1 Syllabus T.Y.B.A. History Paper – IV Medieval India (1000-1707 A.D.) 1. Socio-Economic and Political conditions of India on the eve of Turkish invasion. 2. Delhi Sultanate: (a) Foundation and Consolidation: Qutbuddin Aibak, Iltutmish, Razia and Balban (b) Expansion and Decline: Alauddin Khilji, Muhammad Bin Tughlaq’ Sayyids and Lodis 3. Administrative System of the Delhi Sultanate: (a) Administrative and Military Reforms of Alauddin Khilji (b) Firuz Shah Tughlaq and his reforms (c) Central Government and Iqta System 4. Vijayanagar and Bahamani Kingdoms: (a) Rise, growth and decline of Vijayanagara and Bahamani Kingdoms (b) Administration, economy, society and culture of the Vijayanagara Empire 5. Mughal Empire – Foundation, Struggle and Restoration (1526-1556): (a) Babur (b) Humayun © Sher Shah – conquests and administration 6. Mughal Empire – Expansion, Consolidation and Beginning of Decline: (a) Akbar, (b) Jahangir and Shah Jahan © Aurangzeb 7. Administration of the Mughals: (a) Central and Provincial (b) Mansabdari System © Revenue 2 8. Rise of the Maratha Power: (a) Shivaji and foundation of the Swarajya (b) Shivaji’s Administration © Sambhaji, Rajaram and Tarabai 9. Economic and Social Conditions under the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals: (a) Agriculture, Industry, Trade, Commerce and Currency (b) Caste system, position of women and Slavery © Education and literature 10. Religions and Culture during the Sultanate and Mughals: (a) Religious trends – Bhakti movement, Sufism, Din-I-Ilahi and Sikkhism (b) Art – Painting, Calligraphy, Sculpture (c) Architecture 3 PREFACE It gives us great pleasure in associating ourselves with the writing of study material for the TYBA students of the Institute of Distance Education (IDE), University of Mumbai, in History, Paper 1V-Medieval India (1000-1707 AD). This study material is a comprehensive narration of the various topics that are included in the syllabus of Medieval India covering the period from 1000-1707 A.D. Medieval India covers a wide range of topics that have left their distinct mark on the history of Medieval India. These topics include political, social and economic conditions of India on the eve of the Turkish invasion, establishment of the Delhi Sultanate, the expansion and consolidation of the Delhi Sultanate, the administrative structure of the Delhi Sultanate; polity, administration, and culture of the Vijayanagar Empire; establishment and expansion of the Mughal Empire; economy, society and culture of Medieval India, and the rise of the Maratha power under the leadership of Shivaji. We sincerely believe that this study material would be of immense help for the students of the Institute of Distance Education in understanding the subject and enabling them to answer the university examination. We take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Dr. S.D. Pawar, Director of the Institute of Distance Education, who was kind enough to assign us the task of writing this study material. Mumbai Dr. Bimal Malhotra Dr. Eugene J. D’Souza 4 Suggested Readings 1. Banerjee AC-New History of Medieval India, New Delhi,S.Chand & Co., New Delhi,1990. 2. Chitnis K.N - Glimpses of Medieval Indian and Institutions, Poona, 1981. 3. Chitnis K.N -Socio-Economic History of Medieval India, Atlantic Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi,1990. 4. Chopra P.N., Puri B.N., Das M.N-A Social, Cultural and Economic History of India, Vol II. Macmillan India, Delhi,1974. 5. Lane Poole Stanley – Medieval India, London,1910 6. Majumdar R.C(ed)-The History and Culture of the Indian People, Vol VI:The Delhi Sultanate, Bombay, 1967, Vol VII:The Moghul Empire, Bombay, 1974. 7. Mehta J.L – Advanced Study in the History Of Medieval India VolII, New Delhi sterling Publishers,1983. 8. Moreland W.H-From Akbar to Aurangzeb:Study in Economic History, London, 1923 9. Moreland E.H-India at the Death of Akbar:An Economic Study, London,1920 10. Pandy A.B.-Early Medievel India, Central Book Depot,Allahabad,1970 11. Pandy AB-Later Medieval India (1526-1761AD) Central Book Depot, Allahabad,1967. 12. Prasad Ishwari- History of Medieval India,Allahabad,1952. 13 Raychaudhuri T and Irfan Habib (ed)-The Cambridge Economic History of India, London,1982. 14. Richards J.F-The Moghul Empire, Cambridge,1994. 15. Sarkar Jadunath-Mughal Administration, Calcutta,1963. 16. Sarkar Jadunath-Shivaji and His Times, New Delhi,1973 17. Sharna S R-Mughal Empire in India,Agra,1971. 18. Sherwani H. K. and Joshi P.H.(ed) - History of Medieval Deccan (1295 - 1724 AD) VOl I, Huderabad, 1973m, Vol II, Hyderbad, 1974. 19. Srivastava A. L The Sultanate of Delhi (711 – 1526 AD), Agra, 1974. 20. Srivastava A. L - The Mughal Empire (1526 -1803 AD), Agra 1974 5 1 SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS OF INDIA ON THE EVE OF THE TURKISH INVASION Unit Structure : 1.0 Objectives 1.1. Introduction: 1.2 Social Condition on the Eve of the Turkish Invasion 1.3 Economic Condition on the Eve of the Turkish Invasion 1.4 Political Condition on the Eve of the Turkish Invasion 1.5 Conclusion 1.6 Questions 1.0 OBJECTIVES: To understand the Social condition on the eve of the Turkish invasion. To analyse the Economic Condition on the eve of the Turkish Invasion. To know the Political Condition on the eve of the Turkish Invasion. 1.1. INTRODUCTION: The invasion of the Turks at the turn of the eleventh century from Central Asia had far-reaching consequences on the history of not only medieval but modern India. The Turks established the politico-military control over major regions of the country and promoted the religion-Islam that they professed and introduced and nurtured the Islamic culture in all spheres. These factors led to the emergence of the Muslim community with a well-defined religion and its own socio-cultural moorings. Unlike the invaders of ancient India, the Turks and the Indian converts to Islam maintained their distinct religio-cultural identity. In order to understand the reasons behind the Turkish invasions and the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate, it is important to analyze the socio-economic and political conditions that prevailed in India on the eve of the Turkish invasion. 6 1.2 SOCIAL CONDITION OF INDIA ON THE EVE OF THE TURKISH INVASION 1.2.1 Division of the Society into Caste System: Since ancient times the Indian society was divided into four hierarchical castes with prescribed privileges and disabilities. The four major castes were: the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and the Sudras. The division of the society into castes and sub-castes had created sharp differences between different sections of the society. This in turn had weakened the society. The Brahmins and Kshatriyas commanded the highest respect in the society while the position of the Sudras and the Chandalas had become worse than before. The Smriti writers of the period ascribed exaggerated the privileges to the Brahmins. On the other hand the Sudras were condemned to rigorous social and religious disabilities. Besides the traditional four castes, there was a large section of the people called antayaja. The hunters, the weavers, the fishermen, the shoemakers and other people who engaged in such professions belonged to this section. They occupied a position lower than the Sudras. Still lower in social status were the Hadis, Doms, Chandalas etc. who performed duties such as lifting the dead cattle, cremating the dead people, scavenging etc. They were forced to live outside the cities and villages. They were treated as outcastes and untouchables. With the passage of time the caste system had become very rigid. Marriages between different castes were forbidden. According to a writer Parasara, eating a Sudra’s food, association with a Sudra, sitting alongside a Sudra, and taking lessons from a Sudra are acts which drag down even a noblest person. The position of the lower castes in the society can be imagined by the fact that even the Vaishyas were not allowed to study the religious texts. According to Al-Beruni if any one dared to study the religious texts his tongue was cut off. One of the important features of the Hindu society on the eve of the Turkish invasion was the emergence of new castes such as the Kayastha caste. Originally, people from different castes, including Brahmins and Sudras, who worked in the royal establishments, came to be known as Kayastha. With the passage of time, they crystallized into a distinct caste. As Hinduism was spreading it absorbed not only the Buddhists and Jains but also many indigenous tribes and foreigners who embraced Hinduism during this period. These groups came to be organized in new castes and sub-castes. In most of the cases they continued their own social customs and traditions in relation to marriage etc. They even continued to worship their own tribal gods and goddesses. The caste system and the proliferation of additional sub-castes with their distinct social customs and position in the caste hierarchy 7 made the Hindu society more complex and divided on the eve of the Turkish invasion. 1.2.2 Deterioration of the Position of Women: `The position of women in the Indian society had been gradually deteriorating over the years since ancient times. Women were generally considered mentally inferior. The women were regarded as objects of enjoyment by men and a means to procure children. They were required to be subservient to their husbands. The Matsya Purana gave power to the husband to beat his erring wife with a rope or a split bamboo. The women were denied education. They had no right to study the Vedas. Child marriage was a common practice. The Smriti writers laid down that girls were to be given away in marriage by their parents between the ages of six and eight or between their eighth year and attaining puberty.