Delhi Sultanate: Administration Notes with PDF
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Delhi Sultanate: Administration & Governance
1. Nature of the State
- The historian Barani did not consider it a truly Islamic state because the majority of the population was non-Muslim.
- The Sultan’s regulations (Zawabit) often supplemented or overrode traditional Muslim law (Sharia).
2. Origin of Rulers
- Most Sultans and high nobles (Amirs) belonged to the Turkish class.
3. Key Administrative Departments
| Department (Diwan-i-) | Primary Function | Created / Instituted by |
|---|---|---|
| Arz | Military Department | Balban |
| Wizarat | Finance Department | – |
| Risalat | Religious Matters & Foreign Affairs | – |
| Insha | Royal Correspondence | – |
| Bandagan | Department for Slaves | Firuz Shah Tughluq |
| Mustakhraj | Checking Revenue Corruption & Theft | Alauddin Khilji |
| Amir Kohi | Agriculture Department | Muhammad Bin Tughluq |
| Khairat | Department of Charity | Firuz Shah Tughluq |
Delhi Sultanate: Revenue & Taxation
1. The Iqta System
- Introduced by: Iltutmish.
- Nature: A revenue assignment system where officials (Iqtadars or Muqtis) were granted the right to collect revenue from a territory instead of a cash salary.
- Revenue Flow: Revenue was not directly deposited into the Sultan’s account. The Muqti used it to cover local administrative costs and maintain troops for the Sultanate.
- Primary Source: The Siyasatnama written by Nizam al-Mulk.
2. Revenue Officials
- Amil: The official in charge of revenue collection in a district.
- Chaudhary: The supreme rural official for land revenue (village headman).
3. Types of Taxes
| Tax | Purpose / Nature |
|---|---|
| Kharaj | Land tax |
| Jizya | Tax on non-Muslims |
| Ushr | A 10% tax on crops (levied by Firuz Tughluq) |
| Khums | Tax on war booty (1/5th share to the state); not a land tax |
| Zakat | Tax for religious purposes on Muslims (alms) |
| Sharb | Tax levied on irrigation |
| Fawazil | The excess amount collected by Iqtadars after meeting their expenses, paid to the central treasury |
Delhi Sultanate: Law & Society
- Zawabit: State laws or regulations issued by the Sultans, which supplemented Islamic law.
- Hadis: Islamic law based on the traditions and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad.
Delhi Sultanate: Currency & Coinage
1. Primary Currencies
- The two main currencies were the Tanka (silver) and the Jital (copper).
2. Introduction of Coins
- Iltutmish introduced:
- The silver Tanka
- The copper Jital
- The silver Shashgani coin
- Exchange Rate: 1 Tanka = 48 Jitals
3. Caliph’s Name on Coins
- The name of Caliph Mustansir appeared on the coins of Iltutmish.
- The name of the last Caliph of Baghdad, Al-Mustasim, appeared for the first time on the coins of Sultan Alauddin Masud Shah (1242-1246 AD).
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