Medieval India

Delhi Sultanate, Mughals, Bhakti and Sufi Movements

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Overview

Medieval India spans roughly from 1206 CE (establishment of the Delhi Sultanate) to 1857 CE (end of Mughal rule). This period witnessed the arrival of Central Asian rulers, the establishment of powerful empires, and a remarkable cultural synthesis between Indian and Islamic traditions. For JTET Paper II, this topic is essential as it forms the backbone of Indian history questions in social studies.

Students must understand the political developments under the Delhi Sultanate and Mughals, their administrative systems, and architectural achievements. Equally important are the Bhakti and Sufi movements, which promoted social harmony, challenged rigid orthodoxy, and left lasting impressions on Indian society and culture. Questions often test factual recall of rulers, their contributions, and the teachings of major saints.

The relevance to Jharkhand is notable—the region was part of the Bengal Sultanate and later came under Mughal control. Understanding this period helps teachers contextualise local history within the broader national narrative.

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Key Concepts

• **Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526 CE)**: Five dynasties ruled successively—Slave (Mamluk), Khilji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, and Lodi. Each contributed to administration, military expansion, and architecture.

• **Iqta System**: Land revenue system where nobles (iqtadars) collected taxes on behalf of the Sultan in exchange for military service—not hereditary ownership.

• **Mughal Empire (1526–1857 CE)**: Founded by Babur after the First Battle of Panipat (1526). Reached zenith under Akbar, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb before declining after 1707.

• **Mansabdari System**: Mughal administrative system where nobles held ranks (mansabs) determining their salary and military obligations. Ranks were in zat (personal) and sawar (cavalry).

• **Din-i-Ilahi**: Akbar's syncretic faith (1582) blending elements from various religions—never became popular but symbolised his liberal religious policy.

• **Bhakti Movement**: Devotional movement emphasising personal love for God, rejecting caste distinctions and ritualism. Spread across north and south India from 7th century onwards.

• **Sufi Movement**: Islamic mysticism emphasising love, tolerance, and spiritual connection with God. Silsilas (orders) like Chishti, Suhrawardi, Naqshbandi, and Qadiri played major roles.

• **Cultural Synthesis**: Medieval period saw Indo-Islamic architecture, Urdu language development, and fusion in music, painting, and literature.

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Key Facts

### Delhi Sultanate Rulers | Dynasty | Important Rulers | Key Contributions | |---------|------------------|-------------------| | Slave/Mamluk | Qutbuddin Aibak, Iltutmish, Razia Sultan, Balban | Qutub Minar begun; first woman ruler Razia (1236–40) | | Khilji | Alauddin Khilji | Market control system; repelled Mongol invasions | | Tughlaq | Muhammad bin Tughlaq, Firoz Shah Tughlaq | Token currency experiment; shifted capital to Daulatabad | | Sayyid | Khizr Khan | Weak rulers; controlled only Delhi region | | Lodi | Ibrahim Lodi | Defeated at First Battle of Panipat (1526) |

### Mughal Emperors | Emperor | Reign | Major Achievement | |---------|-------|-------------------| | Babur | 1526–30 | Founded empire; introduced gunpowder warfare | | Humayun | 1530–40, 1555–56 | Lost and regained empire; built Dinpanah | | Akbar | 1556–1605 | Sulh-i-kul policy; abolished jizya; Mansabdari system | | Jahangir | 1605–27 | Justice chain; patronised painting | | Shah Jahan | 1628–58 | Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Jama Masjid | | Aurangzeb | 1658–1707 | Maximum territorial extent; reimposed jizya |

### Bhakti Saints

• **Ramanuja** (South): Vishishtadvaita philosophy; promoted bhakti among lower castes
• **Kabir** (North): Nirguna bhakti; opposed idol worship and caste discrimination
• **Guru Nanak**: Founded Sikhism; emphasised one God and equality
• **Mirabai**: Devotee of Krishna; composed bhajans in Rajasthani
• **Tulsidas**: Wrote Ramcharitmanas in Awadhi
• **Chaitanya Mahaprabhu**: Popularised Krishna bhakti in Bengal

### Sufi Orders

• **Chishti Silsila**: Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (Ajmer), Nizamuddin Auliya (Delhi)—emphasised love, tolerance, simple living
• **Suhrawardi Silsila**: More involved with state; Bahauddin Zakariya (Multan)
• **Concepts**: Khanqah (hospice), sama (spiritual music), pir-murid relationship

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Worked Examples

**Example 1**: Arrange the following Delhi Sultanate dynasties in chronological order: (A) Tughlaq, Khilji, Slave, Lodi, Sayyid

**Solution**: Step 1: Recall the sequence—Slave dynasty came first (1206) Step 2: Khilji followed (1290), then Tughlaq (1320) Step 3: Sayyid (1414) and finally Lodi (1451) **Answer**: Slave → Khilji → Tughlaq → Sayyid → Lodi

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**Example 2**: Match the following: | Column A | Column B | |----------|----------| | 1. Akbar | a. Taj Mahal | | 2. Shah Jahan | b. Token currency | | 3. Muhammad bin Tughlaq | c. Sulh-i-kul |

**Solution**:

• Akbar is known for Sulh-i-kul (peace with all) → 1-c
• Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal → 2-a
• Muhammad bin Tughlaq introduced token currency → 3-b

**Answer**: 1-c, 2-a, 3-b

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**Example 3**: Which Sufi saint is associated with the Chishti order in Ajmer?

**Solution**: Step 1: Recall major Chishti saints—Moinuddin Chishti, Nizamuddin Auliya, Salim Chishti Step 2: Ajmer is specifically associated with Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti **Answer**: Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti

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Common Mistakes

• **Confusing Iqta with Jagir**: Iqta was a Sultanate system and was not hereditary; Jagir under Mughals had different characteristics. Fix: Remember Iqta = Sultanate, transferable.

• **Mixing up Tughlaq experiments**: Students confuse Muhammad bin Tughlaq's token currency with shifting capital. Fix: Token currency = copper coins equal to silver; Capital shift = Delhi to Daulatabad.

• **Attributing Qutub Minar solely to one ruler**: Qutbuddin Aibak started it, but Iltutmish completed it. Fix: "Aibak began, Iltutmish finished."

• **Confusing Nirguna and Saguna Bhakti**: Nirguna = formless God (Kabir, Nanak); Saguna = God with form (Tulsidas, Mirabai). Fix: Associate Kabir-Nanak with "no idol."

• **Wrong dates for Panipat battles**: First Panipat (1526) = Babur vs Ibrahim Lodi; Second (1556) = Akbar vs Hemu; Third (1761) = Marathas vs Afghans. Fix: "26-56-61" sequence.

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Quick Reference

• **Delhi Sultanate**: 1206–1526 CE; five dynasties; ended at First Battle of Panipat.
• **Akbar's policies**: Sulh-i-kul, abolished jizya, Din-i-Ilahi, Mansabdari system.
• **Shah Jahan**: "Builder emperor"—Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Jama Masjid.
• **Bhakti**: Personal devotion, social equality, vernacular literature; Kabir, Nanak, Mirabai.
• **Sufi**: Mystical Islam; Chishti order most influential; Khanqah culture.
• **1526, 1556, 1707**: Mughal foundation, Akbar's consolidation, Aurangzeb's death (decline begins).