dynasty (1290–1320 AD) – Jalal-ud-din Khalji and Alauddin Khalji's Conquests and Market Control Reforms; and 13 more.

2.1

Slave (Mamluk) Dynasty (Qutb-ud-din Aibak, Iltutmish, Razia Sultan, Balban)

The Slave or Mamluk dynasty ruled the Delhi Sultanate in the thirteenth century. Qutbuddin Aibak founded it in 1206, Iltutmish consolidated it, Razia was the only woman to rule from Delhi, and Balban built a strong…
2.2

Khalji Dynasty (1290–1320 AD) – Jalal-ud-din Khalji and Alauddin Khalji's Conquests and Market Control Reforms

The Khalji dynasty ruled the Delhi Sultanate from 1290 to 1320 and ended the Turkish monopoly of high office. Jalaluddin Khalji ruled mildly, while Alauddin Khalji took Gujarat, Rajasthan, Malwa and parts of the Deccan, drove…
2.3

Tughlaq Dynasty (1320–1414 AD) – Muhammad bin Tughlaq's Experiments and Firoz Shah Tughlaq's Reforms

The Tughlaq dynasty was founded by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq in 1320 and took the Sultanate to its greatest extent under Muhammad bin Tughlaq, who tried bold experiments such as a second capital at Daulatabad and token currency.…
2.4

Provincial Kingdoms and Resistance by Indian Chiefs Against the Sultanate

From the start the Delhi Sultanate faced revolts by Muslim governors who wanted independence, by Rajput rajas and zamindars who wanted to expel or exploit the Turks, and by neighbours such as Orissa and Assam. Bengal…
2.5

Sayyid Dynasty

The Sayyid dynasty ruled the Delhi Sultanate from 1414 to 1451. Khizr Khan, Timur's deputy at Multan, took Delhi in 1414 and acknowledged Timur's line, his successors ruled a shrunken territory around Delhi, and Alam Shah…
2.6

Lodi Dynasty (Bahlul Lodi, Sikandar Lodi, Ibrahim Lodi)

The Lodi dynasty was the last of the five dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate and the first led by Afghans. Bahlul Lodi took Delhi in 1451 and annexed Jaunpur, Sikandar Lodi founded Agra and ran an…
2.7

Mongol Invasions and Other Turkish Attacks on the Delhi Sultanate

The Mongols under Changez Khan reached the Indus in 1221 and, for the whole thirteenth century, the Sultanate faced Mongol threats from the northwest. Iltutmish avoided a clash, Balban held the Beas line, Alauddin Khalji beat…
2.8

Administration of the Delhi Sultanate (Iqta System, Central and Provincial Administration)

The Delhi Sultanate was a centralised monarchy in which the sultan held supreme civil, military and legal power. He was helped by the wazir, the ariz, the sadr and the insha department, and the empire was…
2.9

Economy of the Delhi Sultanate (Market Control Policies, Land Revenue System)

The economy of the Delhi Sultanate rested on agriculture and a growing trade based on the silver tanka and the copper dirham. Land revenue passed from iqta assignments to measured, cash assessments under Alauddin Khalji, whose…
2.10

Urbanization During the Delhi Sultanate

The Turkish ruling class was an urban ruling class, and under the Delhi Sultanate towns grew around garrisons, courts and markets. Delhi, Daulatabad, Lahore, Multan, Lakhnauti, Cambay and Anhilwara became large centres of trade and crafts,…
2.11

Society and Culture During the Delhi Sultanate

Society under the Delhi Sultanate was unequal and divided by caste among Hindus and by race and class among Muslims. Purdah spread among upper-class women, the state was militaristic and aristocratic while claiming to be Islamic,…
2.12

Scientific Knowledge and Legal System of the Delhi Sultanate

Science under the Delhi Sultanate grew mainly through exchange: new crafts such as paper-making, the spinning wheel and the astrolabe came from the Islamic world, and Sanskrit works on medicine, music, mathematics and astronomy were translated…
2.13

Amir Khusrau's Contribution to Literature and Music

Amir Khusrau (about 1252 to 1325), born at Patiali in western Uttar Pradesh, was the greatest Persian poet of the Delhi Sultanate. He served several sultans, created a Persian style called sabaq-i-hindi, praised India and Hindavi,…
2.14

Ibn Battuta's Account of the Delhi Sultanate Period

Ibn Battuta of Tangier reached India in 1333, served Muhammad bin Tughlaq as a qadi at Delhi for several years and travelled widely. His account describes Delhi as the largest city in the eastern Islamic world,…
2.15

Causes for the Decline of the Delhi Sultanate

The Delhi Sultanate declined because of lasting problems of the age, namely a struggle between monarch and nobles, conflict with local rulers and zamindars, and regional pull, which Muhammad bin Tughlaq's overreach and Firoz Shah's concessions…

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Frequently asked questions

Which topics are in The Delhi Sultanate?

The Delhi Sultanate has 15 micro topics in Medieval History: Slave (Mamluk) Dynasty (Qutb-ud-din Aibak, Iltutmish, Razia Sultan, Balban); Khalji Dynasty (1290–1320 AD) – Jalal-ud-din Khalji and Alauddin Khalji's Conquests and Market Control Reforms; Tughlaq Dynasty (1320–1414 AD) – Muhammad bin Tughlaq's Experiments and Firoz Shah Tughlaq's Reforms; Provincial Kingdoms and Resistance by Indian Chiefs Against the Sultanate; Sayyid Dynasty; Lodi Dynasty (Bahlul Lodi, Sikandar Lodi, Ibrahim Lodi); Mongol Invasions and Other Turkish Attacks on the Delhi Sultanate; Administration of the Delhi Sultanate (Iqta System, Central and Provincial Administration); Economy of the Delhi Sultanate (Market Control Policies, Land Revenue System); Urbanization During the Delhi Sultanate; Society and Culture During the Delhi Sultanate; Scientific Knowledge and Legal System of the Delhi Sultanate; Amir Khusrau's Contribution to Literature and Music; Ibn Battuta's Account of the Delhi Sultanate Period; Causes for the Decline of the Delhi Sultanate.

Is The Delhi Sultanate important for UPSC Prelims?

The Delhi Sultanate is a part of the UPSC Prelims Medieval History syllabus map on MaargX UPSC. Each of its 15 published topics has key terms, a Mains angle and practice questions.