Delhi Sultanate

Key Pointers

Period: 1206–1526 CE, ruled by five dynasties: Mamluk/Slave (1206–90), Khalji (1290–1320), Tughlaq (1320–1414), Sayyid (1414–51), Lodi (1451–1526).
Foundation: After Muhammad Ghori's victory at the Second Battle of Tarain (1192), his general Qutbuddin Aibak established the Sultanate in 1206.
End: Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat (1526).
Central administration: Sultan (supreme head); Wazir (Diwan-i-Wizarat, finance); Ariz-i-Mamalik (military); Diwan-i-Risalat (religious affairs, appeals); Diwan-i-Insha (correspondence); Sadr-us-Sudur (charity and religion); Qazi-ul-Quzat (justice).
Iqta system: Land assignments (iqtas) given to nobles (muqtis/iqtadars) in lieu of salary; they maintained troops and collected revenue. Iltutmish systematised it.
Provincial structure: Iqta/Shiq → Pargana → Village.
Nobility: Predominantly Turkish; Khaljis and Tughluqs widened the base to include Indian Muslims and others.
Society and economy: Growth of towns (Delhi, Multan, Lahore), a money economy, and the introduction of the Persian wheel, spinning wheel, and paper.
Cultural synthesis: Indo-Islamic architecture (arch, dome, minaret), the Urdu language began to develop, and Amir Khusrau's literature emerged.

MCQs

Q1. Which of the following was NOT a dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate? (a) Sayyid (b) Lodi (c) Sur (d) Tughlaq Answer: (c). The Sur dynasty (Sher Shah) ruled after Humayun's defeat and was not part of the Sultanate.

Q2. The Ariz-i-Mamalik was in charge of which department? (a) Finance (b) Military (c) Religion (d) Correspondence Answer: (b). He was the head of the military department (Diwan-i-Arz).

Q3. Under the iqta system, an iqtadar received: (a) Hereditary ownership of the land (b) Revenue rights of an area in lieu of salary (c) A fixed cash salary only (d) Rights over religious endowments Answer: (b). Iqtas were generally non-hereditary and transferable.