Indian History in Medieval Times

Trace the early Delhi sultanate, highlighting Iltutmish's expansion and the rise of loyal personal guards. Note copper coinage and the practice of rulers burying their own tombs to mark succession.

Balban consolidates the empire through a blood and iron policy, rewards loyalists, suppresses opposition, and strengthens royal authority with fortifications to defend the northwest frontier, drawing on Iranian influences.

Alauddin Khalji strengthens a standing army with cash pay and branding marks, launches market reforms with price controls, tax hikes, and revenue centralization, expanding his empire while curbing intermediaries.

Muhammad bin Tughlaq, a philosopher more than a practical ruler, imagined schemes such as relocating the capital and copper coinage, but failed to implement them, triggering taxation and inflation.

Firoz Shah Tughlaq pursued canal building and agricultural development, and formed a slave-labor department to train 1700 slaves for war and projects, while maintaining orthodox policies that weakened his rule.

Trace the Mughal Empire’s rise from 1526, founded by Babur, through gunpowder warfare and centralized administration, to its decline in 1857, marking the end of medieval India.

Babur defeats rival rulers to establish Mughal rule in India, capturing Delhi and adopting the title Ghazi, denouncing alcohol to boost his army and using jihad; Humayun continues expansion.

Akbar the great unified vast India through strategic military campaigns and centralized rule. He implemented administrative and revenue reforms, introduced a committee system, and standardized taxation and monetary practices.

Jahangir rose to the throne in 1605 as a patron of art and architecture, but battles opium addiction and intrigues; his reign ends with succession by Shah Jahan in 1628.