Samacheer Class 7 Social Science - The Delhi Sultanate

Chahalgani, also known as the Forty, was a Turkish military and administrative institution organized by Iltutmish, the third Sultan of Delhi. It consisted of a select group of forty nobles and military commanders who were chosen for their loyalty and military prowess. Iltutmish established this organization as a strategic measure to consolidate his power and counter the threat posed by Mongol invasions from Central Asia. The members of Chahalgani served as the sultan's trusted advisors and military leaders, helping him maintain control over the Delhi Sultanate during a period of significant external threats. This institution represented an important aspect of the sultanate's governance structure, as it allowed the sultan to rely on a dedicated group of nobles for both military and administrative support. The Chahalgani system demonstrated how medieval Indian rulers adapted military and administrative practices to strengthen their kingdoms against external invasions and internal challenges.

Firoz Shah Tughluq was one of the most notable rulers of the Delhi Sultanate, known for his numerous contributions to the welfare of his subjects and the development of the kingdom. He created various charities and welfare institutions specifically designed to help poor Muslims, reflecting his commitment to social welfare. In the field of architecture and public infrastructure, he built numerous mosques, colleges, and hospitals throughout his kingdom, which served both religious and educational purposes. Firoz Shah Tughluq adopted many humanitarian measures aimed at improving the lives of common people and reducing their suffering. He banned inhuman punishments that were previously used in the sultanate and also eliminated unrecognized taxes that burdened the population. To promote agriculture and increase agricultural productivity, he undertook extensive development projects including the construction of many canals for irrigation, the establishment of gardens, and the founding of new cities. These contributions made Firoz Shah Tughluq one of the most progressive rulers of the Delhi Sultanate, remembered for his focus on public welfare, infrastructure development, and humanitarian governance.

Timur was a powerful ruler of Samarkand, a major city in Central Asia, who is remembered for his military conquests and invasions across Asia. In 1398, Timur launched an invasion of India, taking advantage of the internal weaknesses and political instability of the Delhi Sultanate at that time. He invaded India in December 1398 and conducted devastating raids across the northern regions of the country, particularly targeting Delhi and Punjab. During his invasion, Timur plundered these regions extensively, looting immense wealth including gold, silver, precious jewels, and other valuables. Beyond material wealth, Timur also captured skilled Indian craftsmen, including carpenters and masons, whom he forcibly took back to Samarkand to work on the construction of monuments and buildings in his own kingdom. This invasion had a significant impact on the Delhi Sultanate, weakening its power and contributing to its eventual decline. The invasion of Timur is considered one of the most destructive foreign invasions in Indian history and marked a turning point in the political fortunes of the Delhi Sultanate.

Muhammad – bin Tughlag the sultan of Delhi was a “mixture of opposites”.
He was a learned man and a person of cruelty.
He dreamt of making the whole Indian empire. He introduced various plans.
But his plans were failed.
Change of Capital:
He shifted his capital from Delhi to Devagiri. Then he returned again to Delhi.
He found Delhi empty and many people left.
Tax in Doabregion:
Tughlug increased land tax in the Doab region. So the peasants were revolted against the Government.
Token Currency:
Due to inadequacy in silver and stock of coins, Tughlaq issued a Token Currency in copper.
This led the state to become bankrupt.

Bandagen
2. The Muslim slaves were posted as …………. in India.
Governors
3. Mamluk is an Arabic word which means ………………..
Slave4. The general of Alauddïn Khalji was ………………..
Bakhtiar Khali
5. ……………. in Delhi Mosque is considered as the oldest Mosque in India.
Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid
6. ……………………laid the foundation for Qutb-Minar.
Qutb-ud-din-Aibak7. Iltutmish granted ……………to the members of his army.
Iqtas
8. The Iqta holder is called the ………….or ………………A.D.
Iqtadar, Muqti9. ……………….abolished the forty systems.
Balban
10. …………., grandson of Chengizkhan is a Mongol viceroy in Iran.
Hulagu Khan11. Ala-ud-din established a system of forced ………….of food grains for Delhi.
procurement
12. …………..was another name of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq.
Jauna Khan13. The new Daulatabad declared as an independent state as …………………..
Bahmani
14. …………………..besides the Delhi city, was the province suffered most by Timur’s raid.
Punjab15. The representative of Timur was ……………
Khizr Khan