Satish Chandra Test: The Delhi Sultanate- 2 - UPSC MCQ

The Umayyads were the first Muslim dynasty, established in 661 in Damascus. Their dynasty succeeded the leadership of the first four caliphs Abū BakrʿUmar I, ʿUthmān, and ʿAlī. It was established by Muʿāwiyah ibn Abī Sufyān, a native of Mecca and a contemporary of the Prophet Muḥammad.

The third ruler of Slave dynasty, Shams-ud-din Iltutmish formed Turkan-i-Chahalgani or Chalisa (a group of 40 powerful Turkish nobles). These were Turkish amirs (nobles) who advised and helped the Sultan in administering the Sultanate.

• Mahmud of Ghazni: Mahmud of Ghazni was a prominent ruler of the Ghaznavid Empire in the 10th-11th century.
• Conquest of Peshawar and Punjab: Mahmud of Ghazni defeated the Hindushahis to conquer and annex Peshawar and Punjab.
• Hindushahis: The Hindushahis were rulers of the region of Peshawar and Punjab before Mahmud of Ghazni's conquest.
• Significance of Conquest: The conquest of Peshawar and Punjab by Mahmud of Ghazni expanded the territory of the Ghaznavid Empire and increased his influence in the region.

During the reign of Firuz Tughlaq, which lasted for 40 years, there was only one notable rebellion by a noble. This noble was Malik Shamsuddin Damghani.

• Firdausi: He was the court poet of Mahmud of Ghazni and the author of the famous Persian epic poem Shah Namah.

Provincial Government during Delhi Sultanate:

• Iqtas, the provinces under the Delhi Sultanate were initially under the dominion of the nobles.
• Muqtis or Walis was the name given to the governors of the provinces who were responsible for maintaining law and order and collecting land revenue.
• The provinces were further divided into Shiqs, which were under the control of the Shiqdar.
• The Shiqs were further divided into Pargana, comprising a number of villages and was headed by the Amil.
• The village remained the basic unit of administration and its headman was called Chaudhri or Muqaddam.
• Patwari was the village accountant.

Two historians of the Delhi Sultanate who authored works titled Tarikh-i-Firuzshahi are:

1. Ziauddin Barani: He authored the first Tarikh-i-Firuzshahi, which covers the history of the Delhi Sultanate from the reign of Ghiyasuddin Balban to the early years of Firuz Shah Tughlaq's reign.

2. Shams-i-Siraj Afif: He wrote another Tarikh-i-Firuzshahi, focusing specifically on the reign of Firuz Shah Tughlaq and providing detailed insights into his administration, policies, and achievements.

Therefore,Correct Answer- Option C

B is the correct option.

• Vakil-i-dar was incharge of the royal household.
• Amir-i-barbak was the superintendent of the royal court.
• Amir-i-hajib kept an eye on all visitors to the court and presented them before the sovereign according to court etiquette.
• sar-i-jandar was the officer of personal body-gaurds (jandars) to the Sultan. 
• Amir-i-majlis organised the meetings of royal assembly and special celebrations.
   

(A )Malwa → Harananda (I)
Harananda is historically associated with Malwa.

(B) Chittor → Ratan Singh (II)
Ratan Singh was indeed the ruler of Chittor during the time of Alauddin Khalji’s invasion.

(C) Warangal → Prataparudra Deva (III)
Prataparudra Deva was the Kakatiya ruler of Warangal.

(D) Devagiri → Ramachandra (IV)
Ramachandra was the ruler of Devagiri during the time of Alauddin Khalji’s campaigns.

(E) Ranthambhor → Hamir Deva (V)
Hamir Deva was the ruler of Ranthambhor who resisted Alauddin Khalji’s invasions.

Therefore,Correct Answer- Option B

• Privileges and Power: The Muslim state in India during the Sultanate period was indeed based not on the idea of equality but on the notion of privileges and power. The ruling class enjoyed certain privileges and had power over the common people.
• Militaristic and Aristocratic: The state was militaristic and aristocratic, with a strong focus on military conquests and the aristocracy playing a significant role in the administration.
• Deviation from Islamic Law: While the Muslim state in India during the Sultanate period was guided by Islamic principles, there were instances where deviations from Islamic law were allowed, especially in cases where it was necessary to maintain stability or accommodate local customs.
• Sharing of Power: There was a kind of tacit sharing of power between the rural Hindu aristocracy and the city-based administration. This allowed for a degree of cooperation and collaboration between different sections of society.

Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni was born on Nov. 2, 971 in Ghazne, located in northern Kabul, Afghanistan.  his family name, or surname, was Ibn Sebuk Tegin. According to an ethics book written about him, Sebuk Tegin was a Turk from the "Barsahians" who became Muslim when he went to the country Samanis. When he rejected the dominance of the Samanis rulers and established his own state in Ghazne, he went on to raise his son Mahmud as his heir. As a result, Mahmud is considered the first example of a well-educated sultan. And he was conferred this title by Qadir.

• Caliph's authority: The recognition of the Caliph's authority by the Delhi sultans indicated that they acknowledged the Caliph as the supreme leader of the Islamic world.
• Supreme judicial authority: This recognition did not mean that the Sultan was a vassal or subordinate to the Caliph, but rather that the Sultan was the supreme judicial authority subject only to the principles of the Shariat.
• Independence of rule: The Delhi sultans were independent rulers in their own right, but they respected the spiritual and symbolic authority of the Caliph as the leader of the Islamic community.
• Religious legitimacy: By recognizing the Caliph's authority, the Delhi sultans sought to legitimize their rule in the eyes of their subjects who were devout Muslims.
• Political implications: While the recognition of the Caliph's authority did not undermine the Sultan's sovereignty, it did establish a religious and symbolic connection between the Delhi sultans and the Caliphate.

The correct answer is C as all the given statements are true except At the time of his accession Qutab-ud-din had to deal with the Chauhans who had conquered Delhi in 1206 A.D.

• Aibak was known as "Lakh Buksh", which means "giver of lakhs" in Persian.
• This title was given to him due to his generous nature and his contributions.
• Aibak was the founder of the Delhi Sultanate and played a crucial role in establishing Muslim rule in India.

The political situation during Iltutmish's accession to the throne of Delhi was complex. Here are the key points:

• The Punjab was unfriendly towards Iltutmish, as Qubacha had taken control of Lahore.
• Iltutmish did not have the support of Yilduz alone; he faced significant challenges.
• Bengal and Bihar had severed their ties with Delhi.
• Rajput rulers, previously defeated by Muhammad of Gaur, had rejected their loyalty to Delhi.

In the statements provided, the incorrect one is:

• Iltutmish saved the Delhi Sultanate from the threat of the Mongols by ceding the Punjab to them. This is incorrect as he did not give up territory to save his state.
• The other statements correctly describe Iltutmish's actions and their significance.

The correct answer is D: All of the above.

• Iltutmish gave the Turkish kingdom legal status: Iltutmish established the Delhi Sultanate as a legitimate state by obtaining recognition from the Caliph of Baghdad, thus giving it legal status.
• Iltutmish recaptured Bayna and Thangir: He successfully recaptured territories like Bayna and Thangir, which had been lost earlier.
• Iltutmish reconquered Nagaur in Jodhpur: Iltutmish also reconquered Nagaur, strengthening the Sultanate's control over its territories.

• Raziya: She was the first and only female Sultan of Delhi and ruled from 1236 to 1240. During her reign, she faced opposition from the nobles and clergy due to her gender, which led to conflicts within the Muslim community.
• Balban: He ruled from 1266 to 1287 and was known for his strong and authoritarian rule. While he dealt with revolts and external threats, there is no significant record of sectarian conflicts during his reign.
• Ala-ud-din-Khalji: He ruled from 1296 to 1316 and was a ruthless ruler who expanded the Delhi Sultanate through military conquests. While he faced opposition from various quarters, there is no specific mention of serious sectarian conflicts during his rule.
• Firuz Tughlaq: He ruled from 1351 to 1388 and was known for his architectural projects and administrative reforms. Although he faced challenges during his reign, there is no major sectarian conflict that stands out during his time as Sultan.

Based on the information provided, it is evident that the most serious sectarian conflict between the Sunnis and Shias occurred during the reign of Raziya. Her rule was marked by internal strife and opposition, including sectarian tensions, which makes her reign the most likely period for such a conflict.

• Nasiruddin Khusrau Shah was the only Indian Muslim to rule from the throne of Delhi during the Sultanate period.
• He briefly became the Sultan of Delhi after defeating the last ruler of the Khalji dynasty.
• His reign was short-lived and marked a unique moment in the history of the Delhi Sultanate.

Therefore, Correct Answer - Option C

• Balban believed that only strict despotism could ensure obedience from his subjects and maintain the state's security.
• He introduced the Sijda and Poibos practices in his court.
• To weaken the power of the Forty, Balban appointed them to high positions and moved them to remote areas of the kingdom.
• Therefore, all the statements are correct.

After Balban's death in 1287, Delhi's kotwal Malik al-Umara Fakhruddin enthroned Balban's teenage grandson Muiz ud din Qaiqabad (or Kayqubad) with the title Muizzuddin. Qaiqabad was a weak ruler, and the administration was actually run by his officer Malik Nizamuddin. After Nizamuddin was poisoned by some rival officers, Qaiqabad summoned Jalal-ud-din from Samana to Delhi, gave him the title "Shaista Khan", appointed him as the ariz-i-mumalik, and made him the governor of Baran.

By this time, Qaiqabad's health had deteriorated, and two rival factions of nobles vied for the power in Delhi. One faction, led by Malik Aytemur Surkha, sought to maintain the power of the old Turkic nobility, and wanted to retain Balban's family on the throne. The other faction, led by Jalal-ud-din, supported the rise of the new nobility

• The term Khalji Revolution refers to a significant shift in the racial composition of the rulers.
• It marks a dynastic change from the Ilbari to the Khalji dynasty.
• It involved the creation of a heterogeneous nobility alongside important administrative reforms.
• In essence, it encompasses all of these changes.

Identifying the King:

• Behavior: The king in question always behaved like a well-bred oriental monarch, displaying a sense of kingly dignity.
• Dress Code: He never appeared before his private servants without being in full dress, emphasizing his regal demeanor.
• Attitude: The king did not indulge in laughter or amusement in his durbar, maintaining a serious and dignifi ed demeanor at all times.

Conclusion:

• Based on the description provided by Dr. Ishwari Prasad, the king being referred to is Balban.
• Balban was known for his strict and authoritative rule, emphasizing his royal status through his behavior and interactio ns with others.

Balban

• Refusal to Speak to Common People: Balban, who ruled as a Sultan in Delhi Sultanate, refused to speak to common people.
• Reasons for Refusal: Balban believed in the theory of kingship which emphasized the divine right of the ruler. He viewed himself as the representative of Allah on earth and considered it beneath his dignity to converse with common people.
• Strict Policies: Balban was known for his authoritarian rule and implemented strict policies to maintain law and order in his kingdom. He believed in ruling with an iron fist and instilled fear in the hearts of his subjects.
• Court Etiquette: Balban followed a strict court etiquette where he maintained a distance from commoners and only interacted with nobles, courtiers, and other high-ranking officials.
• Legacy: Balban's refusal to speak to common people reflected the hierarchical nature of society during that time, where rulers were seen as superior beings and the commoners were expected to show deference and respect towards them.

Ala-ud-din Khalji's empire did not include the region of Kashmir. Here are the details:

• Punjab was part of his empire.
• Sindh was also included.
• Malwa fell under his control.
• However, Kashmir remained outside his rule.

• Ala-ud-din Khalji took over land that was granted as a free gift to Muslim holders.
• He implemented a system to measure land accurately, determining how much land each peasant possessed.
• Ala-ud-din removed the benefits and privileges that Hindu revenue collectors previously enjoyed.

• All these statements are correct.

Pratāparudra, also known as Rudradeva II, was the last ruler of the Kakatiya dynasty of India. He ruled the eastern part of Deccan, with his capital at Warangal. Prataparudra succeeded his grandmother Rudramadevi as the Kakatiya monarch. He defeated the first invasion of the army of Ala uddin Khilji in 1303. It was in Karimnagar district. But later in 1310 or so Khilji defeated the kakatiyas - Prataprudra surrendered and made a pact to pay heavy ransoms.

Ala-ud-din Khalji

• Background: Ala-ud-din Khalji was a sultan of the Khalji dynasty in the Delhi Sultanate. He ruled from 1296 to 1316.
• Policy of Surveillance: In order to forestall conspiracies against his rule, Ala-ud-din Khalji implemented a policy of extensive surveillance.
• Banning Banquets and Assemblies: He banned banquets and assemblies where nobles and courtiers could gather and potentially plot against him.
• Use of Spies: Ala-ud-din Khalji peppered the country with his spies to gather information and keep a close eye on any potential threats.
• Impact: This strict surveillance and control measures helped Ala-ud-din Khalji maintain stability during his reign and deterred any potential rebellions or conspiracies.

Qutb al-Din Aibak was a general of the Ghurid king Mu'izz ad-Din Muhammad Ghori from 1206-1210 A.D.. He was in-charge of the Ghurid territories in northern India, and after Mu'izz ad-Din's death, he became the ruler of an independent kingdom that evolved into the Delhi Sultanate ruled by the Mamluk dynasty.

Alauddin Khilji (ruled 1296–1316) implemented one of the most comprehensive economic policies in medieval India to control the market:

• He fixed prices for essential commodities like grains, cloth, sugar, and livestock.
• Set up state-run granaries to ensure a stable food supply.
• Appointed market controllers (shahna-i-mandi) to supervise transactions and prevent hoarding.
• Enforced strict penalties for cheating, black marketing, and hoarding.
• Maintained detailed records of market prices and daily supplies.
• These measures were meant to support his large standing army by ensuring soldiers could buy essentials at affordable rates.

This makes Alauddin Khilji the first Sultan of Delhi to implement such detailed price control and anti-hoarding measures.