Delhi Sultanate (Part II: Tughlaqs, Sayyids, Lodis & Administration)

1. The Tughlaq Dynasty (1320–1414 AD)

Cue Words	Notes
Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (1320–1325 AD)	Founded dynasty by overthrowing Khusrau Khan. Founded the fortified city of Tughlaqabad. First Sultan to start irrigation works and canal construction. Died when a wooden pavilion collapsed at Ahmedabad (plotted by his son Jauna Khan).
Muhammad bin Tughlaq (1325–1351 AD)	Also known as Jauna Khan. Highly educated polymath (proficient in Arabic, Persian, astronomy, mathematics, medicine, philosophy) but remembered for 5 controversial, ill-fated projects: Tax Hike in Doab (1326 AD): Increased land tax in Gangetic Doab during a severe famine, causing peasant revolts. Established agricultural loan scheme (Sondhar / Taccavi) and agriculture department Diwan-i-Kohi. Transfer of Capital (1327 AD): Shifted capital from Delhi to Devagiri (renamed Daulatabad) to control South India and guard against Mongols. Forced entire population to march 1,500 km; caused immense suffering; forced to order march back to Delhi. Token Currency Experiment (1329–1330 AD): Issued copper/brass coins (Jital) with face value equal to silver Tanka. Lack of state monopoly over minting led to widespread forgery ("every Hindu house became a private mint"). Forced to redeem forged copper coins with genuine gold/silver from treasury. Khorasan Expedition: Raised a massive army of 3,70,000 soldiers paid a year's advance salary to conquer Khorasan (Persia), but disbanded it due to changing geopolitics. Qarachil Expedition: Expedition to Kumaon-Garhwal Himalayas to secure northern frontier; Chinese/Hill tribes wiped out army in heavy rains. Visitor: Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta arrived in Delhi (1333 AD), appointed as Qazi of Delhi for 8 years, and authored Rihla.
Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351–1388 AD)	Adopted policy of appeasement toward ulema and nobility. Administrative & Welfare Departments: Established Diwan-i-Khairat (charity department for poor/orphans), Dar-ul-Shafa (free charitable hospital in Delhi), and Diwan-i-Bandagan (department for 1,80,000 royal slaves). Taxation Reforms: Abolished 28 non-Shariat taxes (Abwabs). Levied only 4 Shariat taxes: Kharaj (land tax), Zakat (charity tax on Muslims), Jizya (tax on non-Muslims, extended to Brahmins for 1st time), and Khams (1/5th share of war booty to state). Levied Haqq-i-Sharb (10% water tax for canal irrigation). Canal Network & Town Building: Built 5 major canals (e.g., Yamuna to Hissar canal). Founded cities of Firozabad, Hissar, Jaunpur, and Firozpur. Shifted two Ashokan pillars (Topra & Meerut) to Delhi.
Timur's Invasion (1398 AD)	Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur (Tamerlane) invaded India during reign of Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud Tughlaq. Sacked Delhi, massacred inhabitants, and looted immense wealth. Left Khizr Khan as governor of Multan/Punjab.

2. The Sayyid (1414–1451) & Lodi Dynasties (1451–1526 AD)

Cue Words	Notes
The Sayyid Dynasty	Founded by Khizr Khan (1414 AD), who claimed descent from Prophet Muhammad. Ruled as vassals of Timur's son Shah Rukh (assumed title Rayat-i-Ala). Last ruler Alauddin Alam Shah voluntarily abdicated in favor of Bahlul Lodi.
The Lodi Dynasty (1451–1526 AD)	First Afghan Dynasty to rule Delhi Sultanate. Bahlul Lodi (1451–1489 AD): Founder; treated Afghan nobles as equals (sat on carpets with them, calling them Masnad-i-Ali). Annexed Sharqi Kingdom of Jaunpur. Sikandar Lodi (1489–1517 AD): Greatest Lodi ruler. Founded the city of Agra in 1504 AD and made it his capital. Introduced Gazz-i-Sikandari (32-digit land measurement unit). Composed Persian poems under pen-name Gulrukhi. Re-imposed Jizya and destroyed Hindu temples (Mathura). Ibrahim Lodi (1517–1526 AD): Arrogant ruler who alienated Afghan nobles. Daulat Khan Lodi (Governor of Punjab) and Rana Sanga of Mewar invited Babur to invade India. Defeated and killed at the First Battle of Panipat (April 21, 1526 AD), marking the end of Delhi Sultanate and rise of Mughal Empire.

3. Sultanate Administration & Agrarian Economy

Cue Words	Notes
Central Administrative Departments	Diwan-i-Wizarat: Finance & Revenue department headed by Wazir (Prime Minister). Assisted by Mustaufi-i-Mamalik (Auditor General) and Mushrif-i-Mamalik (Accountant General). Diwan-i-Arz: Military department headed by Ariz-i-Mamalik (responsible for recruitment, pay, Dagh & Chehra). Diwan-i-Insha: Royal correspondence department headed by Dabir-i-Khas. Diwan-i-Rasalat: Religious, endowment, and foreign diplomatic affairs department headed by Sadr-us-Sudur / Qazi-ul-Quzat (Chief Justice). Diwan-i-Kohi: Agriculture department created by Muhammad bin Tughlaq. Diwan-i-Mustakharaj: Revenue arrears recovery dept created by Alauddin Khilji.
Provincial & Local Administration	Iqta System: Conquered territory divided into revenue assignments called Iqtas given to military officers (Iqtadars / Muqtis / Walis). Muqti collected revenue, maintained law & order, and maintained troop contingents. Excess revenue remitted to central treasury was called Fawazil. Shiqs & Parganas: Provinces divided into Shiqs (under Shiqdar) and further into Parganas (under Amil). Villages (Gram) governed by traditional leaders: Muqaddam (village headman), Patwari (village accountant), and Khut (landowner).

📜 Contemporary Chroniclers & Iqta vs. Jagir vs. Zamindari

• Ziauddin Barani: Court historian under Muhammad bin Tughlaq and Firoz Shah Tughlaq; authored Tarikh-i-Firozshahi (chronicle of Delhi Sultanate) and Fatawa-i-Jahandari (treatise on statecraft, arguing Islamic kingship should be tempered by Zawabit, i.e., state law, alongside Shariat).
• Shams-i-Siraj Afif: Authored his own Tarikh-i-Firozshahi, focused on Firoz Shah Tughlaq's reign and public works.
• Iqta (Sultanate period): A revenue-assignment/administrative charge, transferable and non-hereditary, given to a Muqti/Wali in lieu of cash salary — not private land ownership.
• Jagir (Mughal period successor term): Broadly similar assignment-of-revenue concept used later under the Mughals, often linked to the Mansabdari system's Sawar rank.
• Neither Iqta nor Jagir should be confused with Zamindari, a hereditary right over land and its revenue collection held by local chiefs/landholders, which pre-dated and persisted alongside both systems.