Questions covered are
1: Why was there no mention of a kingdom with Delhi as its capital before the 12th century?
2: What was the significance of the Tomara and Chauhan dynasties in Delhi’s history?
3: Which dynasties ruled Delhi from the 12th to the 15th century?
4: What was the ‘circle of justice’ and its importance in governance?
5: What challenges did Raziyya Sultan face during her reign?
6: How did historians like Minhaj-us-Siraj view female rulers?
7: Why did the Sultans prefer to appoint slaves as governors?
8: What were the responsibilities of the ‘iqtadars’ under the Khaljis and Tughluqs?
9: What steps did the Khaljis and Tughluqs take to ensure effective governance?
10: What was the role of birthright and gender distinctions in the social order promoted by the chroniclers?
11: How did the appointments made by Sultan Muhammad Tughluq shock the elites?
12: What were the different types of taxes levied under the Delhi Sultanate?
13: How did the Mongol invasions impact the Delhi Sultanate?
14: What were the challenges in controlling the subcontinent for the Delhi Sultans?
15: How did local chieftains defend their territories against the Sultanate’s forces?
16: What led to the decline of the Delhi Sultanate in the 15th and 16th centuries?
17: How did Sher Shah Suri’s administration influence later rulers?
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1: Why was there no mention of a kingdom with Delhi as its capital before the 12th century?
Delhi became an important city only in the 12th century under the Tomara Rajputs and later the Chauhans. Before this, it was not a significant center of power.
2: What was the significance of the Tomara and Chauhan dynasties in Delhi’s history?
Under the Tomaras and Chauhans, Delhi became an important commercial center with several temples and minted coins that had wide circulation.
3: Which dynasties ruled Delhi from the 12th to the 15th century?
The major dynasties were:
– Tomara Rajputs: Early 12th century to 1165
– Chauhans: 1165 to 1192
– Early Turkish Rulers: Including Qutbuddin Aybak (1206-1210)
– Khalji Dynasty
– Tughluq Dynasty
– Sayyid Dynasty: Including Khizr Khan (1414-1421)
– Lodi Dynasty
4: What was the ‘circle of justice’ and its importance in governance?
The ‘circle of justice’ highlighted the interdependence between the king, soldiers, and peasants, emphasizing that just governance led to prosperity and the ability to pay taxes, which in turn sustained the king and his soldiers.
5: What challenges did Raziyya Sultan face during her reign?
Raziyya faced opposition because of her gender, with nobles and citizens uncomfortable with a woman ruling. She was eventually removed from the throne due to this resistance.
6: How did historians like Minhaj-us-Siraj view female rulers?
Minhaj-us-Siraj viewed female rulers as going against the social order, believing that women were supposed to be subordinate to men, and questioned how a woman could possess ruling qualities.
7: Why did the Sultans prefer to appoint slaves as governors?
Slaves, who were entirely dependent on the Sultan, were seen as more reliable and trustworthy than aristocrats or sons, who might have their own ambitions.
8: What were the responsibilities of the ‘iqtadars’ under the Khaljis and Tughluqs?
‘Iqtadars’ were responsible for leading military campaigns, maintaining law and order, and collecting revenues from their assigned territories, which they used to pay soldiers.
9: What steps did the Khaljis and Tughluqs take to ensure effective governance?
They appointed state accountants to monitor revenue collection, enforced strict control over ‘iqtadars’, and sometimes moved them frequently to prevent them from becoming too powerful.
10: What was the role of birthright and gender distinctions in the social order promoted by the chroniclers?
Chroniclers believed in a social order based on birthright and gender distinctions, where nobles inherited rights to govern, and men were considered superior to women.
11: How did the appointments made by Sultan Muhammad Tughluq shock the elites?
Muhammad Tughluq appointed people of humble birth, such as a wine distiller, barber, and cook, to high administrative positions, which was criticized by elites and chroniclers as a sign of poor political judgment.
12: What were the different types of taxes levied under the Delhi Sultanate?
The taxes included:
– Kharaj: A tax on cultivation, amounting to about 50% of the peasant’s produce
– Tax on cattle
– Tax on houses
– Khums: A fifth of war booty or mining products
– Zakat: A tax for Muslims, typically for charitable purposes
– Jizyah: A tax on non-Muslims who were under the protection of the Sultanate
13: How did the Mongol invasions impact the Delhi Sultanate?
The Mongol invasions forced the Delhi Sultans, particularly Alauddin Khalji and Muhammad Tughluq, to maintain large standing armies, which presented significant administrative challenges.
14: What were the challenges in controlling the subcontinent for the Delhi Sultans?
Large parts of the subcontinent, including regions like Bengal and parts of South India, remained outside the control of the Sultanate. Forested areas also provided strongholds for local chieftains.
15: How did local chieftains defend their territories against the Sultanate’s forces?
Chieftains built fortifications and sometimes allied with other local rulers to defend their territories against the Sultanate’s forces.
16: What led to the decline of the Delhi Sultanate in the 15th and 16th centuries?
The decline was due to the rise of independent regional powers in Bengal, Gujarat, Malwa, Rajasthan, and South India, as well as the emergence of new ruling groups like the Afghans and Rajputs.
17: How did Sher Shah Suri’s administration influence later rulers?
Sher Shah Suri introduced administrative reforms that were later adopted by Emperor Akbar to consolidate the Mughal Empire.
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