NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science - The Delhi Sultans

Let’s Recall 

Q1. Which ruler first established his or her capital at Delhi? 
Ans: Ananga Pala of the Tomara dynasty first established his capital at Delhi in the year 1130. 

Q2. What was the language of administration under the Delhi Sultans? 
Ans: Persian was the language of administration used by the Delhi Sultans.

Q3. In whose reign did the Sultanate reach its farthest extent? 
Ans: During the reign of Alauddin Khalji and Muhammad Tughluq, the Sultanate reached its farthest extent and marched across a large part of the subcontinent. They defeated the rival armies and seized several cities. The Sultanate also collected taxes from the peasantry and dispensed justice in its realm.

Muhammad TughluqQ4. From which country did Ibn Battuta travel to India?
Ans: Ibn Battuta was a fourteenth-century traveller who came to India from Morocco, Africa.

Let’s Understand 

Q5. According to the "Circle of Justice", why was it important for military commanders to keep the interests of the peasantry in mind? 
Ans: According to the "Circle of Justice", it was important for military commanders to keep the interests of the peasantry in mind because a king cannot survive without soldiers, and soldiers cannot live without salaries. The salaries of the soldiers came from the revenue collected from peasants. But peasants can pay revenue only when they are prosperous and happy.

Q6. What is meant by the "internal" and "external" frontiers of the Sultanate?
Ans: The "internal" frontiers of the Sultanate involved securing and developing the areas around their military towns. They cleared forests in the Ganga-Yamuna region, displaced hunter-gatherers and pastoralists, and gave the land to peasants. They also boosted local trade by building new forts and military towns.

The "external" frontiers of the Sultanate refer to the military campaigns into southern India, which began under Alauddin Khalji and concluded during Muhammad Tughluq's reign.

Q7. What were the steps taken to ensure that muqtis performed their duties? Why do you think they may have wanted to defy the orders of the Sultans? 
Ans: Steps were taken to ensure that muqtis performed their duties:

• The duty of the muqtis was to lead military campaigns and maintain law and order in their iqtas.
• Their office was made not inheritable.
• They were assigned iqtas for a short period of time before being shifted.
• Accountants were appointed by the state to check the amount of revenue collected.
• Care was taken that the muqti collected only the taxes prescribed by the state and that he kept the required number of soldiers. They may have wanted to defy the orders of the Sultans as they were maintaining their own armies and collecting revenues, which may provoke them to rebel against the kingdom. Also, the harsh conditions of service can be the reason for defying the orders of the Sultans.

Let’s Discuss

Q8. Do you think the authors of tawarikh would provide information about the lives of ordinary men and women?
Ans: No, I don't think the authors of Tawarikh would provide information about the lives of ordinary men and women because their writing was to praise the Sultans and get a reward. They had nothing to do with common folks. Also, they were part of the administration lived in towns and were mostly unaware of the life of common people.

Q9. Raziyya Sultan was unique in the history of the Delhi Sultanate. Do you think women leaders are accepted more readily today?
Ans: Raziyya Sultan was unique in the history of the Delhi Sultanate because she was the first woman to become the ruler of the Sultanate. She was more able and qualified than all her brothers. Yes, i think women leaders are accepted more readily today because of democracy. Now, the world has become open-minded in terms of gender equality and would never mind having a woman as their leader. Many women in this period proved that women, too, could be at the top of leadership. Moreover, people widely supported the woman as their leader.

Q10. Why were the Delhi Sultans interested in cutting down forests? Does deforestation occur for the same reasons today?
Ans: The Delhi Sultans were interested in cutting down forests to give land to the peasants and carry out agricultural practices. Also, new fortresses and towns were established to protect trade routes and to promote regional trade. They also cleared forests in order to safeguard their frontiers and quick movement of their army. In today's world, deforestation occurs due to the construction of roads, railways, houses and industries. So, we can say that deforestation occurs for the same reasons today, but only the perspective of views has been changed.

Q11. Find out whether there are any buildings built by the Delhi Sultans in your area. Are there any other buildings in your area that were built between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries? Describe some of these buildings, and draw sketches of them.
Ans: Yes, there are several. Some of them are buildings built between the 12th and 15th centuries.

• Jamali-Kamali Mosque.
• Sirifort.
• Begumpuri Mosque.
• Moth Ki Masjid.
• Raziyya’s Tomb.
• Qutb Minar.
• Tugalakabad Fort
• Firuz Shah Kotla
• Purana Quila

Other Buildings

• Lai Quila, Jama Masjid.