• Khizr Khan was not only the founder of the Sayyid dynasty but also its ablest ruler. He was a Sayyid. He put down uprisings to establish law and order in the realm. Khizr Khan achieved some success and widened the sphere of his influence. The armies of Khizr Khan seized Gwalior, Gujarat, and Bayana. After that, as Khizr Khan’s army approached Sirhind, the king of Sirhind consented to pay an annual tribute to him. He became ill and died in 1421. He was succeeded by his son Mubarak Khan after his death.

Mubarak Shah (1421-1434 A.D.)

• Khizr Khan was succeeded by his son Mubarak Shah. A detailed account of his reign is to be found in Tarikh-i-Mubarak Shahi written by Yahya-bin-Ahmad. There were rebellions in all parts of the empire and punitive expeditions had to be under taken to suppress them.

Policy of Transfers

• Mubarak Shah confirmed most of the nobles in their fiefs and appointments which they had held during the previous reign. However, he pursued the policy of perpetually transferring the nobles from one fief to another. By doing so, he perhaps attained his object of preventing any one noble from acquiring a dangerous local influence in any district of the kingdom. However this was achieved at the cost of efficient administration. This also made the nobles discontented. This policy was party responsible for his murder after which he died leaving no heir.

Muhammad Shah (1434-1444 A.D.)

• When Mubarak Shah died, he left no son. Consequently, the nobles put on the throne Muhammad Shah who was the son of his brother, Farid. He was always busy against conspirators and gradually lost control over his nobles. Buhlul Khan Lodi dominated everything. Muhammad Shah died in 1445 and was succeeded by his son Alam Shah (1445-1451) the weakest of the Sayyid princes. He handed over the throne to Buhlul Lodi and retired to Badaun.

The Lodi Dynasty (1451–1526 A.D.)

• It was the last of the ruling families of the Sultanate Period, it had a greater life-span than the Khalji and had better achievements to its credit than the later Tughluqs and Saiyyids. Bahlol Lodi was the founder of the Lodi Dynasty . He was successful in subduring the various chiefs who could defy the central power. He was able to establish the prestige of the empire on a firm footing. His great achievement was the annexation of Jaunpur which defied him for many years. Bahlol was forced to spend most of his time in fighting wars and consequently there was hardly any time left for civil administration. He died in 1489 and was succeeded by his son, Sikandar Lodi.

Sikandar Lodi (1489-1517)

• Bahlol Lodi was succeeded by his son Nizam Khan who took up the title of Sikandar Shah. At the time of Sikandar Shah’s ascension to the throne, there were many vassals and chieftains who exerted considerable power and authority in their own regions.
• He attacked Bengal and forced its ruler to conclude a treaty with him, and extended his empire from the Punjab to Bihar. In 1496, Sultan Husain Sharqi, the ex-ruler of Jaunpur was driven away from south Bihar and the Rajput chieftains in alliance with him were either forced into submission, or uprooted. Their zamindaris were brought under the control of the Sultan or reduced to the status of vassal principalities.
• Likewise, the power of those Afghan and non-Afghan nobles, reluctant to acquiesce to the Sultan’s authority, was eliminated in the area around Delhi. In the first decade of the sixteenth century, the annexation of Dholpur paved the way for the expansion of the Afghan rule in the regions of Rajputana and Malwa. The forts of Narwar and Chanderi were annexed while the Khanzada of Nagaur acknowledged the suzerainty of the Lodi Sultan in 1510-11. In short, the whole of North India, from Punjab in the north-west to Saran and Champaran in north Bihar in the east, and Chanderi to the south of Delhi were brought under the Lodi rule.
• He was also a good administrator.Roads were laid and many irrigational facilities were provided for the benefit of the peasantry. Despite certain laudable qualities, he was a bigot. He destroyed many Hindu temples and imposed many restrictions on the Hindus. Yet, he was one of the great Lodi sultans who made the sultanate strong and powerful.

Ibrahim Lodi (1517-1526)

• After the death of Sikandar Shah, his eldest son, Ibrahim, was put on the throne in 1517 .
• He insulted his nobles openly in court and humiliated them. Those nobles who revolted were put to death. His own uncle, Alauddin revolted. Daulat Khan Lodi, the governor of the Punjab was insulted and disaffection between king and courtier became very common. Greatly displeased by the arrogance of Ibrahim, Daulat Khan Lodi invited Babur to invade India. Babur marched against Delhi and defeated and killed Ibrahim Lodi in the first battle of Panipat (1526).

UPSC PYQS

Ques.1: Consider the following statements:

1. In the revenue administration of Delhi Sultanate, the in-charge of revenue collection was known as ‘Amil’.

2. The lqta system of Sultans of Delhi was an ancient indigenous institution.

3. The office of ‘Mir Bakshi’ came into existence during the reign of Khalji Sultans of Delhi.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a)

Ques.2: With reference to Indian history, who of the following were known as “Kulah-Daran” ?

(a) Arab merchants  (b) Qalandars

(c) Persian calligraphists  (d) Sayyids

Answer: (d)

UPSC

1. (a)

2. (d)

3. (d)

4. (b)

5. (b)

Previous Year

1. (a)

• Alauddin Khilji:Alauddin Khilji, who ruled from 1296 to 1316 AD, was known for his administrative reforms and military conquests. One of his significant reforms was the enforcement of a price control system, known as the “Market Control” or “Market Regulations” policy. This policy aimed to regulate and control the prices of essential commodities and other goods in the market to ensure their availability at reasonable rates.

• Reasons for Enforcement:Alauddin Khilji implemented the price control system due to several reasons:

1. Economic Stability:Alauddin Khilji wanted to ensure economic stability in his kingdom. By controlling prices, he aimed to prevent inflation, hoarding, and black marketing, which were prevalent during that time.

2. Welfare of the People: The price control system was implemented to protect the common people from exploitation by unscrupulous traders and merchants who manipulated prices to their advantage.

3. Military Provisions:Alauddin Khilji also wanted to ensure a constant supply of essential commodities and provisions for his large army. By regulating prices, he aimed to secure a steady supply of food, clothing, and other necessities for his soldiers. Implementation of Price Control:To enforce the price control system,

Alauddin Khilji took several steps:

1. Market Monitoring:The government appointed officers known as “Shahna” to monitor the markets and enforce the price regulations. These officers would inspect and ensure that prices were not being artificially inflated by traders.

2. Price Caps:Alauddin Khilji set price caps on various essential commodities, such as grains, sugar, salt, oil, and cloth. These caps determined the maximum price at which these commodities could be sold.

3. Strict Punishments:Stringent punishments were imposed on those found violating the price control regulations. Traders who charged higher prices or hoarded goods were severely punished, including confiscation of their property.

Effects and Outcomes:The price control system implemented by Alauddin Khilji had both positive and negative effects:

1) Positive Effects:The system ensured the availability of essential commodities at reasonable prices, benefiting the common people. It also helped in stabilizing the economy and curbing inflation.

2) Negative Effects:The price control system led to a decline in trade and commerce as traders were discouraged by the strict regulations. It also resulted in a shortage of goods due to hoarding and black market activities.

Overall, Alauddin Khilji’s enforcement of the price control system was a significant administrative reform aimed at protecting the welfare of the people and maintaining economic stability in his kingdom.

2. (a)

• Alauddin khilji maintained a large army. The military commanders who led the army successfully were Zafar Khan, Ulugh Khan, and his slave-general Malik Kafur. Malik Kafur was a slave captured in Gujarat. He was promoted for higher ranks due to his continuous proving abilities. He also invaded Southern India. He made several tributaries to the Delhi Sultanates. Delhi Sultanate Empire consists of a large number of tributaries.

The currency followed during his period is called Tanka.

• Let us discuss the strategy of Alauddin khilji in his army. During his period, there was a large number of Mongol Invasions. To counter them a large standing force was required. He was unwilling and never decided to increase the salary of the soldier. So he decided to increase the purchase power of the tanka. By controlling the market he regulated the purchase power. With his army , he was the first ruler in Indian subcontinent who repulsed the Mongols. He conquered several places in both the Northern and Southern region of India. He also had the system of artificial intelligence and a reconnaissance system to know about rivals.
• His market control strategy for maintaining a large army helped him to capture most of the places in Indian subcontinent.

3. (c)

(a) Iltutmish:

• Iltutmish was the third ruler of the Delhi Sultanate from the Slave Dynasty. He ruled from 1211 to 1236.
• He is known for his administrative reforms and consolidation of the Delhi Sultanate. While he made important contributions, he is not primarily associated with building a network of canals.

(b) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq:

• Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, also known as Ghazi Malik, was the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty in the Delhi Sultanate. He ruled from 1320 to 1325.
• His reign was relatively short, and while he made contributions to the administration and military, he is not renowned for building a significant network of canals.

(c) Feroz Shah Tughlaq:

• Feroz Shah Tughlaq was a ruler of the Tughlaq dynasty and ruled from 1351 to 1388.
• He is credited with building an extensive network of canals, including the construction of the Western Yamuna Canal and many others, to facilitate irrigation and agricultural development in the Delhi Sultanate. His canal-building efforts were among the most extensive in the history of the Delhi Sultanate.

(d) Sikandar Lodi:

• Sikandar Lodi was the ruler of the Lodi dynasty in the Delhi Sultanate and ruled from 1489 to 1517.
• He is known for his efforts in the development of Agra and for his contributions to fortifications, but he is not associated with building a significant network of canals.
• It’s important to note that Feroz Shah Tughlaq is the ruler most renowned for his extensive canal-building projects, which aimed to improve agricultural productivity and water supply in his empire.

4. (a)

• Dewan-i-Bandagani (Department of Slaves) was constituted by Firoz Tughlaq;
• Dewan-i-Mustakhraj (Dept of Arrears) – Alauddin Khalji;
• Dewan-i-Kohi (Dept of Agriculture) – Muhammad Bin Tughlaq;
• Dewan-i-Arz (Dept of Military) – Balban.

5. (c)

• The historian Ziauddin Barani (1285-1357) was a political thinker of the Delhi Sultanate during Muhammad bin Tughlaq and Firoz Shah’s reign. He was best known for composing the Taarikh-i- Firoz Shahi a work on medieval India. He refused to consider the state in India under Delhi Sultans as truly Islamic as the Sultan supplemented the Muslim law by framing his own regulations.

6. (d)

• Firoz Tughlaq set up a separate department of slaves known as ‘Diwan-i-Bandagan’. Mohd Bin Tughlaq was succeeded by his cousin (not uncle) Firoz Tughlaq. Alauddin Khalji introduced the branding system of horses in his military.

7. (a)

• Like Allauddin Khalji, Muhammad bin Tughlaq also tried to bring changes in the agrarian set up. Some historians point out that he made an over assessment because of which many peasants fled the region. But the states share remained half. A severe famine in this period worsened the situation. Muhammad bin Tughlaq tried to provide relief to those affected and made efforts to improve and extend cultivation. The sultan left Delhi and rendered in a camp called swargadwari near kanauj. He also set up a separate department called diwan-i amir-i kohi whose function was to extend cultivation by providing loansleft-delhi-and-for-two-years-lived-camp-called-swarga-dwari.

8. (c)

• Nasir-ud-Din Muhammad ruled for about four years, from 1390 to 1394. His first mission was to crush Abu Bakr and his followers.
• When the Hindus of Etawah, led by Narsing, Sarvadharan, and Bir Bhan, rose up in revolt in 1392, Islam Khan was dispatched to crush them.
• Nasiruddin Mahmud bestowed the title of Malik-us-Sharq on Malik Sarvar. In Jaunpur, Sarvar established the Sharqi dynasty.
• When Sultan Abu Bakr Shah Tughluq ascended to the throne of the Tughlaq Empire, Muhammad Shah, his uncle, was opposed to him and fought Abu Bakr for control of the throne.
• Abu Bakr was eventually defeated, and Muhammad Shah succeeded him as king, reigning from 1390 to 1394.

9. (c)

(a) Firoz Shah Tughlaq:

• Firoz Shah Tughlaq was a ruler of the Tughlaq dynasty in the Delhi Sultanate. He ruled from 1351 to 1388.
• He is known for his contributions to irrigation and the construction of canals, including the Western Yamuna Canal, which aimed to improve agricultural productivity in his empire.
• Firoz Shah Tughlaq also undertook significant public works projects, established charitable institutions, and promoted religious tolerance during his reign.

(b) Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq Shah II:

• Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq Shah II was a ruler of the Tughlaq dynasty in the Delhi Sultanate, but he had a relatively short reign.
• He succeeded Firoz Shah Tughlaq and ruled for a brief period in the 14th century. His reign faced challenges and instability.

(c) Nasir-ud-din Mahmud:

• Nasir-ud-din Mahmud was a ruler of the Tughlaq dynasty, specifically the Tughlaq dynasty’s Delhi Sultanate, during the 14th century.
• His reign is associated with various political and administrative developments, including challenges to the authority of the Delhi Sultanate.

(d) Nasrat Shah:

• Nasrat Shah is not widely recognized as a ruler within the context of the Delhi Sultanate or the Tughlaq dynasty.
• It’s possible that Nasrat Shah may be associated with a regional or localized historical context.

10. (a)

• In the Delhi Sultanate, the task of collecting revenue directly from peasant and measurement of land rested on Amils option 1 is correct because Amil was responsible for revenue collection in delhi sultanate.
• Iqta system evolved in West Asia significantly in PersiaOption 2 is WRONG because Iqta system of Sultans of Delhi was NOT an ancient indigenous institution. This system was originally an Arabic practice. It was adopted by Turks from Arabs and the Turks brought it to India. For the first time, Iqtas were distributed in India by Muhammad Ghori.
• Mir Bhakshi was the head of militiary department in Mughal India whereas in Delhi Sultanate, Ariz under Diwan-i-arz (set up by Balban) was improved by Alauddin Khalji as he introduced Dagh system which was aimed to improve Horse quality as well as eliminate fake numbering.

11. (b)

• Statement 1 is not correct as Changez Khan reached Indus during the reign of Iltutmish in 1221 AD,chasing the Khwarizmi prince Jalaluddin.
• Statement 2 is correct :The fourth Mongol invasion during Ala-ud-din Khalji reign took place only after some months of Ala-ud-din’s return from Chittor in 1303 A.D. The Mongols numbering 1,20,000 horsemen under the command of Targhi moved so swiftly that provincial governors could not get time to reach Delhi to help the Sultan.Besides, a large part of the army of Ala-ud-din had left for Telingana campaign and the army left at Delhi was insufficient and weak after its tough battle at Chittor. Therefore, Ala-ud-din was not in a position to face the Mongols in an open battle.He retired to the fort of Siri and took up defensive position. The Mongols plundered the environs of Delhi and besieged the fort for two months. But as they were ignorant of the art of siege-warfare, they failed to capture the fort and withdrew.
• Hence statement 3 is not correct:The next major Mongol invasion took place after the Khiljis had been replaced by the Tughlaq dynasty in the Sultanate. In 1327 the Mongols invaded under Tarmashirin.Historians have differed regard Muhammad Tughlaq’s policy. According to one version, he defeated the Mongols and himself chased them to drive them out. However according to another version, Muhammad Tughlaq bribed the Mongols and they went back.

12. (d)

• Afanasy Nikitin was a Russian merchant and the first European to come to India in order to leave behind its comprehensive documentation. In 1466, departing from his hometown Tver (Russia), he started a long journey towards the land that lay beyond the three seas namely Caspian sea, black sea and Arabian sea. He landed in Mumbai and toured India for 3 years, producing a diary named “the journey beyond the three seas”. However, this journey was totally a commercial one rather than being a religious one.the diary by Afanasy Nikitin throws light upon the Islamic culture of this region and proves to be a significant source. The account’s translation by Richard H Major is named as ”The Travels of Athanasius Nikitin”