Delhi Sultanate

Question 1

Why were there several small kingdoms in north India in the 10th and 11th century? How did this affect invaders?

Answer 1

Due to lack of a powerful central government and constant conflicts with each other. Turks could easily gain victories.

Question 2

Where are the inscriptions found? What language are they in?

Answer 2

Coins, monuments, milestones and tombstones. Arabic, Sanskrit or both.

Question 3

Give an example of an inscription.

Answer 3

Coin issued by Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khilji which have both Sanskrit and Arabic inscriptions.

Question 4

What do monuments tell us about?

Answer 4

• Cultural trend of the time
• Living conditions
• Socio-cultural outlook

Question 5

Who was the Qutub Minar constructed by? WHo was it dedicated to?

Answer 5

• Started by Qutub-ud-in Aibak
• Sufi saint Qutb-ud-din Bakhtiyar Kaki

Question 6

Describe 3 structural features of the Qutub Minar.

Answer 6

• It has 5 storeys which are tapering as they ascend. Each is separated from the other by a projecting balcony.
• It is a circular tower and has a circular stairway.
• The entrance is through a doorway on the northern side.

Question 7

What was used to construct the Qutub Minar?

Answer 7

Red sandstone, marble and grey quartzite.

Question 8

What is inscribed on the tower?

Answer 8

Verses from the Holy Quran and intricate carvings with floral motifs.

Question 9

How was the Slave dynasty founded? By whom?

Answer 9

After Muhammad Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan at the 2nd Battle if Tarain in 1192, Delhi came into the hands of these rulers. The Turks left behind Qutub-ud-din Aibak, a slave general as the ruler before leaving for Afghanistan.

Question 10

Name the 4 Slave Dynasty rulers.

Answer 10

• Qutub-ud-din Aibak
• Aram Shah
• Iltutmish
• Razia Sultan

Question 11

Describe Qutub-ud-din Aibak.

Answer 11

Brave and capable military general, educated, many scholars adorned his court. He earned the title of ‘Lakhbaksh’ because of his liberal distribution of money.

Question 12

Who was Iltutmish? Who succeeded him and why?

Question 13

How did Alauddin Khilji become a Khilji ruler?

Answer 13

• By murdering his uncle Jalaluddian Khilji.

Question 14

Why did Alauddian Khilji not annex kingdoms in Deccan?

Answer 14

• They were far from Delhi, which would make them hard to control
• He only wanted their wealth to maintain his army and not for control the territories.

Question 15

Describe the Deccan Expedition.

Answer 15

• First ruler to send an expedition to the Deccan under Malik Kafur.
• Kingdoms of Devagiri, Dwarasamudra, Warangal and Madurai were conquered but not annexed.
• The rulers accepted overlordship of Alauddin and paid annual tribute.
• He did not annex due to (mention reasons)

Question 16

What measures did he take against the Nobles so that they would not overthrow him?

Answer 16

• They were not allowed to through parties and meet outside the courtroom without his permission
• Drinking of alcohol and intoxicating drinks was banned
• Gambling was forbidden and punished
• Had a spy system to keep a check on them

Question 17

What market reforms did Alauddin Khilji bring into play?

Answer 17

• Fixed price of all commodities
• Set up 3 markets in Delhi (1 for grains, 1 for costly clothing and 1 for horses, cattle and slaves.
• Each market was under the control of the shahna who prescribed strict punishment for cheating or under-weighing goods.

Question 18

Describe 3 features of Alauddin’s military reforms.

Answer 18

He was the first ruler who had a permanent standing army.
- Imported horses and started the system of branding horses so that they would not be replaced with inferior horses.
- He introduced “chehra”, the system of giving an identity card to the soldiers.
- He had to approve all recruitments and paid salary in cash from the royal treasury.

Question 19

How did Alauddin reform the revenue system? Did they benefit them?

Answer 19

Introduced revenue reforms for maximum revenue.
- All land was under his direct control
- Land was measured and fixed the state shares accordingly
- Tax was increased from 1/3 to half
- Tax was paid only in cash and not kind
- Special officers were appointed to collect tax

This helped him get maximum revenue to maintain his army and the country.

Question 20

What was Jauna Khan more popularly known as?

Answer 20

Muhammad Bin Tuglaq

Question 21

Why did Tuglaq transfer capital? What was the impact of the transfer of capital?

Answer 21

Muhammad Bin Tuglaq transferred his capital from Delhi to Devagiri near Aurangabad. He did this because:
- It was centrally located to control the Deccan territories
- Delhi was suffering a severe famine
- Delhi was constantly threatened by the Mongols.

He ordered his people to shift to Daulatabad but realised the gravity of the threat on Delhi from the Mongols, returned. Several people died travelling across such long distance.

Question 22

What was the token currency system? Why was it withdrawn?

Answer 22

It was the introduction of bronze tanka in place of silver tankas. it was withdrawn after failing due to circulation of counterfeit f09js on a large scale which created chaos in trade and commerce.

Question 23

Why was the land tax in Doab increased? What did the people do in retaliation?

Answer 23

Wanting to control Central Asia also, Muhammad Bin-Tuglaq needed a large amount of money thus, increased the tax in the Ganga-Yamuna doab. The region was suffering from a severe famine and in retaliation refused to pay the extra taxes and rebelled.

Question 24

State 4 features of the Sultanate administration.

Answer 24

• Ruler was a despot and his power was based on military force
• He ruled with the help of Nobles, Qazis
• It was divided into the central and provincial government and the provinces were divided into shiqs and pargana.
• central government: Wazir headed the Diwan - i - wizarat, Bakshi was the armt paymaster, Quazi was the chief