The Delhi Sultans

Row 1

100

What was the period of the ruler Ananga Pala which comes under Tomara dynasty?

1130-1145

200

"A king cannot survive without soldiers. And soldiers cannot live without salaries." This quote is taken from which philosophy? Who wrote it?

Philosophy: The Circle of Justice

Writer: Fakhr-i Mudabbir

300

The authors of the _______ were learned men: Secretaries, Administrators, Poets and Courters who both ______ events and advised _______ on governance emphasizing the importance of just rule.

tawarikh; recounted; rulers

400

What were the four stages in the making of a manuscript?

The four stages in the making of a manuscript are:

   1) Preparing the paper

   2) Writing the text        

   3) Melting gold to highlight important words and passages

   4) Preparing the binding.

500

According to the ‘circle of justice’ why was it important for military commanders to keep the interests of the peasantry in mind?

According to the ‘circle of justice’ it was important for military commanders to keep the interest of peasantry in mind. As is clear from the following:

1. A king survived on soldiers.
2. Soldiers worked for salaries.
3. Salaries came from revenue collected from peasants.
4. Peasant would pay revenue when they are prosperous and happy. This in turn will happen when there is justice and honest governance.

Row 2

100

What was the period of the ruler Razziya?

1236-1240

200

What is the ruling period of Rudramadevi?

1262-1289

300

What did Minhaj-i Siraj thought about Razziya being the Sultan?

Minhaj-i Siraj thought that the fact that a queen being a ruler went against the ideal social order created by God.

400

Who were the authors of tawarikh? Write in brief about them.

The authors of tawarikh were learned men. They were secretaries, administrators, poets and courtiers who recounted events as well as advised rulers on governance, emphasizing the importance of just rule.

500

Name the five dynasties that together made the Delhi Sultanate.

1) Early Turkish rulers (1206—1290)

2) Khalji dynasty (1290—1320)

3) Tughluq dynasty (1320—1414)

4) Sayyid dynasty (1414—1451)

5) Lodi dynasty (1451—1526).

Row 3

100

The ruling period of the ruler Khizr Khan who comes under the Sayyid dynasty.

1414-1421

200

In 1236, ___________'s daughter Razziya became ______.

Sultan Iltutmish; Sultan

300

Name the three types of taxes collected during the Sultanate period.

1. Tax on cultivation called Kharcy and amounting to about 50% of the peasant’s yield.
2. Tax on cattle
3. Tax on houses.

400

Give an account of Alauddin’s administrative measures. (2-3 points)

1. Alauddin Khalji raised a large standing army as a defensive measure.
2. He constructed a new garrison town known as Siri for his soldiers.
3. The soldiers had to be fed. This was done through the produce collected as tax from lands between the Ganga and Yamuna.

500

Who was Raziyya? Why was she not accepted as a Sultan inspite of being talented?

Raziyya was Sultan Iltutmish’s daughter. She became Sultan in 1236. She was very talented. According to the chronicler of the age, Minhaj-i-Siraj, she was more able and qualified than all her brothers. But she was not accepted when she became a ruler. Those were the days when women were not allowed to enjoy independent identity. They were supposed to be subordinate to men. This led to her removal from the throne in 1240.

Row 4

100

What is Sultan Iltutmish's daughter's name?

Razziya

200

What is Birthright?

Privileges claimed on account of birth is called Birthright.

300

Why was Raziyya removed from the throne?

Being a woman ruler she was not favoured by anyone. She ruled just for four years and was finally dethroned in 1240.

400

Fill in the blanks:

Controlling _______ towns in distant Bengal and ____ from Delhi was extremely difficult. Rebellion, war or even bad weather could ____ fragile ___________ routes. 

garrison towns; Sind; snap; communication

500

According to the ‘circle of justice’ why was it important for rulers to keep the interests of the peasantry in mind?

1. A king survived on soldiers.
2. Soldiers worked for salaries.
3. Salaries came from revenue collected from peasants.
4. Peasant would pay revenue when they are prosperous and happy. This in turn will happen when there is justice and honest governance.

Hence due to this it was important for rulers to keep the interests of the peasantry in mind.

Row 5

100

Who changed the name her name on her inscriptions and pretended she was a man?

Queen Rudramadevi

200

What is Hinterland?

The lands adjacent to a city or ports that supply it with goods and services.

300

What was the after results (advantage) that occured after Muhammad Tughluq's reign?

1) The armies of the Delhi Sultanate had marched (expand) across a large part of the subcontinent.

2) They had defeated rival armies and seized cities.

3) The Sultanate collected taxes from the peasantry and dispensed justice in its realm.

400

What were the steps taken to ensure that muqtis performed their duties? Why do you think they may have wanted to defy the orders of the Sultans?

Steps taken to ensure that the muqtis performed their duties well:

1. Appointment of accountants to check the amount collected by the muqtis.
2. Collection of revenues only which were prescribed by the state, not more than that in any circumstances.
3. Fixation of limit to keep the required number of soldiers.
4. They might be shifted to another area
5. Their appointment was temporary.

500

A slave, whom one has brought up and promoted, must be looked after for it needs a whole lifetime and good luck to find a worthy and experienced slave. Wise men have said that a worthy and experienced slave is better than a son....

This inscription was advised to whom?

These were advised to the Sultans who ruled and had slaves who work for them.