Rise and Fall of the Sultanate
The Delhi Sultanate was established after the defeat of Prithviraj Chauhan in 1192. It marked the beginning of rule by five successive dynasties of Turkic-Afghan origin:
- Mamluks (Slave Dynasty)
- Khiljis (Khaljis)
- Tughlaqs
- Sayyids
- Lodis
Warning
Political Instability: The succession of power was often violent. Almost two out of three sultans seized power by eliminating their predecessor. The average reign of a sultan was hardly nine years.
Key Rulers and Policies
Ala-ud-din Khilji (Early 14th Century)
- Military Expansion: Conducted campaigns across north and central India.
- Defense: Repelled several Mongol invasions.
- Self-Image: Minted coins calling himself ‘Sikander Sani’ (The Second Alexander).
- Southward Expansion: His general, Malik Kafur, raided wealthy southern kingdoms (Srirangam, Madurai), plundering immense wealth to finance the army.
Muhammad bin Tughlaq
- Ambition: Controlled a vast part of the Subcontinent.
- Failed Experiments:
- Capital Transfer: Moved capital from Delhi to Daulatabad (Devagiri) to have a central base, then moved it back. This caused immense hardship and loss of life.
- Token Currency: Introduced copper coins with the value of silver/gold. Without security features, counterfeiting became rampant, collapsing the economy.
Resistance to the Sultanate
The Sultanate constantly faced resistance from neighboring kingdoms:
- Eastern Gangas (Odisha): King Narasimhadeva I defeated the Sultanate’s forces and built the Sun Temple at Konark.
- Hoysalas (South India): Fended off attacks for a long time before eventually being absorbed into the rising Vijayanagara Empire.
Impact on Society
- Plunder & Iconoclasm: Wealth was often amassed by raiding temples. This was motivated by greed (plunder) and religious iconoclasm (destruction of idols).
- Taxation: Imposition of Jizya, a discriminatory tax on non-Muslims.