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

Delhi Sultanate – Part II (Administration, Society & Culture)

The Delhi Sultanate period (1206–1526) was not only marked by dynastic rule but also by administrative innovations, cultural developments, and socio-religious evolution.

Central Administration

  • Sultan: Supreme authority – head of the military, judiciary, and executive.
  • Wazir: Prime Minister – looked after revenue and finance.
  • Diwan-i-Ariz: In charge of military affairs.
  • Diwan-i-Risalat: Department of religious affairs and foreign relations.
  • Diwan-i-Insha: Department of correspondence and records.

Provincial and Local Administration

  • Iqtas: Provinces divided under nobles called Iqtadars.
  • Amils: Collected revenue from the peasants.
  • Muqtis: Officers in charge of army and land revenue.
  • Village Panchayats: Handled local disputes and land sharing.

Economy and Taxation

  • Land revenue was the chief source of income.
  • Taxes were also levied on cattle, houses, water, grazing, etc.
  • Khums: 1/5th of war booty taken by the state.
  • Alauddin Khilji introduced market regulations and price controls.

Military System

  • Large standing army maintained under the Sultan.
  • Chehra system: Alauddin introduced soldier identification.
  • Dagh system: Branding of horses to prevent corruption.
  • Soldiers paid in cash instead of land grants.

Society and Culture

  • Society divided into nobles, ulemas, traders, artisans, and peasants.
  • Women had limited rights, and purdah was practiced.
  • Persian became the official language.
  • Islamic festivals and Sufi traditions influenced daily life.

Architecture & Cultural Contributions

  • Use of arches, domes, minarets in buildings.
  • Qutub Minar: Completed by Iltutmish.
  • Alai Darwaza: Built by Alauddin Khilji.
  • Tughlaqabad Fort: Built by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq.
  • Lodi Garden Tombs: Architectural features of Lodi Dynasty.

Sufi and Bhakti Movements

  • Sufism: Islamic mysticism emphasizing personal devotion.
  • Famous Sufis: Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, Nizamuddin Auliya.
  • Encouraged Hindu-Muslim cultural synthesis.
  • Parallel Bhakti movement also developed in Hinduism.

Previous Year Questions with Answers

  • SSC CHSL 2020: Which ruler introduced the Chehra and Dagh system?
  • → Alauddin Khilji
  • HSSC 2019: What was the chief source of revenue during the Delhi Sultanate?
  • → Land Revenue
  • RRB NTPC 2021: What was the official language of the Delhi Sultanate?
  • → Persian
  • SSC CGL 2018: The branding of horses was introduced by?
  • → Alauddin Khilji
  • SSC GD 2021: Which Delhi Sultan built Tughlaqabad Fort?
  • → Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
  • RRB Group D 2022: Who completed Qutub Minar?
  • → Iltutmish
  • HSSC JE 2017: Diwan-i-Ariz was concerned with?
  • → Military affairs
  • SSC JE 2020: Which movement emphasized Hindu-Muslim unity?
  • → Sufi and Bhakti Movement
  • SSC CPO 2019: What was the main currency under the Delhi Sultanate?
  • → Tanka (Silver Coin)
Did You Know? Iltutmish was the first Sultan of Delhi to be recognized by the Caliph of Baghdad, giving legitimacy to his rule.

Conclusion

The Delhi Sultanate's unique contributions to administration, architecture, and Indo-Islamic culture left a lasting imprint on Indian history. These systems influenced the later Mughal period and beyond.

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