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History · NDA

HN03 — Medieval India: Delhi Sultanate & Provincial Kingdoms

📖 HN03 · NDA General Ability Test — History ★ High Yield — 3–4 Questions

The Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526 CE) marks the beginning of the medieval period in Indian history — when Muslim rulers from Central Asia and Afghanistan established powerful states across northern India. This 320-year period gave India the Qutb Minar, the Iqta system, market reforms, and eventually the stage on which the Mughals would arrive. For NDA, the key focus areas are: the five dynasties and their key rulers, Alauddin Khalji's reforms, Muhammad bin Tughlaq's controversial policies, and the Vijayanagara Empire in the south. Learn these with the "cause-ruler-policy-impact" framework.

🏭 NDA Focus: Muhammad bin Qasim = first Arab invasion of Sindh (712 CE); Mahmud of Ghazni = 17 invasions; Muhammad Ghori = defeated Prithviraj III (Second Battle of Tarain, 1192); Qutb Minar = Qutb-ud-din Aibak started; Alauddin Khalji = market reform system; Muhammad bin Tughlaq = token currency (failed) + transfer of capital to Daulatabad (failed); Krishnadevaraya = greatest Vijayanagara ruler; Battle of Talikota (1565) = end of Vijayanagara.

PART 1 — EARLY ISLAMIC INVASIONS

1. Arab and Afghan Invasions

Three Key Invasions Before the Delhi Sultanate

Muhammad bin Qasim (712 CE)

Umayyad Arab general; conquered Sindh (modern Pakistan); defeated Dahir, the Hindu ruler of Sindh. First successful Islamic military conquest in India. This was more of a raid than a permanent conquest — Arab presence in Sindh faded over time. Significant because it brought Islam to the subcontinent.

Mahmud of Ghazni (998–1030 CE) — 17 Invasions

Sultan of Ghazni (Afghanistan); conducted 17 raids into India — primarily for plunder, not permanent settlement. Most famous raid: sack of Somnath Temple (1025 CE, Gujarat) — destroyed and looted one of India's richest temples. His court had the brilliant scholar Al-Biruni who wrote Kitab-ul-Hind (a comprehensive study of India). Mahmud was not interested in ruling India — he used Indian wealth to build a grand empire in Central Asia.

Muhammad Ghori (1175–1206 CE) — Permanent Conquest

First Battle of Tarain (1191): Defeated by Prithviraj III (Chahamana ruler) of Delhi — rare setback for Ghori.
Second Battle of Tarain (1192): Defeated and captured Prithviraj III — decisive turning point in Indian history; opened the way for permanent Muslim rule in northern India. Ghori left his slave-general Qutb-ud-din Aibak in charge of India before returning to Central Asia.

PART 2 — FIVE DYNASTIES OF THE DELHI SULTANATE

2. The Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526 CE)

Five Dynasties of Delhi Sultanate — Key Rulers and AFCAT/NDA Tested Facts

1. Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty (1206–1290)

Qutb-ud-din Aibak (1206–1210): Founded the dynasty; slave of Muhammad Ghori; known as "Lakh Baksh" (giver of lakhs/generous); began construction of Qutb Minar and Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque (first mosque in India).
Iltutmish (1211–1236): Real founder/consolidator of Sultanate; completed Qutb Minar; first to issue pure Arabic coinage (silver tanka + copper jital); Mongol threat repelled; introduced Iqta system.
Razia Sultana (1236–1240): Only woman ruler of Delhi Sultanate; competent but overthrown by nobles who resented a woman ruler.
Balban (1266–1287): Enforced strict court discipline (Sijda = prostration before sultan; Paibos = kissing sultan's feet); created efficient spy system; broke power of the "Group of Forty" (Chahalgami nobles); Mongol threat managed by strong border control.

2. Khalji Dynasty (1290–1320)

Jalal-ud-din Khalji: Founder; old, mild-mannered; killed by his nephew.
Alauddin Khalji (1296–1316): Greatest Khalji ruler; most powerful Sultan; expanded the Sultanate to its greatest extent (conquered Gujarat, Rajasthan, Deccan); repelled 4 Mongol invasions; famous for Market Control Reforms: fixed prices for all goods (Shahar-i-Adl = market of justice); 4 markets (food/grain, cloth/cattle, horses, slaves); appointed Shahna (market controller) and Barids (spies) to enforce prices; introduced token currency briefly; Revenue reform: land measured and revenue fixed at ½ of produce.

3. Tughlaq Dynasty (1320–1414)

Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq: Founder; restored order after Khaljis; died in a suspicious building accident (possibly arranged by his son).
Muhammad bin Tughlaq (1324–1351): Most controversial Sultan; brilliant but impractical; three famous experiments: (1) Transfer of capital from Delhi to Daulatabad (Maharashtra) — forced migration of population; reversed later; (2) Token Currency — copper coins to replace silver; failed because people forged coins; (3) Doab taxation increase — during a famine — caused rebellion. Contemporary Ibn Batuta visited and wrote Rihla. Known as "an ill-starred idealist."
Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351–1388): Benevolent administrator; built canals, hospitals, rest houses; reduced harsh punishments; patronised Amir Khusrau (founder of Qawwali music, invented sitar's predecessor).

4. Sayyid Dynasty (1414–1451) & 5. Lodi Dynasty (1451–1526)

Sayyids: Weak rulers; controlled mostly around Delhi; claimed descent from Prophet Muhammad.
Lodi Dynasty: First Afghan (Pashtun) dynasty — not Turkic. Bahlul Lodi: Founder; capable. Sikandar Lodi: Built Agra (new capital); able administrator; composed poetry in Persian under pen name "Gulrukhi." Ibrahim Lodi: Last Sultan; arrogant; nobles (including Daulat Khan Lodi) invited Babur to invade. Defeated and killed at First Battle of Panipat (1526) — end of Delhi Sultanate.

PART 3 — VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE

3. Vijayanagara Empire (1336–1646 CE)

While the Delhi Sultanate controlled the north, the Vijayanagara Empire was the great Hindu kingdom of southern India. It was founded as a deliberate counter to the expansion of Bahmanid Sultanate in the Deccan, and at its peak it was one of the wealthiest and most powerful kingdoms in the world. Portuguese traveller Domingo Paes, who visited during Krishnadevaraya's reign, compared it to Rome in its splendour.

🏃 Foundation & Key Rulers

Founded (1336): Harihara I and Bukka I — two brothers from the Hoysala feudatory; aided by the sage Vidyaranya; capital at Vijayanagara ("City of Victory") on the Tungabhadra River (modern Hampi, Karnataka)
Four dynasties: Sangama → Saluva → Tuluva → Aravidu
Krishnadevaraya (1509–1529): Greatest ruler; Tuluva dynasty; expanded empire to its maximum extent; golden age of Telugu literature; himself a poet (Amuktamalyada in Telugu); eight poets ("Ashtadiggajas") in his court; Tenali Rama was his court jester; friendly with Portuguese (Goa) for horses and trade
Deva Raya II: Earlier great ruler; employed Muslim soldiers and archers

🎯 Administration, Art & Decline

Nayankara system: Nobles (Nayakas) given land grants in exchange for military service — similar to feudalism; similar to Iqta system of Delhi Sultanate
Hampi temples: Vittala Temple (stone chariot + stone musical pillars); Virupaksha Temple; Hazara Rama Temple
Architecture style: Dravidian; elaborate gopurams (gateway towers); massive temple complexes
Battle of Talikota (1565): Alliance of Deccan Sultanates (Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Bidar, Golconda) defeated and killed Rama Raya; city of Vijayanagara sacked and burned; empire never recovered; effectively end of the empire (lingered until 1646)

📝 NDA PYQs — Delhi Sultanate & Vijayanagara

Q1. The Second Battle of Tarain (1192) was fought between: NDA PYQ

(a) Babur and Ibrahim Lodi(b) Muhammad Ghori and Prithviraj III(c) Mahmud of Ghazni and the Rajputs(d) Alauddin Khalji and the Mongols

✔ Answer: (b) Muhammad Ghori and Prithviraj III

The Second Battle of Tarain (1192) between Muhammad Ghori and Prithviraj III (Chahamana/Chauhan king of Delhi-Ajmer) was one of the most decisive battles in Indian history. In the First Battle (1191), Prithviraj had won. In the Second Battle, Ghori used a different strategy — a feigned retreat and then a massive cavalry charge from multiple sides at dawn. Prithviraj was defeated and captured (and later killed). This opened northern India to Turkish rule permanently — the starting point of the Delhi Sultanate.

Q2. Alauddin Khalji's market control system is known as: NDA PYQ

(a) Iqta System(b) Divan-i-Kohi(c) Market Regulation / Shahar-i-Adl(d) Jagir System

✔ Answer: (c) Market Regulation

Alauddin Khalji established a revolutionary market control system — fixing prices for all commodities to maintain a large army at low cost. He created four markets in Delhi: (1) Grain; (2) Cloth and cattle; (3) Horses; (4) Slaves. Each market had a Shahna (controller) and Barids (spies) who reported any overcharging directly to the Sultan. Violators were severely punished. This system was highly effective during his reign but collapsed after his death. It is considered one of medieval India's most remarkable experiments in price control.

Q3. Which sultan transferred his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad? NDA PYQ

(a) Firoz Shah Tughlaq(b) Balban(c) Muhammad bin Tughlaq(d) Alauddin Khalji

✔ Answer: (c) Muhammad bin Tughlaq

Muhammad bin Tughlaq (r. 1324–1351) ordered the transfer of the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad (in Maharashtra, formerly called Devagiri). His stated reason was strategic: Daulatabad was more central and safer from Mongol attacks. He forced the entire population of Delhi to make the 1,500 km journey — thousands died along the way. After reaching Daulatabad, he realised he could no longer control the north effectively, and reversed the decision. This "ill-fated experiment" became a symbol of his impractical genius. Ibn Batuta, who visited his court, called him "generous but impulsive."

Q4. The Battle of Talikota (1565) ended which empire? NDA PYQ

(a) Delhi Sultanate(b) Vijayanagara Empire(c) Bahmani Kingdom(d) Mughal Empire

✔ Answer: (b) Vijayanagara Empire

The Battle of Talikota (1565) was fought between the Vijayanagara Empire (under Aliya Rama Raya) and a coalition of the Deccan Sultanates (Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Bidar, Golconda). Rama Raya was defeated and killed, and the capital Vijayanagara (Hampi) was systematically looted and burned. The city was so thoroughly destroyed that it was never rebuilt. Although the empire lingered until 1646, Talikota is considered its effective end. The ruins of Hampi are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

🧠 Quick Memory Chart — HN03

🏃 Delhi Sultanate Dynasties

Mamluk (Slave): Aibak → Iltutmish → Razia → Balban
Khalji: Alauddin = market reforms; 4 Mongol repulsions
Tughlaq: Muhammad bin = capital shift + token currency
Sayyid (weak) + Lodi (Afghan)
Ibrahim Lodi: last sultan; defeated 1526 (Panipat)

🏛 Architecture

Qutb Minar: started Aibak; completed Iltutmish
Alai Darwaza: Alauddin Khalji (Qutb complex)
Quwwat-ul-Islam: first mosque in India (Aibak)
Hampi (Vijayanagara): Vittala Temple; stone chariot
Brihadeeswara: Raja Raja Chola (Thanjavur)

🏃 Vijayanagara

Founded 1336: Harihara + Bukka; Tungabhadra River
Greatest ruler: Krishnadevaraya (1509–1529)
Nayankara system = feudal land grants
Battle of Talikota (1565) = effective end
Hampi = UNESCO World Heritage Site

📝 Practice Exercise

E1. Who was the only woman ruler of the Delhi Sultanate?

(a) Chand Bibi(b) Nurjahan(c) Razia Sultana(d) Raziya al-Din

E2. "Ashtadiggajas" refers to the eight poets in the court of:

(a) Akbar(b) Krishnadevaraya(c) Chandragupta Vikramaditya(d) Harsha

E3. Al-Biruni, who wrote "Kitab-ul-Hind," visited India during the invasions of:

(a) Muhammad Ghori(b) Mahmud of Ghazni(c) Timur(d) Muhammad bin Qasim

Answers:
E1 → (c) Razia Sultana [daughter of Iltutmish; ruled 1236–1240; capable but overthrown by Turkish nobles; discarded purdah and held open court] | E2 → (b) Krishnadevaraya [Vijayanagara Empire; himself wrote "Amuktamalyada" in Telugu; Tenali Rama was his famous court jester] | E3 → (b) Mahmud of Ghazni [Al-Biruni accompanied Mahmud to India; wrote Kitab-ul-Hind (Book about India) — one of the most detailed accounts of medieval Indian science, religion, and culture]

The transition to HN04: The Delhi Sultanate ended when Babur, a Timurid prince from Central Asia, defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat (1526). This marks the beginning of the Mughal Empire — which takes Indo-Islamic architecture, administration, and culture to its highest point. Alongside the Mughals, the Bhakti and Sufi movements were reshaping Indian society from the grassroots up. HN04 covers both.

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