Delhi Sultanate - Quiz

The Delhi Sultanate was a Muslim sultanate based mostly in Delhi that stretched over large parts of the Indian subcontinent for 320 years (1206-1526). Five dynasties ruled over the Delhi Sultanate sequentially: the Mamluk dynasty (1206-90), the Khilji dynasty (1290-1320), the Tughlaq dynasty (1320-1414), the Sayyid dynasty (1414-51), and the Lodi dynasty (1451-1526). Three dynasties (Mamluk, Khilji and Sayyid) were of Turkic origin, one dynasty (Tughlaq) was of Turko-Indian origin, and the last dynasty (Lodi) was of Pashtun origin. The sultanate is noted for being one of the few states to repel an attack by the Mongol Empire, and enthroned one of the few female rulers in Islamic history, Razia Sultana, who reigned from 1236 to 1240.

Qutb al-Din Aibak, a former slave of Muhammad Ghori, was the first sultan of Delhi and his dynasty conquered large areas of northern India. Afterwards, the Khilji dynasty was also able to conquer most of central India, but both failed to unite the Indian subcontinent. The sultanate reached the peak of its geographical reach during the Tughlaq dynasty, occupying most of the Indian subcontinent. This was followed by decline due to Hindu rebellions, states such as the Vijayanagara Empire asserting independence, and new Muslim sultanates such as the Bengal Sultanate breaking off.

Tughlaq instituted economic policies to increase the material welfare of his people. Many rest houses (sarai), gardens and tombs were built. A number of madrasas were opened to encourage literacy. He set up hospitals for the free treatment of the poor and encouraged physicians in the development of Unani medicine. He provided money for the marriage of girls belonging to poor families under the department of Diwan-i-khairat. He commissioned many public buildings in Delhi. He built Firoz Shah Palace Complex at Hisar in 1354 CE, over 300 villages and dug five major canals, including the renovation of Prithviraj Chauhan era Western Yamuna Canal, for irrigation bringing more land under cultivation for growing grain and fruit. For day-to-day administration, Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq heavily depended on Malik Maqbul, previously commander of Warangal fort, who was captured and converted to Islam. When Tughlaq was away on a campaign to Sind and Gujarat for six months and no news was available about his whereabouts Maqbul ably protected Delhi. He was the most highly favoured among the significant number of the nobles in Tughlaq's court and retained the trust of the sultan. Sultan Feroze Shah Tughlaq used to call Maqbul as 'brother'. The sultan remarked that Khan-i-Jahan (Malik Maqbul) was the real ruler of Delhi.

At the time Firuz Shah Tughlaq people got high income.

Explanation: The Mughal Empire succeeded the Delhi Sultanate after conquering it in 1526.

Explanation: Alauddin Khalji is known for his market regulation policy, which aimed to control prices and prevent hoarding.

Explanation: The Delhi Sultanate was established by the Ghurid conqueror Muhammad Ghori after defeating the Rajput Confederacy led by Prithviraj Chauhan in 1192.

Explanation: Qutub-ud-din Aibak was the first Sultan of Delhi and the founder of the Slave dynasty.

Explanation: The Delhi Sultanate was established by the Ghurid conqueror Muhammad Ghori, and it was one among several principalities ruled by his slave-generals.

Explanation: The influx of nomadic Turkic peoples from the Central Asian steppes can be traced back to the 9th century when the Islamic Caliphate began fragmenting in the Middle East.

Explanation: Alauddin Khilji was the first ruler of the Khilji dynasty in the Delhi Sultanate, which ruled from 1290 to 1320.

Explanation: There are conflicting accounts of who assassinated Muhammad of Ghor. Some accounts suggest that he was assassinated by Ismāʿīlī Shia Muslims, while others suggest that it was the Khokhars who were responsible