📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. The Five Dynasties
| Dynasty | Founder | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Slave / Mamluk | Qutbuddin Aibak | 1206–1290 |
| Khalji | Jalaluddin Khalji | 1290–1320 |
| Tughlaq | Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq | 1320–1414 |
| Sayyid | Khizr Khan | 1414–1451 |
| Lodi | Bahlul Lodi | 1451–1526 |
💡 Memory Tip: Order: "S-K-T-S-L" (Slave, Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, Lodi).
📌 2. Important Sultans
| Sultan | Key facts |
|---|---|
| Qutbuddin Aibak | "Lakh Bakhsh"; began Qutub Minar, Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, Adhai Din ka Jhonpra (Ajmer); died falling from a horse playing chaugan (1210). |
| Iltutmish | Real founder of the Sultanate; iqta system; Chalisa (Turkan-i-Chahalgani); silver tanka and copper jital; completed Qutub Minar; recognised by the Caliph (1229). |
| Razia Sultan | First and only woman ruler of Delhi (1236–40). |
| Balban | Policy of "blood and iron"; sijda and paibos; crushed the Chalisa; "Zill-i-Ilahi" (shadow of God). |
| Alauddin Khalji | Market control (price control); dagh (branding horses) and huliya (descriptive roll); standing army; Malik Kafur's southern campaigns; Alai Darwaza, Siri fort. |
| Muhammad bin Tughlaq | Shifted capital from Delhi to Daulatabad (Devagiri); token (copper) currency; raised taxes in the Doab; Ibn Battuta came (made qazi). |
| Firoz Shah Tughlaq | Built canals; Diwan-i-Khairat (charity), Diwan-i-Bandagan (slaves); brought two Ashokan pillars to Delhi; imposed jizya on Brahmins too. |
| Sikandar Lodi | Founded Agra (1504); Gaz-i-Sikandari for land measurement; wrote Persian poetry as "Gulrukhi". |
| Ibrahim Lodi | Last sultan; lost the First Battle of Panipat (1526) to Babur. |
- Timur invaded in 1398 (under Nasiruddin Mahmud Tughlaq).
- Amir Khusrau — "Tuti-i-Hind"; at several courts incl. Alauddin's; traditionally credited with sitar and tabla.
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- Iltutmish institutionalised the iqta system; market control was Alauddin's.
- Agra was founded by Sikandar Lodi, not Akbar.
📌 3. Administration & Terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Iqta | Land revenue assignment to an officer |
| Diwan-i-Wizarat | Finance department (Wazir) |
| Diwan-i-Arz | Military department (set up by Balban) |
| Diwan-i-Riyasat | Market department (Alauddin) |
| Diwan-i-Kohi | Agriculture department (Muhammad bin Tughlaq) |
| Kharaj / Jizya | Land tax / tax on non-Muslims |
📌 4. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. Who founded the Delhi Sultanate? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Qutbuddin Aibak founded the Slave dynasty in 1206.
Qutbuddin Aibak founded the Slave dynasty in 1206.
Q2. Who was the first woman ruler of Delhi? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Razia (1236–40) was the only woman sultan of Delhi.
Razia (1236–40) was the only woman sultan of Delhi.
Q3. Who introduced market control policy? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Alauddin fixed prices to maintain a large army cheaply.
Alauddin fixed prices to maintain a large army cheaply.
Q4. Who introduced token currency? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Muhammad bin Tughlaq issued copper coins at par with silver.
Muhammad bin Tughlaq issued copper coins at par with silver.
Q5. Who institutionalised the iqta system? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Iltutmish made iqta a regular administrative system.
Iltutmish made iqta a regular administrative system.
Q6. Who introduced 'sijda' and 'paibos'? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Balban introduced these Persian customs to raise royal prestige.
Balban introduced these Persian customs to raise royal prestige.
Q7. Who founded the city of Agra? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Sikandar Lodi founded Agra in 1504.
Sikandar Lodi founded Agra in 1504.
Q8. Who began branding horses (dagh) and recording soldiers' descriptions (huliya)? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Alauddin began dagh and huliya to stop fraud in the army.
Alauddin began dagh and huliya to stop fraud in the army.
Q9. Who shifted the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Muhammad bin Tughlaq made Devagiri (Daulatabad) his capital.
Muhammad bin Tughlaq made Devagiri (Daulatabad) his capital.
Q10. When did Timur invade India? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Timur sacked Delhi in 1398 in the last phase of the Tughlaqs.
Timur sacked Delhi in 1398 in the last phase of the Tughlaqs.
Q11. Who is called 'Tuti-i-Hind'? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Amir Khusrau is called the 'Parrot of India'.
Amir Khusrau is called the 'Parrot of India'.
Q12. Who introduced the silver tanka and copper jital? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Iltutmish issued the pure Arabic coins tanka and jital.
Iltutmish issued the pure Arabic coins tanka and jital.
Q13. Who set up the Diwan-i-Khairat (charity department)? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Firoz Tughlaq created it to help the poor and orphans.
Firoz Tughlaq created it to help the poor and orphans.
Q14. Who founded the Sayyid dynasty? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Khizr Khan founded the Sayyid dynasty in 1414.
Khizr Khan founded the Sayyid dynasty in 1414.
Q15. Where is the Adhai Din ka Jhonpra? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
This mosque built by Qutbuddin Aibak is at Ajmer.
This mosque built by Qutbuddin Aibak is at Ajmer.
Q16. Which department did Muhammad bin Tughlaq create for agriculture? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Diwan-i-Kohi was created to expand cultivation.
Diwan-i-Kohi was created to expand cultivation.
Q17. For his generosity, Qutbuddin Aibak was called: Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Aibak was called 'Lakh Bakhsh' (giver of lakhs).
Aibak was called 'Lakh Bakhsh' (giver of lakhs).
Q18. The Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta came during whose reign? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Ibn Battuta came under Muhammad bin Tughlaq and was made qazi.
Ibn Battuta came under Muhammad bin Tughlaq and was made qazi.
Q19. Who was the last sultan of Delhi? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Ibrahim Lodi lost to Babur at Panipat in 1526.
Ibrahim Lodi lost to Babur at Panipat in 1526.
Q20. Who formed the 'Chalisa' (Turkan-i-Chahalgani)? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Iltutmish formed this group of 40 Turkish nobles; Balban crushed it.
Iltutmish formed this group of 40 Turkish nobles; Balban crushed it.