The Turkish Invaders
ICSE Class 7 · History & Civics · Chapter 3
What this chapter covers
- Sources for the medieval period
- The Turks and India around 1000 CE
- Mahmud of Ghazni
- Muhammad Ghori and the Battles of Tarain
- Qutbuddin Aibak and the Slave dynasty
- Iltutmish and Razia Sultan
- Balban
Key definitions
Sultan is an Arabic word meaning a ruler who holds power, and it was the title taken by the independent Muslim kings of Delhi.
Mamluk is an Arabic word meaning "owned", and the Mamluk dynasty is another name for the Slave dynasty.
Sijda is the custom of bowing down to the ground before the ruler, and paibos is the custom of kissing the ruler's feet; Balban made both compulsory at his court.
Key points
- Sources for the medieval period include Persian chronicles, travellers' accounts, coins, inscriptions and buildings; court chronicles must be checked for bias.
- North India around 1000 CE was divided among rival Rajput kingdoms with rich temple towns.
- Mahmud of Ghazni (ruled 998–1030 CE) raided India about seventeen times for wealth, sacked Somnath in 1025–26 CE and annexed the Punjab.
- Muhammad Ghori wanted to rule India; he lost the First Battle of Tarain (1191 CE) to Prithviraj Chauhan and won the Second (1192 CE).
- The Turks won because of Rajput disunity, fast cavalry, mounted archers and planned tactics.
- Qutbuddin Aibak founded the Slave, or Mamluk, dynasty in 1206 CE, was called Lakh Baksh and began the Qutub Minar.
- Iltutmish (1211–1236 CE) made Delhi the capital, formed the Forty, used iqtas, issued the tanka and jital, and was recognised by the Caliph.
- Razia Sultan (1236–1240 CE) was the only woman to rule Delhi in the medieval period; the Forty brought her down.
- Balban (1266–1287 CE) called the Sultan the Shadow of God, broke the Forty, used spies and the policy of blood and iron, and guarded the frontier against the Mongols.
- The Slave dynasty ended in 1290 CE when the Khaljis took the throne.
Questions answered
Name one written source and one material source for the early Delhi Sultanate.
Written: any one of the Tabaqat-i-Nasiri, the Taj-ul-Maasir, the Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi or the Kitab-ul-Hind. Material: any one of coins, inscriptions or buildings such as the Qutub Minar.
Why must a historian be careful with a chronicle written at a Sultan's court?
The writer served the Sultan or hoped for his reward, so he may praise his master and blame his enemies; the account must be checked against other sources.
How was Mahmud of Ghazni's aim different from Muhammad Ghori's?
Mahmud raided India to carry wealth back to Ghazni; Ghori wanted to conquer north India and rule it.
What happened at Somnath in 1025–26 CE?
Mahmud of Ghazni captured the town, destroyed the rich temple of Somnath in Gujarat and carried away its treasure.
Who won each Battle of Tarain, and why is the second one a turning point?
Prithviraj Chauhan won in 1191 CE and Muhammad Ghori won in 1192 CE. The second battle opened Delhi and the Ganga plains to Turkish rule.
Give three reasons for the success of the Turks.
Any three of: disunity among Rajput kings; fast cavalry and mounted archers; planned tactics with reserves and feigned retreats; a steady supply of soldiers from Central Asia; Prithviraj's failure to follow up his first victory.
Why is the first dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate called the Slave dynasty?
Its three great rulers, Aibak, Iltutmish and Balban, had all begun life as slaves; it is also called the Mamluk dynasty.
What was an iqta?
A piece of land, or the right to collect its revenue, given to a noble or officer in return for military service and keeping order; it was not hereditary.