Delhi Sultanate Notes for SSC Exams

The Delhi Sultanate was the rule of five Muslim dynasties from Delhi between 1206 and 1526. It is a standard chapter of medieval history in SSC exams, and the questions are mostly on the rulers, their reforms and their buildings. These Delhi Sultanate notes for SSC give the five dynasties in short tables, followed by the reforms and practice questions in simple language.

Background: Before the Sultanate

• In the Second Battle of Tarain (1192), Muhammad Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan.
• Ghori appointed his general Qutbuddin Aibak as his governor in India.
• After the death of Ghori in 1206, Aibak became the first Sultan of Delhi.

The Five Dynasties

Slave Dynasty: Key Rulers

• Qutbuddin Aibak: Began the Qutub Minar and built the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque in Delhi and the Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra at Ajmer.
• Iltutmish: Real founder of the Delhi Sultanate; introduced the silver tanka and the copper jital; divided the nobles into the Chahalgani (group of forty).
• Razia Sultan (1236 to 1240): The first and only woman ruler of the Delhi Sultanate.
• Balban: Introduced the practices of Sijda and Paibos, and the policy of "blood and iron".

Khalji Dynasty and Alauddin Khalji

Alauddin Khalji (1296 to 1316) is the most famous ruler of this dynasty. He extended the empire to the south with the help of his general Malik Kafur.

Tughlaq Dynasty

• Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq: Founded the dynasty and built Tughlaqabad.
• Muhammad bin Tughlaq (1325 to 1351): Shifted the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad (1327), introduced token currency made of copper, and tried increasing tax in the Doab. His plans failed, and he is known as the "wise fool".
• Firoz Shah Tughlaq: Built canals, the city of Firozabad, and started the Diwan-i-Khairat for charity.
• The traveller Ibn Battuta visited India during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq.
• Timur invaded India in 1398.

Sayyid and Lodi Dynasties

• Khizr Khan founded the Sayyid dynasty and called himself a deputy of Timur.
• Bahlol Lodi founded the Lodi dynasty, the first Afghan dynasty of the Sultanate.
• Sikandar Lodi founded the city of Agra in 1504.
• Ibrahim Lodi was defeated by Babur in the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, and the Sultanate ended.

Administration of the Sultanate

Quick Tips

• Learn the five dynasties as a list in order, and then add two rulers to each.
• Link Alauddin Khalji with the market control and Muhammad bin Tughlaq with the capital shift and token currency.
• Remember Razia as the only woman ruler, because this question is repeated.
• Revise the buildings along with the rulers for the architecture questions.

Quick Revision Points

• The Delhi Sultanate lasted from 1206 to 1526 under five dynasties.
• Qutbuddin Aibak was the first Sultan.
• Razia Sultan was the only woman ruler of the Sultanate.
• Alauddin Khalji started market control and branding of horses.
• The Sultanate ended with the First Battle of Panipat in 1526.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. Who was the first Sultan of Delhi?
   Answer: Qutbuddin Aibak
2. Who was the only woman ruler of the Delhi Sultanate?
   Answer: Razia Sultan
3. Which ruler introduced token currency?
   Answer: Muhammad bin Tughlaq
4. Which ruler shifted the capital to Daulatabad?
   Answer: Muhammad bin Tughlaq
5. Who introduced the market control system?
   Answer: Alauddin Khalji
6. Who founded the city of Agra?
   Answer: Sikandar Lodi
7. Who was the last ruler of the Delhi Sultanate?
   Answer: Ibrahim Lodi
8. Who started the silver tanka?
   Answer: Iltutmish
9. Which traveller visited India during Muhammad bin Tughlaq's reign?
   Answer: Ibn Battuta
10. Who founded the Sayyid dynasty?
    Answer: Khizr Khan

How to Practise This Chapter

Write a one-page chart of the five dynasties, with the rulers and one reform each, and revise it daily. Then solve questions from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. After this chapter, continue with the Mughal Empire notes. You can see the complete list on the Indian History notes page and link the reforms with Indian Economy for currency and tax topics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Delhi Sultanate?

The Delhi Sultanate was the rule of five dynasties of Muslim rulers in North India from 1206 to 1526, with Delhi as the capital.

Which are the five dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate?

They are the Slave dynasty, Khalji dynasty, Tughlaq dynasty, Sayyid dynasty and Lodi dynasty.

Who was the first Sultan of Delhi?

Qutbuddin Aibak was the first Sultan of Delhi. He founded the Slave dynasty in 1206.

Who was the real founder of the Delhi Sultanate?

Iltutmish is often called the real founder because he strengthened the Sultanate and introduced the silver tanka and the copper jital.

Who was Razia Sultan?

Razia Sultan was the daughter of Iltutmish and ruled from 1236 to 1240. She was the only woman ruler of the Delhi Sultanate.

What were the market reforms of Alauddin Khalji?

He fixed the prices of grain, cloth and horses and appointed officers such as Shahna-i-Mandi to control the markets and stop hoarding.

Why did Muhammad bin Tughlaq's experiments fail?

His token currency failed because fake coins were made at home, and the shift of the capital failed because of the difficulties of people and the long distance.

Who was Ibn Battuta?

Ibn Battuta was a traveller from Morocco who visited India in the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq and wrote about his experience.

Which dynasty ended the Delhi Sultanate?

The Lodi dynasty ended in 1526 when Ibrahim Lodi lost to Babur in the First Battle of Panipat.

What is an Iqta?

Iqta was a piece of land given to a military officer in place of salary. The holder, called Iqtadar, had to collect revenue and maintain soldiers.

How can I remember the dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate?

Use the order Slave, Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, Lodi, and attach one ruler and one reform to each dynasty.

How many questions come from the Delhi Sultanate in SSC exams?

Usually one or two questions come from medieval history in SSC General Awareness papers, and the Delhi Sultanate is a regular part of it.