Delhi Sultanate

Iltutmish introduced the Iqta system to manage his large empire. Under this, the Sultan divided land into smaller pieces called 'Iqtas'. He gave these lands to his officers instead of paying them a cash salary. These officers were called 'Iqtadars'. They collected taxes from the land to pay for their lifestyle and maintain soldiers for the King. This system helped the central government control distant regions easily. It also ensured that the state always had a ready army. Example: A military commander would receive the Iqta of Hansi to maintain 500 horses.

This was a system where the Sultan divided the empire into land pieces called 'Iqtas'. The holders of these lands were called 'Iqtadars'. They collected taxes from the land to maintain their troops and themselves. They did not own the land permanently. For example, if an officer was given an Iqta in Punjab, he would use the tax money from that area to pay his soldiers instead of getting a salary from the royal treasury.

Ala-ud-din Khalji fixed the prices of all essential goods like grains, cloth, and even horses. He did this so that his soldiers could live comfortably on low salaries. He appointed officers called 'Shahna-i-Mandi' to supervise the markets. This was one of the earliest examples of price control in Indian history. It helped him sustain a large standing army to fight the Mongols.

Key Facts

• Raziya Sultana (1236-40): Only woman ruler of Delhi Sultanate; appointed by Iltutmish; rejected veil and purdah; killed by Turkish nobles revolt [Source: NCERT]

What were the five dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate in chronological order, and who founded each?

The five dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526): (1) Slave/Mamluk Dynasty (1206-1290) - founded by Qutb-ud-din Aibak; famous rulers include Iltutmish and Raziya Sultana; (2) Khalji Dynasty (1290-1320) - founded by Jalal-ud-din Khalji; Ala-ud-din Khalji was its greatest ruler; (3) Tughlaq Dynasty (1320-1413) - Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq founded it; Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq and Firoz Shah Tughlaq were notable rulers; (4) Sayyid Dynasty (1414-1451); (5) Lodi Dynasty (1451-1526) - ended at First Battle of Panipat 1526 when Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi.

What is the significance of the Iqta system under the Delhi Sultanate, and how did it differ from the European feudal system?

The Iqta system was a land revenue assignment system where territories (iqtas) were assigned to military commanders (iqtadars/muqtis) in lieu of salary. Unlike European feudalism where land rights were hereditary, the iqta was non-hereditary and could be transferred or revoked by the Sultan. Iltutmish organized it systematically. The iqtadar was responsible for maintaining order, collecting revenue, and supplying troops. Alauddin reformed it by making it transferable and monitoring through controllers. It was essentially an administrative-military arrangement rather than a feudal relationship based on personal loyalty.

Who was Raziya Sultana and what was her historical significance for the Delhi Sultanate?

Raziya Sultana (1236-1240) was the only woman to rule the Delhi Sultanate and one of the first female rulers in Islamic history. She was the daughter of Iltutmish who specifically designated her as successor over his sons. She discarded the veil, appeared in public without purdah, and rode elephants in battle. She appointed an Abyssinian slave Malik Yakut as Master of the Royal Horses, which angered Turkish nobles. Ultimately, Turkish nobles and her own governors revolted and she was killed in battle. Her reign represents an early experiment with gender-transgressive authority in medieval India.

Key Facts

• Iqta system: Non-hereditary land revenue assignment to military commanders; reformed by Alauddin; differs from European feudalism in non-hereditary nature [Source: NCERT]

What is the significance of the Iqta system under the Delhi Sultanate, and how did it differ from the European feudal system?

The Iqta system was a land revenue assignment system where territories (iqtas) were assigned to military commanders (iqtadars/muqtis) in lieu of salary. Unlike European feudalism where land rights were hereditary, the iqta was non-hereditary and could be transferred or revoked by the Sultan. Iltutmish organized it systematically. The iqtadar was responsible for maintaining order, collecting revenue, and supplying troops. Alauddin reformed it by making it transferable and monitoring through controllers. It was essentially an administrative-military arrangement rather than a feudal relationship based on personal loyalty.

Key Facts

• Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq's experiments: Capital transfer to Daulatabad, token currency introduction, Doab tax increase - all backfired; documented by Ibn Battuta [Source: NCERT]

What were the five dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate in chronological order, and who founded each?

The five dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526): (1) Slave/Mamluk Dynasty (1206-1290) - founded by Qutb-ud-din Aibak; famous rulers include Iltutmish and Raziya Sultana; (2) Khalji Dynasty (1290-1320) - founded by Jalal-ud-din Khalji; Ala-ud-din Khalji was its greatest ruler; (3) Tughlaq Dynasty (1320-1413) - Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq founded it; Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq and Firoz Shah Tughlaq were notable rulers; (4) Sayyid Dynasty (1414-1451); (5) Lodi Dynasty (1451-1526) - ended at First Battle of Panipat 1526 when Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi.

What was the significance of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq's controversial administrative experiments?

Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq undertook several ambitious but poorly executed experiments: (1) Transfer of capital from Delhi to Daulatabad (Devagiri) in Deccan - undertaken to be closer to central India but abandoned after mass suffering; (2) Token currency experiment - introducing copper/bronze coins as legal tender instead of gold/silver coins, which led to counterfeiting and currency crisis; (3) Taxation increase in Doab region during famine caused peasant revolts; (4) Proposed expeditions to Khurasan and Qarachil. Ibn Battuta, the Moroccan traveller, visited his court and documented these events. These experiments earned him the title of 'Wise Fool' or 'Prince of Paradoxes'.

Sultan Balban introduced this harsh policy to restore law and order. He believed that the King must be feared to be respected. He used extreme force and death penalties to punish rebels and criminals. He also established a secret spy system to keep an eye on his officials. Balban claimed the title 'Zil-i-Ilahi', which means 'Shadow of God'. He wanted to prove that the King’s authority was divine. This policy successfully ended the chaos caused by the Mongol threats and internal rebellions.

The Mongols were a constant danger from the North-West. Genghis Khan first reached the Indian border during Iltutmish's reign. Later, under Ala-ud-din Khalji, the Mongols became very aggressive and reached the gates of Delhi. Ala-ud-din's success was in his 'Blood and Iron' policy and market reforms which helped him maintain a massive army to defeat them. Unlike common myths, Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq did not lose territory to them.

This term refers to a group of forty powerful Turkish nobles. Sultan Iltutmish created this council to help him govern the empire. These nobles held the highest positions in the military and administration. They acted as a support system for the King during difficult times. However, after Iltutmish died, they became too powerful and started controlling the royal family. They would choose or kill Sultans according to their own wishes. Sultan Balban finally destroyed this group to restore the absolute power of the King.