MEDIEVAL INDIA - HISTORY

MEDIEVAL INDIA

DELHI SULTANATE, (Time Period: 1206 - 1526 CE)

(A.) SLAVE/ILBARI DYNASTY, Time Period: 1206 - 1287 CE.

(1.) Qutub-ud-Din Aibak (Period: 1206 - 1210 CE.)

• Founder of the Slave dynasty.
• Known as "Lakh Baksh".
• Built the first mosque in India "Quwwat-ul-Islam" at Delhi & Khai din a Jhopra' at Ajmer.
• Started construction of 'Qutub Minar' in memory of the saint Qutub-ud-Din Bakhtiyar Khaki.
• Died during playing Chaugun (horse polo).

(2.) Iltutmish (Period: 1210 - 1236 CE)

• The real founder of Turkish rule.
• Introduced 'Iqtadari' & 'Chahalghani' system.
• Issued Arabic coinage of 'silver tank'.
• Father of tomb building, completed construction of Qutub Minar.
• Declared daughter Razia Sultan as his successor.

(3.) Razia Sultan (Period: 1236 - 1249 CE)

• First & last lady Muslim ruler of medieval India.
• Discarded female apparel and purdah.
• Came in controversy over the appointment of a non-Turkish Abyssinian slave Malik-Yaqut.
• Rebellion by Governor of Sirhind (Bhatinda) Altuniya.

(4.) Bahram Shah (Period: 1240 - 1242 CE)

• The ascendancy of the Chahalghani (forty nobles)
• Murdered by own Army.

(5.) Nasiruddin Mahmud (Period: 1246 - 1266 CE)

• Grandson of Iltutmish but the real power in hands of Balban.

(6.) Ghiyas -ud-Din Balban (Period: 1266 - 1287 CE)

• Followed policy of 'Blood & Iron'.
• Introduced concept of - Zil-i-Ilahi, Sajda, Paibos, Persian festival of Nauroz.
• Separated 'Diwan-i-Arz' (military department) from 'Diwan-i-Wizarat' (finance).
• Administered justice with extreme impartiality.
• Amir Khushrau (who invented Sitar) was at his court.

(B.) KHALJI DYNASTY, Time Period: 1290 - 1320 CE.

(1.) Jalauddin Khilji (Period: 1290 - 1296 CE.) 

• Founder of Khalji
• The first sultan to have benevolent (kind-hearted) towards Hindu.

(2.) Alauddin Khilji (Period: 1296 - 1316 CE.) 

• 'Chehra & Daag' system.
• Market reforms.
• The permanent army had able soldier Malik Kafur who expanded the empire to as far as Rameshwaram.
• Believed in the principle that 'Kingship knows no kinship', curbed the powers of nobles.
• Recognized intelligence system.
• Adopted the title of 'Sikandar-i-Azam' and gave Khusrau title of 'Tuti-i-Hind'.
• Reputed suzerainty of the caliph.

(3.) Qutuddin Mubarak Shah (Period: 1316 - 1320 CE.) 

(4.) Nasiruddin Khurau Shah (Period: 1320 CE.)

• Only Hindu convert to sit on the throne of Delhi.

(C.) TUGHLAQ DYNASTY, Time Period: 1320 - 1413 CE.

(1.) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (Period: 1320 - 1325 CE.) 

• Founder of Tughlaq dynasty adopted the title of Ghazi (Slayer of Infields)
• The first sultan to start irrigation work.
• Have a troublesome relationship with Sufi saint Nizamuddin Aulia.
• Died due to the collapse of the wooden structure.

(2.) Mohammad Bin Tughlaq (Period: 1325 - 1351 CE.) 

• The idea of token currency (copper coins)
• Shifted capital from Delhi --> Devagiri (Daulatabad) and later reverted back to Delhi.
• Set up a new department of agriculture 'Diwan-i-amir-kohi'.
• Built fort of Adilabad & city of Jahanpanah.
• Famous traveler Ibn Battuta (author of Safarnama, Rehla) stayed at his court and acted as qazi for eight years.

(3.) Firoz Shah Tughlaq (Period: 1351 - 1388 CE.) 

• Made Iqtadari system hereditary.
• Built a number of canals and set up the department of public works and one department of charity.
• Developed royal factories - Karkhanas.
• Built new town of Hisar, Jaunpur, Firozabad.
• Repaired Qutub Minar which was struck by lightning.
• Famous historians Barani stayed at his court.

(4.) Nasiruddin Mohammad (Period: 1390 - 1413 CE.) 

• Timur invaded Delhi (1398 CE) and plundered the city.

(5.) Daulat Khan (Period: 1413 CE.) o

• Defeated by Khizr Khan who founded the Sayyad dynasty.

(D.) SAYYAD DYNASTY, Time Period: 1414 - 1451 CE.

(1.) Khizr Khan (Period: 1414 - 1421 CE.) o

• Founder of the Sayyad dynasty.

(E.) LODHI DYNASTY, Time Period: 1451 - 1526 CE.

(1.) Bahlol Lodhi (Period: 1451 - 1489 CE.) 

(2.) Sikander Lodhi (Period: 1489 - 1517 CE.) 

• Greatest & noblest of all Lodhis introduced 'Gaz-i-Sikandari'.
• Founded Agra & wrote 'Gulrakhi' (Persian verses)

(3.) Ibrahim Lodhi (Period: 1517 - 1526 CE.) 

• Defeated by Rana Sanga of Mewar & Babur in the First battle of Panipat (1526 CE).

MUGHAL DYNASTY, Time Period: 1526 - 1857 CE.

(1.) Babur (Period: 1526 - 1530 CE.) 

• Founder of the Mughal Empire.
• Wrote his memory in Turki Tuzuk-i-Babri.
• Introduced concept of Char Baghs.
• Built two Mosque - at Panipat, and Sambhat in Rohilkhand.
• 1526: First battle of Panipat = Babur (winner) + Ibrahim Lodhi.
• 1527: Battle of Khanwa = Babur (winner) + (Rana Sanga of Mewar, Raja Medini Rai of Chanderi, Hasan Khan of Mewat, Mahmud Lodhi)
• 1529: Battle of Chanderi = Babur (winner) + Medini Rai of Chanderi.
• 1529: Battle of Ghaghra = Babur (winner) + Mahmud Lodhi ( younger brother of Ibrahim Lodhi)

(2.) Humayun (Period: 1530 - 1556 CE.) 

• 1529: Battle of Chausa = Humayun + Sher Shah Suri.
• 1540: Battle of Bilgrama/Kannauj = Sher Shah Suri + Humayun (had to flee from Delhi and remain in exile for next 15 years)
• 1555: Again regained the Mughal throne but died shortly after falling from stairs.
• His sister Gulbadan Begum wrote 'Humayun-nama'.
• Got built a new city Dinapanah and mosque of Isa Khan & Jamali.
• Had famous painters Mir Sayyid & Abdus Sannad at his court.

(3.) Akbar (Period: 1556 - 1605 CE.) 

• Born at Amarkot, son of Humayun & Hamida Banu Begum.
• 1556: Second battle of Panipat = Akbar represented by Bairam Khan (winner) + Hemu Vikramaditya.
• 1576: Annexation of Gujarat and got constructed Buland Darwaza (Door of victory) to mark his victory.
• Shifted capital from Agra --> Fatehpur Sikri.
• Got constructed Agra Fort & Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri, where he discussed with scholars of different religions.
• 1563: Abolished pilgrim tax.
• 1564: Abolish Jaziya.
• 1576: Battle of Haldighati = Akbar (winner) + Rana Pratap, Rana of Mewar.
• 1585: Ralph Fitch (1st Englishman) visited Akbar's court.
• 1582: promulgated a new religion called Din-i-Illahi.

Had Navratnas:

• Abul Fazl - wrote 'Ain-i-Akbari' & 'Akbarnama'.
• Faizi - a Persian poet, translated Lilavati into Persian.
• Fakir Aziaudin - Sufi mystic and chief advisor.
• Tansen - Great musician.
• Raja Birbal/ Mahesh Das - Courtier, who died fighting Yusuf Shahis on NW frontier.
• Raja Todar Mal - Finance Minister.
• Raja Man Singh - Trusted General.
• Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khan - A great poet, translated Baburnama into Turki, Devotee of Lord Krishna.
• Mirza Aziz Koka - Leading noble.

(4.) Jahangir (Salim) (Period: 1605 - 1627 CE.) 

• Revolted against Akbar.
• Under the influence of Nur Jahan, his wife.
• Got fifth Sikh Guru Arjun Dev Beheaded for supporting rebel Prince Khusrau.
• Captain Hawkins & Thomas Roe visited his court and Thomas Roe got Farman for setting a factory at Surat.
• Wrote his autobiography 'Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri' and famous author Abdul Hamid Lahori wrote 'Padshah Namah'.
• Built - Moti Mahal at Lahore, Shalimar & Nishat garden in Kashmir.
• Under his reign, the Mughal painting reached its zenith. 

Had painters-

• Ustad Mansur (animal painting specialist)
• Bishan Das (master of portrait)

(5.) Shah Jahan (Khurram) (Period: 1628 - 1658 CE.) 

• His era known as the Golden age of the Mughal Empire.
• 1636: His Deccan policy was more successful, and treaties were signed with Bijapur & Golconda.
• During his reign, French traveler Bernier & Tavernier, Italian Manucci & Peter Mundy visited.
• Sudden illness plunged the empire into a civil war.

He built-

• 1632 - 53: Tajmahal - at Agra, built for Mumtaz Mahal, by Ustad Isa in 22 years.
• 1638 - 48: Red Fort, Delhi.
• 1639: City of Shehjahanabad.
• 1641: Shalimar Garden, Lahore, Pakistan
• 1650 - 56: Jama Masjid, Delhi
• Moti Masjid (Agra Fort) - at Agra.
• Sheesh Mahal, Delhi.

(6.) Aurangzeb (Darveshi Zindapir) (Period: 1658 - 1707 CE.) 

• 1658: Battle of Samuragh = Aurangzeb & Murad (winner) + Dara Shikoh.
• 1659: Battle of Khajwah = Aurangzeb (winner) + Shah Shuja
• 1659: Battle of Deorai = Aurangzeb (winner) + Dara Shikoh.
• Executed the ninth Sikh Guru Tej Bahadur.
• was orthodox in his outlook & reimposed Jaziya.
• Due to the simple lifestyle, also known as 'Darveshi Zindapir'.

Built-

• Moti Masjid, at Red Fort Delhi.
• Badshahi mosque - at Lahore.

LATER MUGHAL:

The power of kings declined and nobles became proxy kings.

(1.) Shah Alam I/Bahadur Shah/Muazzam (Period: 1707 - 1712 CE.) o

• Adopted a more tolerant attitude towards Hindus.
• Had half-hearted conciliation with Marathas as released Shahu but didn't recognize him as rightful Maratha king.
• The real power in the hands' Wazir Zulfiqar Khan and the king was title as Shah-i-Bekhabar.

(2.) Jahader Shah (Period: 1712 - 1713 CE.) 

• First puppet rulers of Mughals.
• The evil practice of Ijarah (Revenue farming) was introduced.
• Real power again in hands of Wazir Zulfiqar Khan.

(3.) Farrukh Siyar (Period: 1713 - 1719 CE.) 

• Ascended the throne with the help of Sayyad brothers (King Makers) - Abdullah Khan (wazir), Hussain Ali Khan (Mir Bakshi)
• Executed Sikh leader Banda Bahadur.
• 1717: granted many trading privileges to East India Company.
• Thrice plotted against Sayyad brothers but failed, and ultimately Sayyad brothers with the assistance of Balaji Vishwanath killed Farrukh Siyar. 

(4.) Rafi-us-Darajat (Period: 1717 CE.) 

• Placed on the throne by Sayyad brothers but died within 4 months of tuberculosis.

(5.) Rafi-us-Daula (Period: 1719 CE.) 

(6.) Mohammad Shah 'Rangeela' (Period: 1719 - 1748 CE.) 

• Nephew of Jahandar Shah.
• Sayyad brothers were deposed.
• Expert Kathak dancer himself.
• More interested in sensual pleasures.
• 1739: Nadir Shah invaded India & Ahmad Shah Abdali too raided kingdom for the first time.
• Many autonomous states emerged - 1.) In Deccan: Nizam-ul-Mulk. 2.) In Awadh: Saadat Khan. 3.) In Bengal: Murshid Quli Khan.

(7.) Ahmad Shah Abdali (Period: 1748 - 1754 CE.) 

• Multiple invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali and the emergence of other autonomous states.
• Was blinded and prisoned by his Wazir Imad-ul-Mulk.

(8.) Alamgir II (Period: 1754 - 1759 CE.) M

• 1757: Battle of Plassey - murdered by the wazir Imad-ul-Mulk.

(9.) Shah Alam/Ali Gauhar II (Period: 1759 - 1806 CE.) 

• Due to fear of Wazir, remained as a refugee with Shuja-ud-daulah of Avadh.
• 1761: Third battle of Panipat = Marathas + Ahmad Shah Abdali.
• 1764: Battle of Buxar = British (winner) + Mughal, Shuja-ud-daulah of Awadh.

(10.) Akbar II (Period: 1806 - 1837 CE.) M

• Remained in British protection.
• Conferred title of Raja on Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

(11.) Bahadur Shah II Zafar (Period: 1837 - 1857 CE.) 

• Last Mughal emperor.
• After the revolt of 1857 CE, deported to Rangoon where he died in 1862 CE.

BRITISH RULE...started

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FOREIGN TRAVELERS IN INDIA - HISTORY

FOREIGN TRAVELERS IN INDIA 

Throughout the course of history, India has been a center of attraction for rulers and travelers worldwide. 

• They have always been attracted to ample opportunities for our country provided and have been interested in its diverse culture, religions, and traditions. 
• Most of these came to India wrote their own accounts that deal with its unique focus areas.
• Some travelers wrote about the affairs of the court while some focused on contemporary style architecture and monuments or depicted the social and economic life.
• Every such account presents a veracious picture of then Indian Civilisation.
• In the ancient and medieval periods, many prominent travelers visited India and recorded their observations and declarations.

Brief description of some of the most important Travelers:

(1.) Megasthenes, Time period: 302 - 298 BC.

• Born- 350 BC.
• Greek Historian, Diplomat, Explorer, Ambassador of Greek Warrior Seleucus I Nikator.
• Indian Dynasty- Maurya dynasty.
• Ruler: Chandragupta Maurya = Founder of the Maurya dynasty.
• He visited the Maurya capital Patliputra.
• The book- Indica/Indika. 

Indica- 

• Indica described the sub-continent as a quadrilateral shaped country, bounded by the ocean on the Southern & Eastern side.
• It also gives us the details of soils, rivers, plants, animals, administration & the social and religious life of India.
• The book also communicated that Indians worshiped Lord Krishna during that time and there existed seven castes in India.
• He founded two major caste system - 1.) Endogamy, 2.) Hereditary occupation.
• He was influenced by the Herodotus classification of Egyptian society.

(2.) Fa - Hien, Time Period: 405 - 411 AD.

• Chinese Buddhist monk and translator.
• First Chinese pilgrim to visit India.
• He studied the Sanskrit language in Patliputra.
• Indian dynasty - Gupta dynasty.
• Ruler- Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya).
• He visited Peshawar, Taxila, Mathura, Kannauj, Sravasti, Kapilvastu, Sarnath, and many other places.
• Books - Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms.
• His Religious & Social life of Indians at that time.

(3.) Hiuen Tsang, Time Period: 630 - 645 AD.

• The Chinese traveler, Buddhist scholar-monk, and translator.
• Known as - Xuanzang, Prince of Pilgrims.
• Ruler - Harshavardhana (Pushyabhuti).
• He spent five years at the Nalanda University and studied under Acharya Shilabhadra.
• He visited Kashmir, Punjab, Kapilvastu, Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Decca, Odisha, Bengal.
• Book: Si-Yu-Ki = Buddhist Record of The Western World.

(4.) I -Tsing, Time Period: 671 - 695 AD.

• Chinese traveler.
• He visited India in connection with Buddhism.
• Contributions - work on Biographies of eminent monks, which provides information about the social, religious & cultural life of the country.

(5.) Al - Masudi, Time Period: 956 AD.

• Arab historian, geographer, author, and explorer.
• Known as - Herodotus of the Arabs.
• Book - Muruj-ul-Zehab.
• He combined world history with scientific geography, social contemporary, and biography as is published in English named "The Meadows of Gold and Mines of Gems".

(6.) Al-Biruni (Abu Rehman Muhammad), Time Period: 1024 - 1030 AD.

• Scholar well versed in Syriac, Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, Sanskrit.
• He came to India along with Mahmud of Ghazni and traveled all over India.
• Books - 1.) Kitab-ul-Hind, 2.) Tahqiq-i-Hind.
• The books dealt with social, religious, and political conditions in India.

(7.) Marco Polo, Time Period: 1292 - 1294 AD.

• Italian merchant, adventurer, writer.
• He visited South India during the reign of the Pandyan ruler of Madurai, Madverman, Kulshekhara.
• Books - 1.) The Travels of Marco Polo, 2.) The Book of Sir Marco Polo = this book is inspired, Christopher Columbus.

(8.) Ibn Batuta, Time Period: 1333 - 1347 AD.

• Moroccan traveler.
• Throughout his life, he traveled in Syria, Iraq, Persia, Yemen, Oman, and few trading ports on the coast of East Africa.
• India visit- during the reign of Muhammad Bin Tughlaq, who appointed him as "Qazi" or Judge of Delhi.
• Book - Rihla (in Arabic)
• The book is highly meticulous where deep observations about new cultures, people, beliefs, and values.
• He also mentions - postal systems.

The route he took is shown diagrammatically below:

(9.) Nicole De Conti, Time Period: 1420 - 1421 AD.

• Italian merchnat & traveler.
• He traveled to the Vijayanagara kingdom.
• Ruler - Devaraya I.
• In Mylapore (Chennai), he founded the tomb of St. Thomas.
• He confirmed the gold and spice trade amongst India, Sumatra, China.
• He referred to the Telugu language as "Italian of the East".
• Book - Cristofordo da Bollate.

(10.) Abdur Razzaq, Time Period: 1443 - 1444 AD.

• Persian, Timurid chronicler, scholar.
• He traveled to the Vijayanagara kingdom.
• Ruler - Devaraya II.
• Book: Malta-us-Sadain was Majma-ul-Bahrain.

(11.) Domingo Paes, Time Period: 1520 - 1522 AD.

• Portuguese merchant, writer, explorer.
• Indian dynasty- Tuluva dynasty (Vijayanagara empire)
• Ruler - Krishnadeva Raya.
• Book - Chronica dos reis de Bisnaga.

He reported the following features about the empire:

• Advanced irrigation technology - that allowed the present to high yielding crops.
• wide variety of cultures where shown in crops & vegetation.
• the busy market of precious stones.
• the city was prospering and its size was comparable to Rome, which abundant vegetation, aqueducts, and artificial lakes.

(12.) William Hawkins, Time Period: 1608 - 1611 AD.

• The representative of English East India Company and ambassador of the British King James-I.
• Traveled to Agra in the court of Mughal Emperor Jahangir.
• He came to negotiate for the establishment of a factory at Surat.
• Favor by Jahangir enabled him to overcome all difficulties and this permission was the first distinct recognition of English commerce in the East.

(13.) Sir Thomas Roe, Time Period: 1615 - 1619 AD.

• English diplomats, members of the House of Commons, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
• He stayed at the court of Mughal Emperor Jahangir.
• The main objective of his mission was to get the protection of the factory of British East India Company at Surat.
• Book - 1.) The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul, 2.) Journal of the Mission to the Mughal Empire.

(14.) Jean-Baptise Tavernier, Time Period: 1638 - 1643 AD.

• French gem (diamond) merchant, traveler.
• He came to ti India and traveled as far as Agra and from there to the Kingdom of Golconda.
• He also visited the court of Shahjahan.
• In his book, he has discussed diamond and the diamond mines of India.

(15.) Francois Bernier, Time Period: 1656 - 1717 AD.

• Frenchman, doctor, political philosopher, historian.
• Indian Dynasty - Timurid dynasty.
• Ruler - Dara Sikhoh
• He stayed here for 12 years in the Mughal Empire.
• He compared Mughal India with contemporary Europe.
• He wrote in his book about the prevalent social and economic life.
• He described Mughal cities as 'Camp Towns' because towns owned their existence on the imperial camps.

               

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