The Delhi Sultans — AP Class 7 History

1. About the Chapter

For over 300 years (1206–1526), the Delhi Sultanate ruled much of India. 'Five dynasties. Thirty-five rulers. Three centuries of POWER, EXPANSION, and CONFLICT.' This chapter traces the rise, administration, and fall of the Delhi Sultanate.

Key Themes

• The five dynasties of Delhi
• Administration and military organisation
• Alauddin Khalji's market reforms
• Muhammad bin Tughlaq's controversial experiments
• Expansion and reasons for decline
• AP: Sultanate expeditions into the Deccan

2. The Five Dynasties — Overview

3. The Slave Dynasty (1206–1290)

Qutbuddin Aibak (1206–1210)

• Founder of the Sultanate
• Built the Qutb Minar (started construction)
• Called 'Lakh Baksh' (giver of lakhs) for his generosity
• Died in a polo accident

Iltutmish (1211–1236)

• The REAL founder of the Delhi Sultanate
• Made Delhi the CAPITAL (previously Lahore)
• Introduced silver tanka and copper jital coins
• Completed the Qutb Minar
• Established the Iqta system (land revenue assignment)
• Saved India from the Mongol invasion of Genghis Khan

Razia Sultana (1236–1240)

• FIRST and ONLY woman ruler of Delhi
• 'A woman who RULED in her OWN name — not as a regent'
• Dressed like a man. Led her own army.
• Deposed by nobles — who did not accept a woman ruler
• Married Altunia. Killed in battle.

AP Connection

Though the Slave dynasty did not conquer Andhra directly, their campaigns into the Deccan opened the way for later invasions. The Deccan region, including parts of present-day AP, soon came under Delhi's influence.

4. The Khalji Dynasty (1290–1320)

Alauddin Khalji (1296–1316)

'The MOST CONTROVERSIAL and most EFFICIENT ruler of the Sultanate'

Military Conquests

AP Impact: Malik Kafur's Deccan Campaign

Malik Kafur (Alauddin's general) invaded the Kakatiya kingdom in 1309–1310. The Kakatiya ruler Prataparudra II was forced to surrender. 'The DELHI Sultanate had REACHED Andhra — and extorted HUGE tribute.' The Kakatiyas never fully recovered.

Market Reforms

Alauddin Khalji's market reforms were FAMOUS:

1. Fixed prices for all goods (grains, cloth, horses, cattle)
2. State granaries — store food for price control
3. Market inspectors (Shahna) — checked weights and quality
4. Merchant registration — traders had to register
5. Punishment: Cheating = severe penalties

'Every trader was REGULATED. Prices stayed LOW. The army got cheap supplies. But the system was BRUTAL — dishonest traders lost their SHOPS or even limbs.'

Mongol Defence

Alauddin successfully repelled 12 Mongol invasions. He maintained a LARGE standing army and built frontier forts.

5. The Tughlaq Dynasty (1320–1414)

Muhammad bin Tughlaq (1324–1351)

'A GENIUS with BRILLIANT ideas and TERRIBLE execution'

Why did a BRILLIANT ruler FAIL? 'Muhammad bin Tughlaq had IDEAS that were ahead of his time — but he COULD NOT execute them. He misjudged practical realities.'

Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351–1388)

• Abolished torture
• Built canals (irrigation)
• Founded new towns (Firozabad, Jaunpur)
• Imposed Jizya (tax on non-Muslims) — Alauddin and Muhammad had NOT done this
• Patronised slavery — had 180,000 slaves
• 'He was a GOOD ruler but an AVERAGE administrator'

Timur's Invasion (1398)

Timur (Tamerlane) from Central Asia invaded Delhi. Massacred the population. 'Delhi was LEFT in RUINS. It took YEARS to recover.' Effectively ended the Tughlaq empire.

6. The Sayyid and Lodi Dynasties

Sayyid (1414–1451)

• Claimed descent from Prophet Muhammad
• Weak rulers. Controlled only Delhi region.
• Khizr Khan (founder) — a former Tughlaq governor

Lodi (1451–1526)

• Bahlul Lodi: Founder. Reunited parts of North India
• Sikandar Lodi: Founded Agra. Patronised learning
• Ibrahim Lodi: Last Lodi ruler. Arrogant. Alienated nobles
• 'Ibrahim Lodi's OWN nobles INVITED Babur to invade India'
• 1526: First Battle of Panipat — Babur defeats Ibrahim Lodi. End of Sultanate.

7. Administration of the Sultanate

Central Government

Iqta System

• King granted land (iqta) to nobles/officials
• In return: collect taxes AND maintain army
• Iqtas were TRANSFERABLE (unlike hereditary land grants)
• 'The iqta system prevented nobles from becoming too POWERFUL in one region'

AP Comparison

The Kakatiyas had a similar system called Vrittis or Agrahara grants — but these were hereditary. This difference explains why Delhi's nobles remained subordinate while Kakatiya chiefs became hereditary powers.

8. Expansion and Decline

How the Sultanate Expanded

1. Military conquest — defeated rival kingdoms
2. Control of trade routes — taxes from trade
3. Settlement of loyal commanders — military colonies
4. Alliances with local chiefs — some submitted voluntarily

Reasons for Decline

9. Key Facts and Dates

• 1206: Qutbuddin Aibak becomes Sultan. Delhi Sultanate begins
• 1236: Razia Sultana becomes ruler
• 1296: Alauddin Khalji becomes Sultan
• 1309–10: Malik Kafur invades Kakatiya kingdom (AP)
• 1324: Muhammad bin Tughlaq becomes Sultan
• 1398: Timur invades Delhi
• 1451: Lodi dynasty begins
• 1526: Babur defeats Ibrahim Lodi at Panipat. End of Sultanate

10. Common Mistakes

1. Thinking the Delhi Sultanate controlled ALL of India — It mainly controlled North India. South India (including AP) remained under local rulers for most of this period.
2. Confusing the five dynasties in order — Slave → Khalji → Tughlaq → Sayyid → Lodi. Mnemonic: Some Kings Take Shortcuts Later.
3. Believing Razia was 'queen' — She was SULTAN, not queen. She ruled in her own name.
4. Thinking all Sultanate rulers were cruel — Firoz Shah abolished torture. Alauddin's reforms helped the poor.
5. Confusing token currency with fake coins — Muhammad bin Tughlaq's token currency was REAL (state-issued) but could not be controlled.

11. Exam Focus

2 Marks

Q: Who introduced the silver tanka? A: Iltutmish.

Q: What was the Iqta system? A: A land revenue system where officials were given land (iqta) in exchange for collecting taxes and maintaining troops.

4 Marks

Q: Why did Muhammad bin Tughlaq's experiments fail? A: His ideas were sound but execution was poor. The capital transfer forced a 1100 km march. The token currency led to massive counterfeiting. He misjudged practical realities like weather, distances, and administrative capacity.

6 Marks

Q: Explain Alauddin Khalji's market reforms. Why were they significant? A: Alauddin fixed prices of all goods, built state granaries, appointed inspectors (shahna), and registered merchants. The system ensured cheap supplies for the army and stable prices for citizens. However, it relied on BRUTAL enforcement — cheating was severely punished. These reforms are significant because they were one of the EARLIEST examples of state-controlled pricing in Indian history.

12. Quick Self-Test

1. Which was the first dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate? Answer: Slave (Mamluk) dynasty

2. Who was the only woman ruler of Delhi? Answer: Razia Sultana

3. What did Alauddin Khalji appoint to monitor markets? Answer: Shahna (market inspector)

4. Which Tughlaq ruler shifted the capital to Daulatabad? Answer: Muhammad bin Tughlaq

5. Who invaded Delhi in 1398? Answer: Timur (Tamerlane)

6. Which battle ended the Delhi Sultanate? Answer: First Battle of Panipat (1526)

7. What was a 'shahna'? Answer: Market inspector under Alauddin Khalji

8. Name the Kakatiya ruler forced to pay tribute to Malik Kafur. Answer: Prataparudra II

13. Conclusion

The Delhi Sultanate was a formative period in Indian history. 'Three centuries of RULE that changed India — in administration, economy, and culture.' The five dynasties built the foundations that the Mughals would later expand. For AP, the Sultanate's Deccan campaigns under Alauddin Khalji marked the FIRST major encounter between Delhi and the Andhra region — a relationship that would continue under the Mughals.

Key takeaways:

• Five dynasties ruled Delhi from 1206 to 1526
• Alauddin Khalji was the most efficient ruler
• Muhammad bin Tughlaq was brilliant but impractical
• The Sultanate's decline paved the way for the Mughals
• AP faced Sultanate invasions under Malik Kafur