UPSCHistoryDelhi Sultanate P2
History UPSC

Delhi Sultanate P2

Reading time: 5 min Topic: Medieval History

The Sayyaid dynasty (1414-1451 AD)-

Timur appointed Khizr Khan as governor of Multan. He captured Delhi and founded the Sayyid dynasty in 1414.

 

Lodi Dynasty (1451-1526)AD-

Lodhis were Afghans and they ruled Delhi for 75 years

Bahlol Lodi (1451-1489)-

He was founder of Lodhi dynasty

He captured Sharqi kingdom of Jaunpur

Sikandar Lodi (1489-1 51 7)-

Sikandar Shah conquered Bihar and Tirhut and concluded an alliance with the sultan of Bengal.

In 1505 he founded Agra.

He reimposed Jaziya tax on non muslims

He introduced the Gaz-i-Sikandari (Sikandar‘s yard) of 32 digits for measuring cultivated fields

He encouraged agriculture and trade and secured the safety of the public roads

Ibrahim Lodi (1517-1526)-

He was last Lodi Sultan of Delhi

Ibrahim Lodi conquered Gwalior

His close relatives Allam khan Lodi and Daulat Khan Lodi invited Babar to invade India

Babur invaded India, defeated and killed Ibrahim Lodi in the Battle of Panipat (1526)

 

Art and Architecture of Lodhi’s-

Lodhi started developing Double Dome structures

Lodhi Gardens -

It was made by Sikander Lodhi

 It contains Mohammed Shah's Tomb, the Tomb of Sikandar Lodi, the Shisha Gumbad and the Bara Gumbad(Big dome)

 

 

Administrative system of Delhi-

Central Government-

The Sultan was assisted by a number of departments and officials in his administration

The number of ministers or the departments was not fixed

Deputy Sultan or Naib : Deputy sultan was appointed when the sultan was weak and incapable of governing or a minor and Naib enjoyed all power of King

Wazir : The head of a department

Different departments-

Diwan-i-Wizarat-

Revenue department

Diwan-i-ariz-

Military department headed by the Ariz-iMumalik and this department have also sub departments

Mir-Hajib - superintendent of the royal stables

The Daroga-i-Pil - keeper of the royal elephant stables

Diwan-i-Insha-

Department of royal correspondence headed by Dabir-i-khas

Diwan-i-Risalat-

The department of religious affairs headed by chief Sadr

Diwani-i-Qaza-

Department of justice headed by Qazi-ul-Quzat

Some other important officials were-

Barid-i-mumalik-

Head of intelligence department

Wakil-i-dar-

Official concerned with the royal household

 

Local Administration-

Development of Iqta system

What was meaning of Iqta ?

It was the land or revenue assigned by a ruler to an individual instead of the service rendered to the state

The head of Iqta was called as  iqtadar or muqti who was powerful military commander

During the Slave dynasty there were twelve iqtas

Iqta System during Alauddin Khilji’s Reign

The Iqta system continued during his time but there was some difference

He conquered some new territories in North western India and divided them into provinces and placed them under the Military head called as Amirs or Walis

The Military heads who were appointed as before reign of Khilji were called as Muqti and their area was also divided into provinces headed by Muqti

What was the difference between Muqti and Amirs or Walis ?

Amirs or Walis had greater area under their control and have more revenue as comparison to Muqtis

Responsibility and position of Muqti

The responsibilities of a muqti were to collect revenue and remit it to the state treasury and maintain law and order in his iqta

No muqti was allowed to have his own court or use a royal emblem.

The muqti was severely punished in case of corruption or malpractice and the amount was recovered from him

The muqti could not claim the ownership of the land assigned to him

He retained the land as long as the sultan allowed him to do so

Territorial Administration-

At the top there was Delhi sultanate than Sarkar, Shiq, Pargana and at last village

Shiqs were controlled by shiqdar

Paragana were controlled by amil

Villages were controlled by village heads man

Village accountant-

muqaddam, chaudhri, khut and  Patwaries 

 

Economy of Delhi Sultanate

Agriculture-

Major occupation of the people was agriculture

Village economy was dependent on the agriculture

King use to get revenue from these lands as land revenue

Industries-

There were development of village and cottage industries

The Sultans took a hand in building up big enterprises known as the 'Karkhanas

Trade and Commerce-

Internal trade was not that much developed as that of external trades

Coastal states had trade with neighboring countries like Iraq, Malya ,Java etc.

Trade of cotton, precious stones, indigo, hides, opium, spices were there

Tax system-

There were three types of lands-

1.iqta land – lands assigned to officials as iqtas instead of payment for their services. ‘

2. khalisa land – land under the direct control of the Sultan and the revenues collected were spent for the maintenance of royal court and royal household.

3. inam land – land assigned or granted to religious leaders or religious institutions

Main source of income was tax on land and these taxes were as follows-

Ushr- one-tenth of the produce charged from Muslim cultivators; Khams-  one-fifth of the money captured in war;

Tarkat- control over heirless property

Zakat- a two per cent tax on property realized from the Muslims to be spent for specific religious purpose only

Jizya- a poll tax payable by the non-Muslims

 

Art and Architecture during Delhi Sultanate-

 

Features of Architecture of Delhi Sultanate-

There was development of Arches and domes

There was combination of Arabic and Indian styles

Use of large number of pillars to support the roof

There was use of good quality of mortar to hold the stones

Decorative shapes, calligraphy etc. can be seen on our walls

Music during Delhi Sultanate

There was development of Qawwali style during this time

New musical instruments such as sarangi and rabab were introduced during this period

Two Important person known for development of Music were-

Raja Man Singh of Gwalior-

He was great lover of music

He encouraged the composition of a great musical work called Man Kautuhal.

Amir Khusro-

He was indo Persian Sufi singer and Musician

 He wrote poetry primarily in Persian, but also in Hindavi

He was known to introduced Tarana style of Music

He is known for invention of Sitar

He proclaimed himself as tuti-i-hind or parrot of India

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