Review of Archaeological Research on Medieval Gujarat

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Review of Archaeological Research on Medieval Gujarat Review of Archaeological Research on Medieval Gujarat Avradeep Munshi1 1. Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology, Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute, Deemed to be University, Pune – 411 006, Maharashtra, India (Email: [email protected]) Received: 03 August 2017; Revised: 21 September 2017; Accepted: 02 November 2017 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 5 (2017): 631‐643 Abstract: Regardless of innumerable developments in Indian archaeological research through the ages when it comes to understanding the medieval mind of our ancestors over material cultures, we normally remained silent. Therefore this paper is intended to acknowledge the works of those scholars who initiated and tried their level best to put medieval archaeology into mainstream archaeological research. By correlating literary records with existed material cultural remains to understand the past derived from recent events. Hence, for a case study, this paper will focus on the research work that had been done over the years in Gujarat. With the help of published and a few unpublished works, the main aim of will be to give a brief review of the overall development of archaeological research in the medieval period of Gujarat. Keywords: Archaeology, Excavation, Exploration. Gujarat, Medieval, Material, Culture Introduction As we all agree with the point that archaeology is the only discipline which can investigate through material cultures the lifestyle of our predecessors, so, it is not difficult to judge what we should comprehend by the term ‘Medieval Archaeology’. As Prof Mate pointed out, it is an approach towards archaeological methods to know more and more precisely about various aspects of the life of medieval society, a society which has bequeathed much of the daily lifestyle of modern society (Mate, 2005:14). Medieval Archaeology or Archaeology of Medieval world essentially focused on studying those part of the history which is not longstanding more than several hundred of years. Thus it has been focused essentially to bridge the gap by combining its own methods with the evidence taken from written documents and oral traditions (Mehta,1979:7) to give a complete story of a particular society. Keeping the above outlook in mind, this paper will focus to provide a brief review of the archaeological research works that had been done over the past few decades in the Medieval period of Gujarat. But, before doing the assessments of previous works, briefly, we will look at the political and economic segment of the contemporary region to have a better understanding of the plot above which the entire research work had been based upon. ISSN 2347 – 5463 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 5: 2017 Political and Economic Formation of ‘Medieval Gujarat’ The history of medieval Gujarat and its consequent repercussions in the arena of contemporary polity started alongside the demise of the centralized authoritarian control of Delhi over her subjugated regions. After Firuz Shah’s demise and Timur’s sack of Delhi around 1398 A.D – 1399 A.D, Delhi failed to control her provincial governments (Sheikh.2010:39) and with the disintegration centralized domination, many regional powers made their way to the mainstream polity and Gujarat was no exception in this case. It was the Muzaffaris who directed the new upliftment in political history of Gujarat province led by Zafar Khan, also known as Muzaffar Shah, founder of the new regime in Gujarat A.H 810 (1407 C.E) (Bayley, 1886: 67 – 68) by dethroning the former chief of the expense Farhat – u’l – mulk Rasti Khan (Misra, 1962 : 137).Essentially, it didn’t help him to inaugurate the beginning of new government rather it was just a commencement of the processes which ultimately lead them to a beginning of the new independent dynasty of Gujarat. During his sway along with his son Tatar Khan, he did a few expeditions, among which popular once are like his marching towards the Mandu in 1395 A.D, followed by towards the infidels of Idar around 1398 A.D (Bayley, 1886. 67 – 68) and lastly his ambitious campaign towards Malwa region on 1407 A.D. According to historians this last campaign basically scripted the initiation of long and eventful ‘inter – state’ relations between the two states of Gujarat and Malwa (Misra, 1962: 158). After him, it was his grandson Ahmad Shāh who took the epithet of Sultān Nāsir – ud – din and ascended the throne around 1411 A.D at Patan. But then, the initial days were not smooth for him until he made his mind to root out the semi‐independent Rajputs from Gujarat after solving other problems related to his annexation to the throne. For this cause he initiated campaigning seasons against his antagonists like Raja Narsing Das of Champaner on 1419 A.D followed by other campaigns towards Dhar , Malwa around 1421 A.D and 1438 ‐ 39 A.D , Mandu in 1422 A.D, Idar on 1426 and 1428 A.D and a few more (Misra, 1962 : 128 ‐ 222). Next, to him, it was his son Muhammad Khan (ascended the throne around 1442 A.D) and later Mahmud Begada (1459 A.D) who actually put an utmost effort to concrete the position of the Muzaffaris in the history of Gujarat. “The Defender of the Faith” Mahmud Shāh Begada, ascended the throne in Ahmedabad on 18th June 1459 (Faridi, 1899; 42). The voyage of Begada for expansion of his territory started from 1460 C.E. (A.H 864) when he sets his army towards the land of Kapadvanj (Faridi, 1899; 50). Later on, he marched all the way to Nazabār, in the land of Nizam Shāh, who seeks assistance, for throwing Mahmud Khilji out of Deccan region. However, among his expeditions, one of the most significant ones was to grab a hold over Girnar fort. For capturing the entire area he made a series of expeditions starting from the year of A.H 871 (1466 C.E) to A.H 877. Later on, he also made some invasion to capture other places like Sindh (Commissariat, 1938; 172), Sankhodwārā (Commissariat, 1938; 173), Sanjan (Commissariat, 1938; 181) etc. Nevertheless, the most important landmark of the Muzaffaris in Begada’s lifetime was to capture Champaner – Pavagadh, the land of Chauhans. After a long siege for 20 months on 21st Nov of 1484 C.E. he took control of Pavagadh by defeating the former (Faridi, 1899:66). Next, 632 Munshi 2017: 631‐643 to him, it was Muzaffar Shah II, then Sikandar and Mahmud II followed by Bahadur Shah. It was during his reign when the Sultanates engaged in a conflict with Mughals at Gujarat and as a consequence, they were dethroned by their rivals around 1526 A.D. The capital was again gradually shifted back to Ahmedabad. Lastly, it was Muzaffar II who was on the throne from 1561 A.D ‐ 1572 A.D and with his demise Sultanate rule in Gujarat finally come to an end (Faridi, 1899). Nevertheless, the key factor behind successful political mobilization of Muzaffaris within Gujarat was their better understanding of the land divisions. With respect to geographical features, the entire Gujarat can be divided into four parts – mainland, peninsula, coastal and desert region. And this respect Muzaffaris actually made different types of settlement plans and political strategies for each region. Like, making corridors in different provinces for maintaining smooth and successful trade network between Gujrat and the rest of northern India (Sheikh, 2010: 25‐100). And they did this via initiating long‐term policies of trade along with the political stability in the regions by constructing of big forts, city walls and even towns close to the trade routes. Like Ahmedabad, Champaner the capital cities of Gujarat and Kheda (not capital), these were laid down along with trade routes of Eastern Corridor and at Panchmahal region respectively. These areas were also fertile but forested and the material remains in this regions signifies that the Sultanates put an effort to make the areas suitable for cultivation by mounting wells along with step wells, reservoirs around the region which resulted in the production of chief crops like cotton, indigo, food grains etc. Not only hinterlands even the coastal Gujarat also witnessed some developmental processes as they grew up as important trading centres along the sea route. However, documents suggest us that they were mostly independent of hinterland political activities. (Towns like Chaul, Bassein, Mahim, Diu were perfect example of this kind. Because, during 14th C A.D all provincial rulers of these areas engaged in tussles against the Sultan in search for claiming their sovereignty over the supreme and to have their on share over trading activities (Faridi, 1899 : 75). Even places like Kachchh and Somanath were infamous for the pirates who also played an important role in the control of trade (Sheikh, 2010:87). There were many small port towns which gradually came into existence by 14th C A.D. Like the port of Cambay or present‐day Khambat, due to its geographical location the port used to be a safe corridor for hinterland trading from Patan to the coast which with the coming of the Sultanates emerged as one of the most important ports of Gujarat. So in nutshell, these were the overall state of affairs upon which the sultanate rule of Gujarat was established and the material culture what we find right now where the consequences of this process. Medieval Archaeological Research in Gujarat The urge for finding new sites during the initial days in post‐independent era also indirectly affected the medieval segment of Indian Archaeology. It was under the 633 ISSN 2347 – 5463 Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology 5: 2017 leadership of late Prof.
Recommended publications
  • Chapter Preview
    As per Model CBCS Syllabus HISTORY OF INDIA-V [C.1526-1750] Core Paper IX Semester-IV Dr. Abhijit Sahoo Lecturer in History Shishu Ananta Mahavidyalaya, Balipatna, Khordha, Odisha ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED © Author No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording and/or otherwise without the prior written permission of the author and the publisher. First Edition : 2021 Published by : Mrs. Meena Pandey for Himalaya Publishing House Pvt. Ltd., “Ramdoot”, Dr. Bhalerao Marg, Girgaon, Mumbai - 400 004. Phone: 022-23860170, 23863863; Fax: 022-23877178 E-mail: [email protected]; Website: www.himpub.com Branch Offices : New Delhi : “Pooja Apartments”, 4-B, Murari Lal Street, Ansari Road, Darya Ganj, New Delhi - 110 002. Phone: 011-23270392, 23278631; Fax: 011-23256286 Nagpur : Kundanlal Chandak Industrial Estate, Ghat Road, Nagpur - 440 018. Phone: 0712-2721215, 3296733; Telefax: 0712-2721216 Bengaluru : Plot No. 91-33, 2nd Main Road, Seshadripuram, Behind Nataraja Theatre, Bengaluru - 560 020. Phone: 080-41138821; Mobile: 09379847017, 09379847005 Hyderabad : No. 3-4-184, Lingampally, Besides Raghavendra Swamy Matham, Kachiguda, Hyderabad - 500 027. Phone: 040-27560041, 27550139 Chennai : New No. 48/2, Old No. 28/2, Ground Floor, Sarangapani Street, T. Nagar, Chennai - 600 017. Mobile: 09380460419 Pune : “Laksha” Apartment, First Floor, No. 527, Mehunpura, Shaniwarpeth (Near Prabhat Theatre), Pune - 411 030. Phone: 020-24496323, 24496333; Mobile: 09370579333 Lucknow : House No. 731, Shekhupura Colony, Near B.D. Convent School, Aliganj, Lucknow - 226 022. Phone: 0522-4012353; Mobile: 09307501549 Ahmedabad : 114, “SHAIL”, 1st Floor, Opp.
    [Show full text]
  • Socio-Political Condition of Gujarat Daring the Fifteenth Century
    Socio-Political Condition of Gujarat Daring the Fifteenth Century Thesis submitted for the dc^ee fif DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN HISTORY By AJAZ BANG Under the supervision of PROF. IQTIDAR ALAM KHAN Department of History Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarb- 1983 T388S 3 0 JAH 1392 ?'0A/ CHE':l!r,D-2002 CENTRE OF ADVANCED STUDY TELEPHONE SS46 DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY ALIGARH-202002 TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN This is to certify that the thesis entitled 'Soci•-Political Condition Ml VB Wtmmimt of Gujarat / during the fifteenth Century' is an original research work carried out by Aijaz Bano under my Supervision, I permit its submission for the award of the Degree of the Doctor of Philosophy.. /-'/'-ji^'-^- (Proi . Jrqiaao;r: Al«fAXamn Khan) tc ?;- . '^^•^\ Contents Chapters Page No. I Introduction 1-13 II The Population of Gujarat Dxiring the Sixteenth Century 14 - 22 III Gujarat's External Trade 1407-1572 23 - 46 IV The Trading Cotnmxinities and their Role in the Sultanate of Gujarat 47 - 75 V The Zamindars in the Sultanate of Gujarat, 1407-1572 76 - 91 VI Composition of the Nobility Under the Sultans of Gujarat 92 - 111 VII Institutional Featvires of the Gujarati Nobility 112 - 134 VIII Conclusion 135 - 140 IX Appendix 141 - 225 X Bibliography 226 - 238 The abljreviations used in the foot notes are f ollov.'ing;- Ain Ain-i-Akbarl JiFiG Arabic History of Gujarat ARIE Annual Reports of Indian Epigraphy SIAPS Epiqraphia Indica •r'g-acic and Persian Supplement EIM Epigraphia Indo i^oslemica FS Futuh-^ffi^Salatin lESHR The Indian Economy and Social History Review JRAS Journal of Asiatic Society ot Bengal MA Mi'rat-i-Ahmadi MS Mirat~i-Sikandari hlRG Merchants and Rulers in Giijarat MF Microfilm.
    [Show full text]
  • Coins | Medals | Tokens | Paper Money
    Front Cover Lot: 122 Back Cover Lot: 553 Inside Front Cover Lot: 122 Inside Last Cover Lot: 232 classical numismatic gallery Coins | Medals | Tokens | Paper Money auction 14 on Saturday, 21st December 2013, 5:30pm onwards. Venue Sonal Hall, Karve Road, Pune - 411004 (MH) in conjunction with Coinex Pune 2013 : conducted by : classical numismatic gallery A Proprietary Concern established by Shatrughan Saravagi 105, 3rd Eye Complex, C. G. Road, Panchvati, Ahmedabad - 380 006. Gujarat. India. Tel: +91 (0) 79 2646 4850 / 51 | Fax: +91 (0) 79 2646 4852 Email: [email protected] | Web: www.classicalnumismaticgallery.com Date of Auction: Saturday, 21st December 2013, 5:30pm onwards Order of Sale Ancient India .................................................................... Lots 1 - 109 Ancient World ................................................................. Lots 110 - 112 Hindu Coins of Medieval India ....................................... Lots 113 - 135 Sultanates ......................................................................... Lots 136 - 172 Mughals ............................................................................ Lots 173 - 316 Independent Kingdoms ..................................................... Lots 317 - 331 Princely States .................................................................. Lots 332 - 407 Indo Danish....................................................................... Lots 408 - 415 Indo French ....................................................................... Lots
    [Show full text]
  • CC-7: HISTORY of INDIA (C.1206-1526) PART- II GUJARAT
    CC-7: HISTORY OF INDIA (c.1206-1526) II. SULTANATE POLITICAL STRUCTURE (C). EMERGENCE OF PROVINCIAL DYNASTIES: BAHAMANIS, VIJAYANAGAR, GUJRAT, MALWA, JAUNPUR AND BENGAL. PART- II GUJARAT Gujrat was one of the richest province under the Delhi Sultanate on accounts of its handicrafts, fertile lands, and flourishing seaports. Allaudin Khilji was the first sultan to annex it to the Delhi Sultanate. And since then it remained under the Turkish government under the Delhi Sultanate. The rich province of Gujarat occupied a prominent place among the provincial kingdoms that arose on the ruins of the Delhi Sultanate. Zafar Khan was appointed the Governor of Gujarat by Firoz Shah Tughlaq in 1391 CE. And from the beginning exercised independent power. After Timur’s invasion, in 1407 CE Zafar Khan proclaimed himself an independent ruler and took the title Muzaffar Shah. He founded the Muzaffarid dynasty. Muzaffar Shah started a long drawn struggle with Malwa. He defeated and captured Hushang Shah of Malwa and occupies his kingdom temporarily. Muzaffar Shah was succeeded by his grandson Ahmad Shah in 1411 CE. He is considered as the real founder of the kingdom of Gujarat, who control the nobility, settled the administration and also consolidated and expanded the kingdom. He fought against the sultans of Malwa and Khandesh. He for the first time imposed jizyah in Gujarat. He appointed Hindu ministers to important administrative positions, for example, his two ministers Manik Chand and Motichand both were Hindus. Ahmad Shah founded the city of Ahmedabad and made it his capital in 1413 CE. Influenced by the Jaina architectural tradition of Gujarat he built beautiful buildings like the Jami Masjid and Teen Darwaza.
    [Show full text]
  • Humayun Badshah
    HUMAYUN ON THE THRONE HUMAYUN BADSHAH BY S. K. BANERJI, M.A., PH.D. (LOND.) READER IN INDIAN HISTORY, LUCKNOW UNIVERSITY WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY SIR E. DENISON ROSS FORMERLY DIRECTOR, SCHOOL OF ORIENTAL STUDIES, LONDON HUMPHREY MILFORD OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 1938 OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS AMEN HOUSE, LONDON, B.C. 4 EDINBURGH GLASGOW NEW YORK TORONTO MELBOURNE CAPETOWN BOMBAY CALCUTTA MADRAS HUMPHREY MILFORD PUBLISHER TO THE UNIVERSITY PRINTED IN INDIA AT THE MODERN ART PRESS, CALCUTTA INTRODUCTION It was with great pleasure that I accepted Dr S. K. Banerji's invitation to write a few words by way of intro1 duction to his Life of the Emperor Humayun, seeing that it was under my supervision, at the School of Oriental Studies, London, that he prepared his PH.D. thesis on the early years of Humayun 's reign. During the two years that he spent here I had ample opportunity of seeing his work and formed a high opinion of his capacity and enthusiasm. Since his return to India he has become Reader in Indian History at the Lucknow University, and he has devoted such leisure as his duties permitted him to the expansion of his thesis and a continuation of the life of Humayun, with a view to producing a full and definite history of that gifted but unfortunate monarch. The present volume brings the story down to the defeat of Humayun at the hands of Sher Shah in 1540 and his consequent abandonment of his Empire : the rest of the story will be told in a second volume which is under preparation.
    [Show full text]
  • The Mohammedan Dynasties
    TH E A\ohammadan Dynasties S. Lane- Poole 3.S-. //. the ®Jjeologtr 0{ a/ PRINCETON, N. J Division 3 • Section ... Life THE MOHAMMADAH DYNASTIES THE MOHAMMADAN DYNASTIES CHRONOLOGICAL AND GENEALOGICAL TABLES WITH HISTORICAL INTRODUCTIONS STANLEY LANE - POOLE ©Westminster ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE AND COMPANY PUBLISHERS TO THE INDIA OFFICE 14 PARLIAMENT STREET MDCCCXCiV HERTFORD PRINTED BY STEPHEN AUSTIN AND SON PREFACE The following Tables of Mohammadan Dynasties bare grown naturally out of my twenty years’ work upon the Arabic coins in the British Museum. In preparing the thirteen volumes of the Catalogue of Oriental and Indian Coins I was frequently at a loss for chronological lists. Prinsep’s Useful Tables, edited by Edward Thomas, was the only trustworthy English authority I could refer to, and it was often at fault. I generally found it necessaiy to search for correct names and dates in the Arabic historians, and the lists of dynasties prefixed to the descriptions of their coins in my Catalogue were usually the result of my own researches in many Oriental authorities. It has often been suggested to me that a reprint of these lists would be useful to students, and now that the entire Catalogue is published I have collected the tables and genealogical trees in the present volume. : VI PREFACE The work is, however, much more than a reprint of these tables. I have not only verified the dates and pedigrees by reference to the Arabic sources and added a number of dynasties which were not represented in the Catalogue of Coins, but I have endeavoured to make the lists more intelligible by prefixing to each a brief historical introduction.
    [Show full text]
  • Inside Version 2 Final
    TM Auction 15 | 6/3/14 The Comfort Inn President | Ahmedabad Legacy of Gujarat Advisory Panel Bidding Methods Auction Preview Prof. Dr. A. P. Jamkhedkar Live Floor Bidding - Bid in Your Preview Over Coffee Director (Retd.), person during the floor auction Dept. of Archaeology & Museums, You are invited to Preview the Govt. of Maharashtra Fax Bids to +91-22-23870 647 Auction Lots at the Registered (must be received on or before Office of the Rajgor’s over a cup of Mrs. Beena Sarasan 5 March 2014 by 6:00 pm) Coffee. I.R.S. (Retd.), Dy. Commissioner of Income Tax Postal Bids to the Regd. Office On (must be received on or before Any Working Day Dineshbhai Mody 5 March 2014 by 6:00 pm) from 11:00 am to 6:30 pm Founder Chairman, Dinesh Mody Internet Bids - Get Registered on Kindly inform us about your Numismatic Museum & Institute, convenient time to Preview the lots University of Mumbai www.Rajgors.com so that you can have our full (Online Absentee Bidding ends attention. Dinyar Madon on 5 March 2014 by 4:00 pm) Senior Advocate, Do call us about your preferred lots Bombay High Court SMS Bids on +91 90040 82585 and your timings on - +91 9594 647 (must be received on or before 647 Parag P. Tripathi 5 March 20143 by 5:00 pm) New Delhi Email Bids to [email protected] Rezwan Razack (must be received on or before Jt. M.D., 5 March 2014 by 5:00 pm) Prestige Constructions, Bangalore Telephone Bids Please contact us on +91-9594 647 647 Shauheen Daya (only available for Lots valued Connoisseur of Art, at or above Rs.
    [Show full text]
  • Arabic* Introduction
    CHAPTER 7—ARABIC* INTRODUCTION. THE COMMERCIAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA and Arabia Felix are very old and could be traced back to the time of the Queen of Sheba. The Arabs in those days were in sole possession of the trade between Asia and Europe. The Arab ships were not only continually traversing the Mediterranean, which had become at that time an Arab Lake, but were just as much at home in our waters. They had established several entrepots between Aden and Bombay and there had sprung up a large number of Arab settlements at Chaul, Kalyan and Sopara. Agarthakhides (c. 180 B. C.) says that in his time Indian trade was in the hands of the Sabaeans of Yemen. He also speaks of Sabaeans sending from Aden "colonies and factories" to settle in India. Warmington observes that the Sabaeans of the Yemen had built up a prosperous and undisturbed trade with India and that they had grown immensely wealthy. India finds a place in the Himyarite inscriptions of the Yemen as a country exporting "fresh fruits" to the land of the Arabs. From the seventh century onwards there was a large and continuous influx of Arab merchants to the Western coast of India, where they were settled at various ports and married Indian women. In the beginning of the seventh century of the Christian era the Arabs were welded into a strong united nation with a centralised state under the Prophet of Islam. Stimulated by the vigorous and universal nature of his teachings, the Arabs started their movement of expansion with astounding rapidity.
    [Show full text]
  • 1468134454Humayuns Struggle with the Growing Powers of India.Pdf
    SRJIS/BIMONTHLY/ KHALID BASHIR (169-187) HUMAYUN’S STRUGGLE WITH THE RISING POWERS OF NORTHERN INDIA. Khalid Bashir Research Scholar B.U Bhopal. Abstract This paper epitomises the struggle and the defeat of Humayun by the rising powers of India. The empire whose foundation was so arduously laid by Babur was nevertheless precarious and unstable in character. As soon as Humayun ascended the throne, he found himself surrounded by the difficulties on all sides in many ways. Babur had of course, defeated the Indian powers like the Rajputs, the Afghans etc., but he could not completely crush them. Babur could not do anything more than this short period of four years. In fact, the roots of Mughal dynasty had not yet gone deep into the Indian soil and were then, of course in firm. Muhammad Lodhi, Ibharim Lodhi‟s brother, had regained power in Bihar and eastern provinces after his defeat in the Battle of Gogra. Another Afghan Sardar Sher Khan had also consolidated his position considerably. Of the Afghan Sardars he was the most capable and intelligent leader, who was engaged day and night in consolidating and organising all the scattered Afghan power. On the other side, Bhadur Shah who was a very courageous and ambitious ruler had considerably improved strength, and was eagerly engaged in his effort to obtain the Delhi throne. The Rajputs too, had begun to reorganise their power after their defeats in the battles of Khanwa and Chanderi. According to Lanepoole, “His (Humayun‟s) name means fortunate and never was an unlucky sovereign so miscalled‟‟, As a matter of fact, the royal throne that he inherited from his father as his successor, was bed of throns and not that of roses.
    [Show full text]
  • GIPE-009751-Contents.Pdf (2.705Mb)
    HIS T 0 R ¥-- o-p~ MEDl.tEV AL .:J!';DIA FROM 647 A.D. TO THE MUGHAL. CONQUEST 'o uucil hnmll r , Vijtty~t ll llgru · , HISTOR·Y ·OF· MEDI.!EV AL:.INDIA By ISHWARI PRASAD, M.A., LL.B.~ D. l.ITT. llEADEB.lN HISTOilY lN THE UNIVEllSITY OF ALLAHABAD , AND SOMETIME PllOF~SSOil OF HISTOilY AGllA COLLEGE WITII A FOREWORD . By L. F. RUSHBROOK-WILLIAMS - M.A., B. liTT.; O.B.E;; ETC. • FOllMEllLY PllOFESSOll OF HISTOB.Y lN THE UNJVEllSITY OF ALLAHABAD· TIIIRDEDmON FELIX QUI POTVIT B.EilUM COGNOSCEB.E CAVSAS-Virgil niE INDIAN PRESS LTD. ALLAHABAD tcUI. · Printed and Published by K. Mittra at the Indian P,ess, Ltd. Alla~bad PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION THIS voiume is an attempt to present to. the reader a general view of the history of Medizval ,lp.dia during the years 647-H26 A.D. (The history of Medir\ral In~ writes Dr. Stanley Lane-Poole, is merely a chronicle of kings, courts and conquests and not a history of organic or national growth. The remark is quite appropriate, if we restrict thel scope of history merely to the growth of popular institutions as they are understood in modern times. But. broadly speaking, history. deals with the life of man in its varied · aspects~ and in this sense the History of Medite:Val India iS. not merely a story of court intrigues and palace conspiracies, but a record of brilliant achievements in the :field of conquest and) administration, and of great social and religious movement.c.J · Elphinstone's History of India is rightly ~eated asp classic and generations of students in this country have profited by it.
    [Show full text]
  • Relations Bet\A/Een the Sultanates of Malwa and Gujarat Master Of
    Relations Bet\A/een the Sultanates of Malwa and Gujarat DISSERTATION SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE C Master of Philosophy IN HISTORY By FAIZA SIMIN Under the Supervision of Mr. Iqtidar Alam Khan CENTRE OF /\DVAMCED STUDY Departmant of History Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 1982 as 3 * MNi vi.Ro DS322 It is to certify that Miss Fai2» Sljniii*8 M.Phil, dissertation "Relations Between th» Sultanates of Malwa and Gu.1arat" is based on her original research and it is ready for submission for the a\iard of M.Phil, degree. (IQTIDAII KUM KHUI) Reader, Deoartonent of History, AMU, Aligarh. 20.5.1982 £1 Ji J Jiii ACKNOyLeOGCMCMTS 1 ITROOUCTION 2 1. Thfl Coininon Boundary of tha Kingdona of Gujarat and Maltuat 1407-1526 19 A • Map of the Boundariaa of Halvua and Gujarat (1407-U83). B * Map of tha Boundariaa of Maluia and Gujarat (1484-1513) C - Map of the Boundariaa of Maluia and Gujarat (1514-1526) 2. Natra of frequant conflicto batu/een Gujarat and Mai'uta) An aaaeaanant of tha oontaaiporary clalMa and eharactarlzatlona* 44 ?• Role of 2iaai"dar« in tha mutual ralationa of Gujarat anci Malwa 63 A - Map of the zamindaria of Gujarat and Maltua 4, The role of ule«a and waehaikh in Mflwa - Gujarat ralatlono SB SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 102 BIBLIOGRAPHY 111 1 i£JSii£^iiJfi£il!JIJiI It la ny plaaaant duty to Bnptmna my gratitude toiuarda thoaa froM u/hon I have rscelvad help and moral encouragnaant in turlting thia diaaertatlon. My sense of obligation tou/ards my si^arvisor, Hr.Iqtidar Alam Khan, is beyond any expression, My parents have been a constant source of inspiration and moral support.
    [Show full text]
  • COIN COLLECTING in the DECCAN. Indian Army
    COIN COLLECTING IN THE DECCAN. BY MAJOR R. P. JACKSON, Indian Army [Retired). HEN the British-Indian rupee was emancipated from the superscription of the shadowy kingship of Delhi in 1835, India possessed some three hundred varieties of currency, for nearly every native state had its own coinage, the princes regarding the privilege of coining as insignia of independent rule. The Court of Directors, having placed the British-Indian coinage upon a satisfactory basis, endeavoured to establish a uniform system throughout the native states, but the princes declined any change in their hand-made and debased rupees. " In the seventies the Government of India again tackled the problem by offering to coin for the states money of the same weight and fineness as that circulating in British territory, in which it would be legal tender, provided that rulers consenting to the proposal would agree to close their mints for a term of years. A few of the smaller states accepted this concession ; but the majority held aloof, and it was not until the passing of the Currency Act ancl the closing of the Bombay and Calcutta mints to the free coinage of silver in 1893, that an appreciable advance was made in monetary reforms in feudatory India, and as their rupees were easily counterfeited, and the advent of cheap silver had made their imitation a very profitable speculation, many of the rulers were impelled to accept the British rupee as a means of self-protection.1 " A notable exception, however, to this gathering of the feudatories into the Imperial currency fold is Hyderabad, the ruler of which has resisted the blandishments of Simla and Calcutta.
    [Show full text]