Reshaping India’s Political Map

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to the restructuring of India's political landscape from the medieval period.

Medieval Period

Period from the 11th to the 17th centuries in Indian history.

Delhi Sultanate

A series of Turkic-Afghan dynasties that ruled parts of India from the 13th to the 16th centuries.

Invasions

Attacks from foreign powers that reshaped India's political landscape, primarily those from Central Asian Turkic and Afghan tribes.

Token Currency

Currency system introduced by Muhammad bin Tughlaq, attempting to use cheap copper coins as equivalents to gold or silver.

Jizya

A tax imposed on non-Muslim subjects by Muslim rulers, symbolizing religious discrimination.

Iconoclasm

The rejection or destruction of religious images considered idolatrous.

Vijayanagara Empire

A powerful South Indian kingdom founded in the 14th century by Harihara and Bukka after rejecting Delhi Sultanate authority.

Khalsa

A martial brotherhood established by Guru Gobind Singh to defend Sikh faith and values.

Mansabdari System

Administrative system used by Akbar where officers maintained troops in exchange for land grants.

Agrarian Economy

An economic system primarily based on agriculture and the cultivation of land.

Hindu Kush Mountains

Mountain range in Central Asia from which many invasions into India originated.

Guerrilla Warfare

A type of warfare where small groups use tactics like ambush and surprise attacks to defeat larger forces.

Baburnama

Autobiography of Babur, providing insight into his life and the early years of the Mughal Empire.

Mughal Empire

A significant empire in Indian history, established by Babur in the early 16th century and characterized by cultural and architectural achievements.

Rani Durgavati

A valorous queen of the Gond kingdom known for her resistance against Mughal invasions.

Sufism

A mystical Islamic belief system that Aurangzeb persecuted along with other sects.