Architecture as Power-Forts and Sacred Places Chapter Notes | Window on the Word Class 7: Solutions, Notes & Worksheets PDF Download

The rule of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals resulted in significant changes across Indian culture. The preceding lessons covered political, administrative, economic, and social transformations. This chapter focuses on the architectural styles that emerged in India during the medieval period.

• Delhi Sultanate and Mughals brought extensive changes to Indian culture.
• Previous lessons discussed political, administrative, economic, and social alterations.
• Current chapter highlights architectural styles in medieval India.

Architecture as a Symbol of Power

From ancient times, leaders have used architecture to showcase their authority. They constructed grand structures such as palaces, temples, forts, mosques, and tombs to exhibit the riches, influence, and achievements they had during their rule. These structures ensured that their legacy endured through future eras.

Public Utility Structures

• Leaders also erected structures like parks, tanks, and rest houses for public use. These constructions aimed to garner the loyalty and backing of their people, thereby bolstering their dominance.

Monuments and Invasions

• Monuments were prime targets for invading forces. By looting and demolishing these edifices, conquerors aimed to erase all visible traces of the past rulers. Subsequently, invaders often raised new monuments to signify their conquest and to establish themselves as the new governing power. These new constructions also served to celebrate the culture of the conquerors.

Architecture in Medieval India

Medieval India saw a significant rise in architectural activities, with two main groups of structures:

• Religious monuments like temples and mosques
• Secular monuments like forts, tombs, palaces, gardens, and wells, built for various purposes

Temple Architecture:

Rulers in India constructed temples throughout the medieval era, resulting in two distinct regional styles:

• Nagara style in north India
• Dravidian style in south India

A blend of Nagara and Dravidian styles, known as the Vesara style, emerged in the Deccan and parts of Central India.

Construction Materials:

Temples were mainly built using large, well-cut stone blocks like sandstone, laterite, and granite. In Bengal, terracotta was also utilized.

Ornamentation:

The walls, gateways, and towers of these temples were intricately carved with depictions of deities, dancers, daily life scenes, and epic narratives.

Indo-Islamic Architecture

A new style of architecture emerged in India around the 13th century, blending existing Indian architectural elements with new features introduced by Muslim rulers. This fusion gave rise to what is known as Indo-Islamic architecture.

Key Elements:

• Pre-Islamic Elements:
  • Decorative brackets, balconies, pillars
  • Exquisite carvings including symbols like the lotus and the bell
• Islamic Elements:
  • Arches and domes
  • Minarets
  • Calligraphy, geometric and floral designs
  • Pietra dura for decoration
  • Use of red sandstone and marble

The introduction of the true arch and dome in India by the Delhi Sultans marked a significant architectural development. An arch, a curved structure over an opening like a door, had a keystone that evenly distributed pressure along its sides. A dome, resembling a hemisphere, became a prominent feature.

Notable structures built by Muslim rulers in India include mosques, tombs, and ornamental gardens like the chahar bagh.

Mosques

• A mosque is a place of worship for Muslims.
• One of the earliest mosques in India was the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque in Delhi, built during the reign of Qutbuddin Aibak.
• Over time, the area around the mosque was expanded with tombs and minarets, forming what is now known as the Qutb Complex.

Tombs

• Tombs are large chambers where deceased individuals are buried.
• Historically, Muslim rulers in India invested significant resources and effort in constructing tombs.
• The tomb of Sultan Iltutmish was among the first major tombs erected in India.
• Most tombs featured a square or octagonal base with a circular dome, with elaborate decorations inside.
• The Taj Mahal, a renowned global monument, contains the tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan.

Baghs or Gardens

• The Mughals constructed expansive and enchanting gardens designed in the chaharbagh layout.
• A chaharbagh refers to a garden segmented into square sections, typically four, by water passages.
• Mughal mausoleums were encompassed by vast gardens. Notable Mughal gardens include Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh in Srinagar, as well as those at the Red Fort, Agra Fort, and the Taj Mahal.

Forts and Cities in India

• Forts in India were constructed by Hindu and Muslim rulers.
• These forts featured massive walls made from materials like red sandstone, yellow sandstone, granite, and rubble.
• They were strategically positioned on hilltops to enhance their defensive capabilities.
• Muslim rulers also founded various towns and cities.
• Fatehpur Sikri, the capital city built by Akbar, stands out as one of the most remarkable examples.

Havelis

• Havelis were grand residences constructed by kings, nobles, and affluent individuals.
• They can be found in various regions of northern India such as Delhi, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Shekhawati, and Jodhpur.
• The architectural style of havelis showcases influences from Indian, Central Asian, and Persian designs.
• Common characteristics of havelis include a spacious courtyard featuring a central fountain and intricately carved hanging balconies in stone.

Baolis

• Baolis are stepwells used for storing water.
• They are accessed by descending a series of steps.
• Constructed in arid regions of India such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi.
• Anangtal in Mehrauli, built around the 10th century CE by Anand Pal II, is one of Delhi's oldest surviving baolis.
• During the reign of the Delhi Sultans and the Mughals, numerous baolis were constructed.
• Notable baolis include Gandhak ki baoli, Firoz Shah Kotla baoli, Agrasen ki baoli, and Rajon ki baoli.

Provincial Architecture in India

Several impressive monuments were constructed in the regional kingdoms of India. These monuments, developed away from the influence of Delhi, showcased a fusion of local architectural styles with Islamic influences. Below are some significant monuments from various regions:

Bengal:

• Adina Masjid in Pandua
• Dakhil Darwaza in Gaur

Deccan:

• Mahmud Gawan's madrassa and the Jami Masjid in Bidar
• Gol Gumbuz in Bijapur
• Golconda Fort and Charminar in Hyderabad

Vijayanagara:

• Virupaksha Temple in Hampi
• Vitthala Temple in Hampi

Malwa:

• Baz Bahadur's Palace in Mandu
• Hindola Mahal in Mandu
• Jahaz Mahal in Mandu

Gujarat:

• The Sidi Saiyed Mosque in Ahmedabad
• Jami Masjid in Ahmedabad
• Jhulta Minars of the Sidi Bashir Mosque in Ahmedabad

Shah Jahan and Mughal Architecture

Shah Jahan - The Engineer King

• Shah Jahan, known as 'the Engineer King', reigned from 1627 to 1666 CE.
• His era is dubbed 'the golden age of Mughal architecture'.
• Notable monuments include the Red Fort, Jama Masjid in Delhi, Agra Fort, Taj Mahal in Agra, Shalimar Gardens in Srinagar, and parts of Lahore Fort.
• He commissioned the famous Takht-e-Taus (Peacock Throne).

The Taj Mahal

• The Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
• Constructed with white marble, it took over 20,000 workers around 22 years to complete.
• The tomb stands on a square base with an onion-shaped marble dome, surrounded by four minarets and chattris (pavilions).
• Decorated with carvings and pietra dura inlay work using precious stones.
• The mausoleum is adorned with calligraphy, geometric patterns, and floral motifs.

The Red Fort, Delhi

• Named for its red sandstone construction, the Red Fort served as Shah Jahan's palace in Delhi.
• Its octagonal shape houses structures like the Diwan-i-Khas, Diwan-i-Aam, Mumtaz Mahal, and the hammam.
• Features marble buildings decorated with inlay work and carvings, typical of Mughal architecture.

The Jama Masjid

• Built by Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1656 CE, the Jama Masjid in Delhi is a grand mosque.
• Constructed with red sandstone and white marble inlay, it is one of India's largest mosques.

 Elsewhere

• During the time of the Mughal Dynasty in India, China was under the rule of the Ming Dynasty.
• The imperial palace of the Ming Dynasty, situated in Beijing, was known as Zljln Chong or the Forbidden City.
• Constructed in a relatively short span of 14 years (1406-1420 CE), the Forbidden City is comprised of nearly a thousand structures and spans across 72 hectares.
• Massive logs of wood and large blocks of marble were utilized in the construction of this grand city.