Delhi Sultanate — Set 7

Correct Answer: D. The Prophet Muhammad

• **Sayyid dynasty** claimed descent from **Prophet Muhammad** — 'Sayyid' = honorific for Prophet's descendants. • Founded by **Khizr Khan** in **1414 AD** — ruled as deputy of Timur's successors, not as independent Sultan. • Weakest Sultanate dynasty — 4 rulers in ~37 years; last ruler **Alam Shah** voluntarily abdicated to Bahlul Lodi. • 💡 Caliph descent = not their claim; Timur descent = not their claim; Chengiz Khan = Mongol, not Sayyid.

Correct Answer: A. Tughlaq

• **Tughlaq Dynasty** ruled the longest — **1320 to 1414 AD (~94 years)** among the five Sultanate dynasties. • Had **3 prominent rulers**: Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, Muhammad bin Tughlaq, Firoz Shah Tughlaq. • **Khilji dynasty** had the shortest reign — **1290–1320 AD (only 30 years)**, despite major conquests. • 💡 Trick: Slave (~84 yrs), Khilji (~30 yrs), Tughlaq (~94 yrs), Sayyid (~37 yrs), Lodi (~75 yrs).

Correct Answer: C. Persian

• **Persian** = official language of administration and court in the entire Delhi Sultanate period. • Rulers were Turkish/Afghan but adopted **Persian culture** — led to rich Indo-Persian literary tradition. • **Urdu** emerged as a blend of Persian, Arabic, and local languages during this period. • 💡 Arabic = language of religion (Quran); Turkish = rulers' mother tongue; Urdu = not official yet — Persian was.

Correct Answer: D. Bakhtiyar Khilji

• **Bakhtiyar Khilji** (general of Aibak) destroyed **Nalanda University** around **1200 AD**. • Also destroyed **Vikramshila University** — these were the greatest centers of Buddhist learning. • His raids dealt a **death blow to Buddhism in India** — monks fled to Tibet and Southeast Asia. • 💡 Muhammad Ghori = overall conquest of North India; Alauddin Khilji = South India; Mahmud Ghazni = temple raids — not Nalanda.

Correct Answer: B. Nizamuddin Auliya

• **Nizamuddin Auliya** said **'Hanuz Dilli Dur Ast'** (Delhi is still far) — addressed to Sultan Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq. • Sultan had **threatened the saint** for not attending his court — but died in a pavilion collapse near Delhi. • Nizamuddin belonged to **Chishti Sufi order** — his dargah in Delhi is a major heritage site today. • 💡 Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki = earlier Chishti saint; Moinuddin Chishti = founded Chishti order in Ajmer; Baba Farid = Punjab.

Correct Answer: D. Balban

• **Tomb of Balban** (Mehrauli, Delhi) = first use of **True Arch** in Indian architecture. • Earlier structures used the **corbelled technique** (stones layered inward) — not a true arch. • The **Alai Darwaza** (1311) later showcased the first **true dome** in India — both key architecture facts. • 💡 Iltutmish's tomb = no dome (collapsed); Firoz's tomb = later; Quwwat mosque = corbelled construction — only Balban's tomb = true arch.

Correct Answer: A. Balban

• **'Zill-i-Ilahi'** = Shadow of God — title taken by **Balban** to project divine status and absolute power. • Distanced himself from nobles and public — made eye contact with the Sultan a rare privilege. • Also introduced **Nauroz, Sijda, Paibos** — all to enforce his god-like persona at court. • 💡 Muhammad Tughlaq = Wise Fool; Alauddin = Sikandar-i-Sani; Iltutmish = recognized by Caliph — Zill-i-Ilahi is Balban's alone.

Correct Answer: C. Polo

• **Chaugan** = medieval term for **Polo** — played on horseback with a mallet and ball. • **Qutbuddin Aibak** died in **1210** playing Chaugan at Lahore — fell from horse, fatal injuries. • Polo originated in **Central Asia/Persia** — brought to India by the Turks during Sultanate period. • 💡 Wrestling = dangal; Hockey = different sport; Chess = shatranj — only Polo = Chaugan in medieval India.

Correct Answer: B. Bahlul Lodi

• **Bahlul Lodi** = first **Afghan** ruler of Delhi — founded the Lodi dynasty in **1451 AD**. • All previous dynasties (Slave, Khilji, Tughlaq, Sayyid) were of **Turkish origin** — Lodi broke this pattern. • Lodis were from the **Lodi tribe of Afghans** from the Sulaiman mountain ranges. • 💡 Sher Shah Suri = later Afghan (not Lodi); Ibrahim Lodi = last Lodi, not first Afghan; Bahlul = first Afghan Sultan.

Correct Answer: C. 175 grains

• Silver **Tanka** weighed **175 grains** — introduced by **Iltutmish** as the standard Sultanate coin. • Remained the **standard currency for centuries** — British Rupee later modeled on similar weight. • Iltutmish also issued **copper Jital** for smaller transactions — two-tier currency system. • 💡 150 grains = too light; 200 grains = too heavy; correct answer: **175 grains** for silver Tanka.