Greater Valley School, Greater Noida

SUBJECT: History
CLASS: VII

Chapter – 3 THE DELHI SULTANS (Ques/ Answers)

Q1. Which ruler first established his or her capital at Delhi?
Answer: Ananga Pala of the Tomara Rajputs dynasty was the first ruler who established his
capital at Delhi.

Q2. What was the language of administration under the Delhi Sultans?
Answer: The language of administration under the Delhi Sultans was Persian.

Q3. In whose reign did the Sultanate reach its farthest extent?
Answer: The Sultanate reached its farthest extent during the reign of Muhammad Tughluq.

Q4. From which country did Ibn Battuta travel to India?

Answer: Ibn Battuta, a fourteen century traveler, travelled to India from Morocco, Africa.

Q5. According to the ‘circle of justice’ why was it important for military commanders to
keep the interests of the peasantry in mind?
Ans. According to the ‘circle of justice’ it was important for military commanders to keep the
interest of peasantry in mind. As is clear from the following:

1. A king cannot survive without soldiers.

2. Soldiers cannot live without salaries.
3. Salaries came from revenue collected from peasants.
4. Peasant would pay revenue when they are prosperous and happy.
5. This in turn will happen when there is justice and honest governance.
Q6. What is meant by the ‘internal’ and ‘external’ frontiers of the Sultanate?
Ans:
Internal Frontier:
a) The ‘internal’ frontier of the Sultanate aimed at consolidating the hinterland of the
garrison town.
b) During these campaigns forests were cleared in the Ganga – Yamuna doab and the
hunters and gatherers and pastoralists expelled from their habitat.
c) These lands were given to peasants and agriculture was encouraged.
d) New fortresses, garrison towns and towns were established to protect trade route and to
promote trade.

External frontier:

a) The second expansion occurred along the external frontier of the Sultanate.
b) Military expeditions into south India started during the reign of Alauddin Khilji and
culminated with Tughluq.
c) In their campaigns, Sultanate armies captured elephants, horses and slaves and carried
away precious metals.

Q7. What were the steps taken to ensure that muqtis performed their duties? Why do you
think they may have wanted to defy the orders of the Sultans?
Ans. Steps taken to ensure that the muqtis performed their duties well:

1. Accountants were appointed to check the amount collected by the muqtis.

2. Collection of revenues only which were prescribed by the state, not more than that in any
circumstances.

They may have wanted to defy the orders of the Sultanate because their appointment was
not hereditary and also their job was transferable.
Q8. What was the impact of the Mongol invasions on the Delhi Sultanate?

Ans. Mongol attacks on the Delhi Saltanate increased during the reign of Alauddin Khalji and
in the early years of Muhammad Tughluq’s rule. The Delhi Sultanate mobilized a large standing
army in Delhi. It posed a big administrative challenge.

• Alauddin Khalji constructed a new garrison town at Siri for his soldiers. He imposed taxes
on land to feed the army at the rate of 50 percent of peasant’s yield. He began to pay the
soldiers in cash.
• Muhammad Tughluq shifted people of Delhi to Daulatabad in sout h and thus converted
Delhi into a garrison town. He also disbanded the army. He also paid the soldiers in cash.

Q9. Do you think the authors of tawarikh would provide information about the lives of
ordinary men and women?
Ans. No, I do not think the authors of tawarikh would provide information about the lives of
ordinary men and women. This is because

(1) the authors of tawarikh lived in cities (mainly Delhi) and hardly ever in villages.

2) They often wrote their histories for Sultans in the hope of rich rewards.

(3) These authors advised rulers on the need to preserve an “ideal” social order based on
birthright and gender distinctions.

Q10. Write a short note on Raziyya Sultan.

Ans. In 1236 Sultan Iltutmish’s daughter, Raziyya, became Sultan. The chronicler of the age,
Minhaj-i Siraj, recognised that she was more able and qualified than all her brothers. But he was
not comfortable at having a queen as ruler. Nor were the nobles happy at her attempts to rule
independently. She was removed from the throne in 1240.