Important Places of Medieval India | SSC CGL Tier 2 - Study Material, Online Tests, Previous Year PDF Download

Important Places of Medieval India

• Attock. A district in West Punjab where Alexander crossed the Indus River at Ohind, near Attock. Akbar built a fort here in 1581. Ranjit Singh invaded in 1812, and Mahmud of Ghazni defeated Anandpal's forces nearby.
• Bidar. Located in the Gulbarga division of Hyderabad, it was captured by Muhammad Tughlaq in 1321. Shah Gangu, the first king of the Bahmani dynasty, took control in 1343. Ahmed Shah Bahmani made it his capital in 1430. After the Bahmani Kingdom fell, Barid Shah ruled from 1492, and later it was taken by Bijapur. Malik Amber plundered the city in 1624, and Aurangzeb captured it in 1655.
• Chaul. Mentioned by foreign writers like Ptolemy, it was a local market. The Portuguese arrived in 1505 and established a factory in 1516. The city was burned by the Bijapur army in 1521 and was known for trade and commerce.
• Chunar. A notable port captured by Prithviraj Chauhan. Sher Shah acquired it through marriage, and Akbar captured it in 1575. After the Mughals' decline, it came under the Nawab of Oudh (Awadh).
• Hampi. The site of the Vijayanagar imperial city, now with ruins. Only the basements of some buildings remain, including platforms believed to be for the king’s audience and the throne. Other notable structures include the Lotus Mahal and several temples, such as those of Pampapati, Vithalaswami, and Hazara Rama.

Raichur

• During the medieval period, Raichur was a part of the Kampili kingdom, which was under the control of the Yadava rulers. After Ala-ud-din annexed Devagiri, Kampili declared its independence. However, it was eventually conquered by the Delhi Sultan. The Raichur doab became a contested region between the Bahmani sultans and the Vijayanagar rulers. Krishnadeva Raya later captured this area from the Bijapur sultan.

Devagiri (Deogir)

• Hemadri, a medieval writer and minister of Mahadeva, mentioned that Devagiri was founded by Bhillama and became the capital. In 1294, Ala-ud-din invaded and pillaged Devagiri. Malik Kafur captured its ruler, Ramachandradeva, in 1307. After being released, Ramachandradeva ruled as a vassal. Devagiri changed hands multiple times, with Mubarak Khaiji regaining control, and Muhammad bin Tughluq eventually moving his capital there and renaming it Daulatabad.

Udabhandapura (Walhand or Ohind)

• Udabhandapura, now known as the village of Und, is situated along the Indus River above Attock. It served as the capital of the Brahmana Shahis after the Arabs captured Kabul. This continued until Jayapala made Bhatinda the capital. In 1008, a significant battle took place at Waihand, where Anandapala was defeated by Mahmud Ghazni.

Warangal

• Warangal was the capital of the Kakatiyas. The fort was besieged by Malik Kafur, and after its submission, it faced another siege by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq. Warangal was annexed to the Delhi Sultanate and renamed Sultanpur, contributing to the rise of the Golkonda kingdom from its remnants.

Srirangam

• Srirangam, located near Tiruchi in Tamil Nadu, holds significance in Vaishnavism and was a crucial centre for Ramanuja. The temple here, known for its large gopurams and pillared halls, was destroyed by Malik Kafur. However, the deity was saved and later reconsecrated at Srirangam under Kumara Kampana.

Udayagiri

• Udayagiri, situated in the Nellore district, served as the viceroyalty seat of the Vijayanagar Empire in the 14th century. It changed hands several times, initially captured by Hamvira of Orissa, then recovered by Salvos Narasimha, and finally taken by Krishnadevaraya.

Salsette

• Salsette, a Portuguese settlement on India's west coast, was formerly under the Sultan of Bijapur. The occupation of Salsette led to conflicts with Bijapur, which eventually agreed to let the Portuguese keep the settlement. In 1739, the Marathas captured Salsette from the Portuguese.

Quilon and Raigarh: Historical Insights

Quilon

• Quilon, situated in Kerala and also known as Koliam, was a significant location during the time of the Muslim invasions in southern India, particularly under the rule of Ala-ud-din Khalji.
• During this period, Quilon was ruled by a minor Hindu king named Ravivarman. Despite being a small ruler, Ravivarman was known for his respect towards the Muslim community.
• According to the famous traveler Ibn Batuta, the Muslims in Quilon were able to establish a successful settlement led by their own chief and judge, who was of Persian origin.
• Quilon was not just a small town; it was an important sea port with a vibrant trade network. Merchants from Quilon traded with distant places such as Pegu, Malacca, and Sumatra.
• The port was known for exporting goods like pepper and calico, which were highly valued commodities. The Portuguese recognized the significance of Quilon and established their factory there to facilitate trade.

Raigarh

• Raigarh was the capital of the Maratha Empire during the rule of Shivaji.
• In 1674 A.D., Shivaji declared himself king in Raigarh, marking the formal establishment of his rule with great ceremony.