CH 7 Delhi Sultanate Overview

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key concepts, policies, and historical impacts of the Delhi Sultanate.

How did the emergence of the Delhi Sultanate redefine Indian political centralisation?

Replaced fragmented regional powers with a militarised, centralised Islamic imperial structure.

What administrative innovation under Iltutmish legitimised Sultanate authority?

Introduction of Iqta system — land assignment in lieu of salary, ensuring control and revenue flow.

How did Balban’s theory of kingship depart from earlier Turkish rulers?

Asserted divine right of kingship, suppressed nobles, and strengthened centralised despotism.

Why was Alauddin Khalji’s market control policy considered an instrument of political stability?

Prevented price inflation, curbed hoarding, and ensured supplies for the army.

What role did Persian chroniclers play in shaping the historiography of the Sultanate?

Recorded court-centric narratives legitimising rulers, but omitted popular dissent and non-elite voices.

How did the expansion into the Deccan under Muhammad bin Tughlaq affect the empire’s cohesion?

Overstretched resources and administration; led to rebellions and regional fragmentation.

What made the Delhi Sultanate’s military organisation unique for its time?

Introduced branding (dagh) and descriptive roll (chehra) system for cavalry under Alauddin.

Why is the term “composite culture” used for the Delhi Sultanate era?

Fusion of Persian-Islamic traditions with local Indian socio-religious practices.

How did Sultanate architecture reflect both political power and religious assertion?

Use of domes, arches, and minarets in mosques and forts conveyed dominance and spiritual authority.

What made the Tughlaq dynasty’s projects like Daulatabad shift strategically flawed?

Ignored local resistance, overstretched logistics, and weakened administrative control in Delhi.

Why was Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s taxation in Doab region considered disastrous?

Imposed excessive taxes during famine; led to rebellion and revenue decline.

How did the Iqta system balance centralised authority with decentralised administration?

Sultans retained tax rights while iqtadars collected revenue and maintained troops under royal oversight.

Why were Mongol invasions significant in shaping Delhi Sultanate policies?

Prompted military reforms, fort construction, and fiscal centralisation for defense.

How did Ziauddin Barani’s works reflect elite biases in recording Sultanate history?

Focused on court politics, morality of kings, and hierarchy, ignoring peasant or merchant perspectives.

What made Alauddin Khalji’s land revenue reforms different from earlier systems?

Introduced direct measurement and collection from peasants, bypassing intermediaries.

How did Delhi’s emergence as a capital city alter urban demography and economy?

Attracted artisans, soldiers, traders; saw influx of wealth and architectural patronage.

Why was Firuz Shah Tughlaq’s reign considered a conservative counter to earlier rulers?

Reversed reforms, promoted Islamic orthodoxy, and depended heavily on nobility.

How did the use of Arabic and Persian reshape Indian administrative vocabulary?

Introduced terms like ‘iqta’, ‘diwan’, and ‘wazir’; replaced Sanskrit-based lexicon.

What do coinage policies of Delhi Sultans indicate about their sovereignty?

Minted own coins with Islamic inscriptions, asserting independence and legitimacy.

How did the Delhi Sultanate’s control vary between the core and frontier regions?

Stronger control near Delhi; peripheral areas often governed through local chiefs or indirect rule.

How did court historians under the Sultanate portray rebellion and dissent?

Often framed as moral failures or divine punishment, ignoring socio-economic causes.

In what way did Sultanate rule impact the structure of agrarian society?

Shifted revenue rights from tribal chiefs to iqtadars, introducing peasant-landlord hierarchies.

How did religious tolerance under the Delhi Sultanate vary across rulers?

Iltutmish and Alauddin were pragmatic; Firuz Shah enforced orthodoxy with discriminatory policies.

Why was the introduction of token currency by Muhammad bin Tughlaq a failure?

Lack of regulation and widespread counterfeiting destroyed public trust and economic stability.

How did the Sultanate facilitate Indo-Islamic cultural synthesis in architecture?

Blended Persian domes with Indian motifs and construction materials like sandstone.

How did administrative divisions like ‘shiqs’ and ‘parganas’ enhance governance?

Enabled layered control — from provinces (iqta) to sub-units (pargana) under appointed officers.

What role did the Chahalgani (Forty Nobles) play in Sultanate politics?

Power brokers under Iltutmish; later posed threats to Sultan’s authority until suppressed.

How did the Delhi Sultanate contribute to urbanisation in North India?

Created fortified cities, attracted trade, and established institutions like madrasas and markets.

What does the term ‘Zawabit’ indicate in the context of Sultanate administration?

Secular laws framed by the Sultan in contrast to Sharia; showed autonomy of governance.

Why were the Sultans concerned with regulating weights and measures in markets?

Ensured fair trade, prevented black marketing, and sustained military provisioning.

How did succession crises weaken the institutional structure of the Sultanate?

Led to power struggles, factionalism, and loss of central authority in provinces.

How did Alauddin Khalji’s intelligence and espionage network support despotism?

Monitored nobles, cracked down on dissent, and eliminated conspiracies proactively.

Why did the Delhi Sultanate fail to integrate Rajput states fully?

Rajput kingdoms retained autonomy through tribute; resisted full cultural and political absorption.

What was the significance of the construction of Hauz Khas by Alauddin Khalji?

Served as a royal water reservoir and educational center, reflecting planning and patronage.

How did the Sultanate's approach to land revenue differ from earlier Indian systems?

Emphasised direct extraction, standardised units, and use of intermediaries under strict control.

What role did Ulama play in shaping religious legitimacy of Sultanate rule?

Provided legal support through Sharia, endorsed rule as Islamic, and resisted secular reforms.

How did Delhi Sultanate coinage reflect changing political ideologies?

Evolved from symbolic legitimacy under Caliph to asserting complete sovereignty over time.

What was the role of the Diwan-i-Arz under Alauddin Khalji?

Managed military recruitment, salary, branding, and discipline of troops.

How did Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s idea of universal conquest affect imperial policies?

Led to unrealistic campaigns, financial strain, and weakened state capacity.

How did Firuz Shah Tughlaq attempt to use public works to gain legitimacy?

Built canals, hospitals, and educational institutions; portrayed as benevolent ruler.

Why did regional identities persist despite Sultanate centralisation?

Strong local traditions, language, caste structures, and periodic revolts limited assimilation.

How did Indo-Persian historiography shape elite memory of Sultanate rule?

Glorified rulers, moralised politics, and ignored lower-class agency and regional dynamics.

What lessons does the failure of Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s administrative experiments offer?

Policy without infrastructure or mass support leads to chaos, rebellion, and economic ruin.

How did frontier policies under the Sultanate shape later Mughal strategy?

Set precedent for combining military aggression with client alliances and forts.

What made the Delhi Sultanate's revenue system foundational for later Indian empires?

Created institutional mechanisms of land assessment, record-keeping, and tax enforcement.

How did the Sultanate's architecture express state ideology?

Symbolised Islamic dominance, central authority, and continuity through monumental structures.

Why did trade flourish under Alauddin Khalji despite military despotism?

Market reforms, price control, and protection of merchant routes fostered confidence.

How did Sufi movements challenge and also support the Sultanate?

Critiqued court excesses but expanded Islamic influence in rural society, aiding soft legitimacy.

Why is the Delhi Sultanate viewed as a phase of administrative experimentation?

Introduced revenue, military, and legal reforms—many adapted or corrected by the Mughals.

What does the endurance of regional Sultanates after Delhi’s decline indicate?

Fragmentation was absorbed into Indo-Islamic political culture; regionalisation persisted.