The Delhi Sultanate: 28 flashcards
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1. When did the Delhi Sultanate begin and end?
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It lasted from **1206 CE to 1526 CE**.
2. Name the five dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate in order.
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**Slave (Mamluk), Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, and Lodi**.
3. Who founded the Delhi Sultanate in 1206?
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**Qutb-ud-din Aibak**, a former slave of Muhammad Ghori.
4. Why is Iltutmish called the real founder of the Delhi Sultanate?
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He gave the Sultanate its **administrative shape**, introducing the **Iqta system** and the **Chalisa** (council of forty nobles).
5. Who was the only woman to rule Delhi?
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**Razia Sultan** (1236–1240).
6. What theory of kingship did Balban introduce?
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The theory of **divine kingship** (the king as God's representative), along with **Persian court etiquette**.
7. What was the Iqta system?
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A system where the Sultan assigned **land revenue** from a territory (an **iqta**) to an official, who in return **maintained troops** for the Sultan.
8. What was the Chalisa?
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A **council of forty nobles** established under **Iltutmish**.
9. What three things is Alauddin Khalji best remembered for?
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**Market control** (fixed prices, shahna-i-mandi inspectors), **military reforms** (cash payments, horse branding), and **southern campaigns** led by Malik Kafur.
10. Who was Malik Kafur?
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**Alauddin Khalji's general** who led southern campaigns as far as **Madurai**.
11. What was dagh and why was it introduced?
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**Horse branding** introduced under Alauddin Khalji to **prevent fraud** in the army.
12. What were Muhammad bin Tughlaq's two famous failed projects?
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**Shifting the capital** to Daulatabad and introducing **token currency** — both failed.
13. Why did Muhammad bin Tughlaq's token currency fail?
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Because **copper coins were easily forged**, undermining the currency's value.
14. What did Firoz Shah Tughlaq build?
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**Canals, towns, and Firoz Shah Kotla**.
15. What was the impact of Timur's invasion in 1398?
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It **shattered Delhi's power**, leaving the Sultanate weak and fragmented.
16. How large was the Sayyid dynasty's territory?
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It ruled a **much smaller territory** and never regained real power (1414–1451).
17. Who was the last dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate?
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The **Lodi dynasty** (1451–1526).
18. Who invited Babur to invade India?
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**Daulat Khan Lodi**, a noble alienated by Ibrahim Lodi's centralisation.
19. What happened at the First Battle of Panipat (1526)?
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**Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi**, ending the Delhi Sultanate and founding the **Mughal Empire**.
20. What is Indo-Islamic architecture?
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A style blending **Islamic and Indian traditions**, seen in the **Qutb Minar, Alai Darwaza, and Lodi Gardens**.
21. How did Urdu begin to develop?
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From the **mixing of Persian, Arabic, and local dialects** during the Sultanate period.
22. Why was Delhi a strategic centre of power?
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It sat between **Central Asia and the Gangetic plains**, controlling trade routes and monitoring invasions.
23. What was the role of a shahna-i-mandi?
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A **market inspector** appointed under Alauddin Khalji to enforce **fixed prices**.
24. Which two forts were built during the Sultanate period?
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**Tughlaqabad Fort** and **Siri Fort**.
25. Who completed the Qutb Minar after Aibak began it?
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**Iltutmish** completed it.
26. How did the Iqta system weaken central control over time?
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Iqtas became **hereditary in practice**, reducing the Sultan's direct authority.
27. Which Sufi and Bhakti figures flourished during the Sultanate?
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**Sufi saints and Bhakti poets** flourished, creating a climate of **cultural exchange**.
28. What was the Sultanate's role in Indian history?
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It was the **bridge between the Rajput kingdoms and the Mughal Empire**.
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