Mamluk Dynasty

A Complete Analysis of the Indian

Mamluk Dynasty using PERSIA

P: Political aspect
of the Mamluk Dynasties,
specifically focusing on the rulers and timeline.

PERSIA

Muhammad of Ghor conquered parts of the Indian Sub-Continent in the late 12th century which
later became the territory of the Mamluk dynasty.
1206-1210 AD: Qutub-ud-din-aybak, former slave of Muhammad of Ghor, declared independence
of India after the death of Muhammad of Ghor, and began the Mamluk Dynasty in 1206 AD. Aybak
was not militant and focused on the development of his current territories rather than spreading
to other countries. He died while playing polo.
1211-1236 AD: Iltutmish was by far the most militant Mamluk sultan, he suceeded in spreading his
territories in all directions. At the time of his death his eldest son had been killed and his other
sons were incompetent so he named his daughter as his successor.
1236-1240 AD: Raziya Sultana, daughter of Iltutmish, did not succeed immediately to the throne
because the noble did not want a girl as a leader so they put in place on of Iltutmishs sone whos
reign only lasted a few months before they had him assassinated. Raziya is famous for being the
first and only female ruler of India.

Important Leaders

1192 AD: Mohammed of Ghor defeats Prithvi Raj, then captures Delhi
and establishes Muslim rule at Delhi.
1206 AD: The former slave Qutub-ud-din-aybak becomes the first
sultan of Delhi after Mohammed of Ghor dies.
1210 AD: Aybak dies and Iltutmish succeed him.
1225 AD: Southern Bihar is captured by Iltutmish, and the Rajputs
regain territories taken by Mohammed of Ghor.
1231 AD: The Khalji Maliks were defeated by Iltutmish
1236 AD: Iltutmish dies and Raziya Sultan succeeds him

Timeline of Mamluk Dynasty

1240 AD: Raziya dies and Bahram succeeds her.

1242 AD: Bahram dies and Masud succeeds him.
1246 AD: Masud dies and Mahmud succeeds him.
1266 AD: Mahmud dies and Balban succeeds him.
1286 AD: Balban dies and Quaiqabad succeeds him.
1290 AD: The Mamluk dynasty is overthrown and replaced by
the Khilji dynasty.

Timeline Cont.

Gender and Politics: Gathering

Data
First, have your partner*:
1. List 10 famous males.
2. Categorize these males into what role theyve had in society
3. Count the ratio of positions of power or authority.
Next, have your partner do the same with females*.
Finally, have your partner*:
1. List the first 10 rulers that come to mind.
2. Count the ratio of male and female.
Repeat this experiment with 5 partners.
Chart your findings.
How do you account for your findings.
*In order to not influence the results, do not reveal to your partner the purpose of your
study
At least not until all the results are in.

What was difference between the founder of the

Indian Mamluk dynasty and most other kingdoms
of the time? Is this significant? Why or why not?
What political implications could the Raziya
Sultana have had on the Mamluk dynasty? What
documents would be necessary to see the
political implications of her rule?
How much impact, in your opinion could the
Mamluk Dynasty have had on future dynasties?

Discussion Questions for the Political

Impact of the Mamluk Dynasty

E: Economic aspect of the Mamluk dynasty specifically

focusing on the works of architecture during this time.

PERSIA

Qutb Minar
Sultan Ghari
Tomb of Balban

Notable
Architecture

Worlds tallest brick minaret

Started by Aybak and finished by Iltutmish
Built in Mehrauli, India

Qutb Minar

Built as a tomb for Iltutmishs eldest son

It is the first Islamic mausoleum to be built.

Sultan Ghari

Constructed as a tomb for Ghiyas ud din Balban.

First example of arches being used in Indian
architecture.

Balbans Tomb

What do these examples of architecture show

about the economic prosperity of the Mamluk
dynasty? Keep in mind this dynasty was only
around for 100 years.
Which culture do the Mamluks choose to emulate
in their architecture? Hindu or Muslim?
What does the example of arches appearing in
India show about interantional trade at this
Discussiontime?
Questions for the

Economic Impact of the Mamluk

R: Religious aspect of the Mamluk dynasty

PERSIA

Islam was the primary religion in the conquerors of India.

However the native population still held their Hindu beliefs.
There was a small population of Buddhist Indians at this
time.

Islam

What does the fact that Hinduism and Buddhism survived

during a Muslim rule show about the strength of the
dynasty and of the Hindu faith?
Are there other examples where the ruling power is of a
different religious belief than the majority of the people?
What affect did that have on the authority of the ruling
power?

Discussion Questions for the Religious

Impacts of the Mamluk Dynasty

S: Social aspects of the Mamluk dynasty specifically

focusing on the rise of a woman to the throne.

PERSIA

Raziya Sultana is the first Muslim ruler to have

complete control over a territory.
Her father appointed her his successor on his
deathbed because he felt she was stronger then
her brothers.
She was the daughter of Itutmish the most
powerful of all Mamluk kings.

Raziya Sultana

What does the fact that a Muslim patriarchal society put up

with a female ruler show about the changing ideologies of the
time?
Do you think that the fact that Raziya Sultana only ruled for 4
years takes away from her importance in the history of India?
Why or why not?
In Indian society, what supercedes the other social class or
gender roles?

Discussion Questions About

Social Impact of Mamluk
Dynasty

I: Intellectual aspect of the of the Mamluk dynasty.

PERSIA

One important thing to know about AP world

history is that not all things have the proper
documentation to be analyzed by all aspects of
PERSIA.

Intelectual

What important lesson have you learned from this

section?
Is this sentiment true?
(remember what Intellectual means in PERSIA)

Discussion Questions for Intellectual

Impact of the Mamluk Dynasty

A: the Artistic impact of the Mamluk dynasty on India

PERSIA

The most important artistic impact of the Mamluk

dynasty would be their contribution to the
movement of Muslim architecture into the
Indian subcontinent.
To see some of the example of Indian and Muslim
architecture mixed refer to the economic
section of this PowerPoint.

Artistic Impact

What does the examples of new types of

architecture in India show about the strength of
the Mamluk dynasty in comparison with their
lifespan?

Discussion Questions for

Artistic Impact of Mamluk
Dynasty

-The Mamluks were the first of numerous dynasties in what is known as the Delhi
Sultanate
-Another name for the Mamluk Dynasty is the Slave Dynasty
-The Mamluks successfully prevented a Mongolian conquest in the Indian
subcontinent.
One must be careful with the term Mamluk, because it can be applied to regions
outside of India
Questions:
What were the names of the other dynasties?
Why were the Mamluks equated with slaves?
When and where were the Mongolians held back?
What other countries have a Mamluk history attached to it?

Important to Note

http://mamluk.co.tv/#Mamluk_rulers
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Delhi_Sultanate
http://www.qutubminar.org/
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/historia/coins/j2/j561.htm
http://portuguese-mamluk-war.co.tv/

For more Information