Reshaping India’s Political Map: 11th to 17th Centuries

This set explores the political transitions, key dynasties, administrative systems, and resistance movements in India from the 11th century to the late Mughal period.

Medieval Period (India)

A historical era defined in this context as the period spanning from the $11\text{th}$ to the $17\text{th}$ centuries.

Delhi Sultanate

A political entity established in $1206$ following the defeat of Prithviraj Chauhan, comprising five successive dynasties of Turkic–Afghan origin.

Mamluks

The first of the five dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate, also frequently referred to as the 'Slave dynasty'.

Ala-ud-din Khilji

A Sultan who conducted major military campaigns across northern and central India and successfully repelled multiple Mongol invasions at the turn of the $14\text{th}$ century.

Muhammad bin Tughlaq

A ruler known for ambitious but poorly executed schemes, such as shifting the capital $1,000\text{ km}$ from Delhi to Daulatabad and introducing copper token currency.

Iconoclasm

The practice of rejecting or purposefully destroying religious images or icons, which occurred during various military campaigns of this period.

Jizya

A discriminatory tax imposed on non-Muslim subjects by certain rulers that often served as a financial incentive for conversion to Islam.

Narasimhadeva I

A mid-$13\text{th}$ century ruler of the Eastern Ganga kingdom who defeated Sultanate forces and built the Sun Temple at Konark.

Vijayanagara Empire

A southern Indian power founded in $1336$ by Harihara and Bukka Raya, which became a significant force against northern Sultanate expansion.

Krishnadevaraya

A celebrated $16\text{th}$ century ruler of Vijayanagara who oversaw a cultural and military peak, patronized multiple languages, and authored the work Amuktamalyada.

Battle of Talikota

A decisive $1565$ conflict where a coalition of Deccan Sultanates defeated Vijayanagara, resulting in the destruction and abandonment of its capital city.

Mughal Empire

A dynasty founded by Babur in $1526$ after the First Battle of Panipat, utilizing advanced technology such as gunpowder and field artillery.

Akbar

A Mughal emperor who reigned for nearly $50$ years, expanding his realm through strategic alliances, administrative reforms, and policies of religious tolerance like sulh-i-kul.

Jauhar

A historical practice of mass self-immolation by women to avoid capture and enslavement during invasions, notably seen at Chittorgarh Fort.

Aurangzeb

A Mughal emperor whose reign saw maximum territorial expansion but also high levels of rebellion due to his religious policies and continuous warfare in the Deccan.

Rani Durgavati

The queen of the Garha kingdom who led her troops against Akbar's forces in $1564$ and sacrificed her life on the battlefield to remain independent.

Maharana Pratap

A Mewar ruler who refused Mughal suzerainty and famously conducted guerrilla warfare from the Aravalli hills after the Battle of Haldighati in $1576$.

Paik system

An administrative method in the Ahom kingdom requiring every able-bodied man to provide labor or military service to the state in exchange for land rights.

Battle of Saraighat

A $1671$ naval battle on the Brahmaputra River where the Ahom commander Lachit Borphukan defeated a much larger Mughal force.

Guru Tegh Bahadur

The ninth Sikh Guru who was martyred in $1675$ on the orders of Aurangzeb after refusing to abandon his faith while defending the religious freedom of others.

Khalsa

A martial brotherhood established in $1699$ by Guru Gobind Singh committed to the defense of faith, justice, and social equality.

Iqta system

A Delhi Sultanate administrative tool where territories were assigned to nobles for tax collection, primarily to fund the maintenance of the army.

Mansabdari system

A Mughal system of military and civil bureaucracy where officials held ranks (mansabs) and were responsible for maintaining specific numbers of troops and animals.

Hundi

A written financial instruction allowing merchants to transfer funds across regional borders without the risk of transporting physical currency.