UPSSSC PET · Bite-size lessons

Delhi Sultanate

About 7 min · Indian History · English

Time worked out from the lesson's 541 words at 150 words a minute, plus a minute for each question.

The Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526 CE) marks a transformative period in Indian history when five successive Turkish and Afghan dynasties ruled from Delhi. For the UPSSSC PET, this topic is critical because it bridges ancient India and the Mughal era, and questions frequently test dynasty sequences, key rulers, administrative innovations like the iqta system, and military campaigns. You must master the chronological order of dynasties—Slave (Mamluk), Khilji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, and Lodi—and understand their unique contributions and failures.

Key ideas

• Five Dynasties in Sequence: Slave/Mamluk (1206–1290), Khilji (1290–1320), Tughlaq (1320–1414), Sayyid (1414–1451), Lodi (1451–1526). Remembering this sequence is non-negotiable.
• Iqta System: Land assignments (iqtas) given to military commanders (muqtis/iqtadars) instead of cash salaries. The iqtadar collected revenue from assigned territory, maintained troops, and sent surplus to the Sultan's treasury. Not hereditary initially; Firoz Shah Tughlaq made it hereditary, weakening central control.
• Mongol Threat: Repeated Mongol invasions (Chengiz Khan's raids, later Timur's sack of Delhi in 1398) forced Sultans to maintain large standing armies and fortify frontiers, draining resources and shaping military policy.
• Revenue Reforms: Alauddin Khilji's price control (market regulations) and Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq's revenue surveys attempted to stabilize the economy. Muhammad bin Tughlaq's token currency experiment (brass coins replacing silver) failed due to mass counterfeiting.
• Decentralization Under Tughlaqs: Muhammad Tughlaq's capital shift to Daulatabad (1327) and his erratic policies weakened Delhi's control. Provincial governors declared independence, leading to rise of Bahmani, Vijayanagar, Bengal, and Jaunpur sultanates.

Watch out for

• Confusing dynasty founders: Students often mix up Qutb-ud-din Aibak (Slave dynasty) with Alauddin Khilji (Khilji dynasty). Fix: Remember Aibak was slave of Ghori; Khilji overthrew the last Slave ruler.
• Iqta = Jagir confusion: Iqta is often confused with the Mughal jagir system. Fix: Iqta was typically non-hereditary revenue assignment (except under Firoz Tughlaq), while jagir under Mughals had similar function but different administrative terms (mansabdari linked).
• Muhammad Tughlaq's capital shift misremembered: Many recall only "shifted capital to Daulatabad" but miss that he attempted to shift back to Delhi after failure. Fix: Note the round-trip: Delhi → Daulatabad → back to Delhi, causing enormous hardship and depopulation.

Quick reference

• Dynasty Order: Slave (1206) → Khilji (1290) → Tughlaq (1320) → Sayyid (1414) → Lodi (1451) → ends 1526 at Panipat.
• Key Slave Rulers: Qutb-ud-din Aibak (founder), Iltutmish (consolidator), Razia Sultan (first woman ruler), Balban (despotic centralization).
• Key Khilji Ruler: Alauddin Khilji—market reforms, Mongol defense, Deccan conquest.
• Key Tughlaq Rulers: Muhammad bin Tughlaq (failed experiments), Firoz Shah Tughlaq (welfare, hereditary iqta).
• Iqta System: Revenue assignment to nobles/military officers; non-hereditary except under Firoz; maintained army without cash salaries.

Check yourself: 3 questions

This lesson is cut from the topic's note, not rewritten. Fact-checked on 17 Oct 2026: an AI-assisted check of this note against cited sources; the errors it found were corrected that day. Some errors may remain. The questions are from Shishya's validated question bank.

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