Medieval Chapters

1. Early Medieval Period2. North India (Rajputana Period)3. South India (Cholas and Others)4. Sultanate Period I5. The Delhi Sultanate II6. Vijayanagar and Other Kingdoms7. Religious Movements (Medieval)8. Bhakti Movement9. Sufi Movement10. Mughal Period11. Maratha State and Maratha Confederacy12. The Advent of the Europeans

Sultanate Period – Part I (1206–1526)

The Delhi Sultanate marks the beginning of Muslim rule in India, with significant changes in administration, culture, architecture, and society.

Major Dynasties of Delhi Sultanate

  • Slave Dynasty (1206–1290) – Founded by Qutb-ud-din Aibak
  • Khilji Dynasty (1290–1320) – Known for expansionist policies
  • Tughlaq Dynasty (1320–1414) – Known for ambitious but failed reforms
  • Sayyid Dynasty (1414–1451) – Weaker rulers, declining control
  • Lodi Dynasty (1451–1526) – Ended with Babur's invasion and beginning of Mughal Empire

Important Rulers & Their Contributions

Qutb-ud-din Aibak (1206–1210)

  • Founder of the Delhi Sultanate
  • Built the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque
  • Began construction of Qutub Minar
  • Known as “Lakh Baksh” for his generosity

Iltutmish (1211–1236)

  • Real consolidator of Turkish rule in India
  • Completed Qutub Minar
  • Introduced Iqta system and Silver Tanka

Razia Sultana (1236–1240)

  • First and only Muslim woman ruler of Delhi

Alauddin Khilji (1296–1316)

  • Market reforms and price control
  • Established a strong spy system
  • Prevented Mongol invasions successfully

Mohammad bin Tughlaq (1325–1351)

  • Capital shifted from Delhi to Daulatabad and back
  • Introduced token currency (failed)
  • Known for ambitious but impractical policies

Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351–1388)

  • Built canals, hospitals, and rest-houses
  • Promoted agriculture and Islamic laws

Ibrahim Lodi (1517–1526)

  • Last Sultan of Delhi Sultanate
  • Defeated by Babur in First Battle of Panipat (1526)

Administration and Society

  • Centralized administration under Sultan
  • Use of Persian as the court language
  • Introduction of the Iqta system (land revenue assignment)
  • Separation of military and civil functions

Architecture

  • Combination of Indo-Islamic style
  • Qutub Minar – Built by Aibak and completed by Iltutmish
  • Alai Darwaza – Alauddin Khilji
  • Tughlaqabad Fort – Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq

Previous Year Questions

  • SSC CGL 2021: Who introduced token currency in India?
  • → Mohammad bin Tughlaq
  • RRB NTPC 2020: Who was called “Lakh Baksh”?
  • → Qutb-ud-din Aibak
  • HSSC 2019: Which ruler shifted his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad?
  • → Mohammad bin Tughlaq
  • SSC CHSL 2018: Who was the first woman ruler of Delhi?
  • → Razia Sultana
  • RRB JE 2019: Who was the last ruler of the Delhi Sultanate?
  • → Ibrahim Lodi
  • SSC CGL 2017: Which dynasty was founded by Qutb-ud-din Aibak?
  • → Slave Dynasty
  • SSC GD 2021: Who was defeated in the First Battle of Panipat?
  • → Ibrahim Lodi
  • SSC MTS 2019: Who completed the construction of Qutub Minar?
  • → Iltutmish
  • HSSC 2020: Which ruler is known for price control and market reforms?
  • → Alauddin Khilji
  • SSC JE 2022: Alai Darwaza was built by which Sultan?
  • → Alauddin Khilji
Did You Know? Razia Sultana ruled against the wishes of the Turkish nobles and even rode into battle dressed as a man to protect her throne.

Conclusion

The Sultanate Period laid the foundation of Islamic culture, centralized administration, and monumental architecture in India. It also paved the way for the Mughal Empire with the defeat of Ibrahim Lodi in 1526.

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