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Provincial Dynasty of Medieval India Notes with PDFs

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The Delhi Sultanate & Its Offshoots

A. The City of Jaunpur and the Sharqi Dynasty

  • Foundation and Early History
    • Founded by Firuz Shah Tughluq of the Delhi Sultanate.
    • Named in memory of his cousin, Muhammad-Bin-Tughluq (also known as Jauna Khan).
    • Firuz Shah Tughluq appointed Malik Sarwar (a eunuch) as the governor of the region.
  • The Sharqi Dynasty
    • Malik Sarwar declared independence from Delhi and established the Sharqi dynasty.
    • The dynasty ruled an independent Jaunpur Sultanate for 85 years.
    • The last ruler was Hussain Shah.
    • The independent kingdom ended in 1479 when it was conquered by Bahlul Lodi of the Delhi Sultanate.
  • Cultural Peak & Architecture
    • Jaunpur reached its cultural peak under Sultan Ibrahim Shah Sharqi (r. 1402-1440 AD).
    • It was known as the ‘Shiraz of India’ or ‘Shiraz-i-Hind’ due to its prosperity and architecture.
    • A distinct Sharqi style of architecture developed, exemplified by:
      • Atala Masjid
      • Lal Darwaza Masjid
      • Jama Masjid

B. The Bahmani Kingdom

  • Foundation
    • Founded in 1347 AD by Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah (also known as Hasan Gangu or Zafar Khan) after rebelling against the Delhi Sultanate.
    • Located in the northern Deccan.
  • Administration
    • The first capital was Gulbarga (renamed Ahsanabad).
    • The kingdom was divided into four administrative divisions (tarafs):
      1. Gulbarga
      2. Daulatabad
      3. Berar
      4. Bidar
    • The founder abolished the Jizya tax on Hindus.

C. Successor States: The Deccan Sultanates

  • The Deccan was ruled by five major Sultanates after the breakup of the Bahmani Empire.
  • Major Dynasties and Their Capitals:
    • Adil Shahi dynasty ruled from Bijapur.
      • Founder: Yusuf Adil Shah.
    • Qutb Shahi dynasty ruled from Golconda (modern-day Hyderabad).
    • Nizam Shahi dynasty ruled from Ahmednagar.
  • Notable Rulers and Culture:
    • Ibrahim Adil Shah II of Bijapur was a tolerant, secular ruler hailed as ‘Jagadguru Badshah’.
    • He was a patron of art, a poet, and author of ‘Kitab-i-Navras’ (Nauras) in the Deccani language.
    • He built a new musical city called Navraspur and a temple inside his palace.
  • Decline:
    • The Nizam Shahi dynasty of Ahmadnagar was annexed by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1632.
    • The last ruler, Hussain Shah, was imprisoned for life in Gwalior Fort.

Independent Regional Kingdoms

A. Zain-ul-Abidin of Kashmir

  • Reign and Titles
    • Real name: Shahi Khan.
    • Ruled Kashmir from 1420 to 1470 AD.
    • Known as the ‘Akbar of Kashmir’ for his tolerance and popularity.
  • Policies and Reforms
    • Abolished the Jizya tax on Hindus.
    • Banned the practice of cow slaughter.
    • His reign was known for religious tolerance and public welfare.
  • Cultural and Architectural Contributions
    • Commissioned the translation of Sanskrit texts (Mahabharata, Raj Tarangini) into Persian.
    • Built an artificial island called Zaina Lanka in Wular Lake.
    • Expanded the Jama Masjid in Srinagar (originally built by Sikandar Butshikan). The architecture features turrets, resembles Buddhist pagodas, and has a Persian style.

B. Southern Indian Dynasties and Capitals

  • Hoysala dynasty capital: Dwarasamudra (modern name: Halebid; famous for Hoysaleswara and Chennakeshava temples).
  • Kakatiya dynasty capital: Warangal
  • Yadava dynasty capital: Devgiri
  • Pandya dynasty capital: Madurai

C. Medieval Himalayan States

  • Champaka and Kuluta: medieval states in present-day Himachal Pradesh.
  • Durgara: a medieval state in present-day Jammu.
  • These states emerged from the tripartite struggle between the Pal, Pratihara, and Rashtrakuta dynasties.

D. Mewar (Rajput)

  • Rana Kumbha’s Court
    • Scholars in his court included:
      • Muni Sunder Suri
      • Natha
      • Tilla Bhatt
    • Muni Jin Vijay Suri was not in his court; he was a scholar in the court of Mughal Emperor Akbar.

Architecture and Monuments

A. Distinctive Architectural Styles

  • Gol Gumbad, Bijapur
    • Built by Muhammad Adil Shah.
    • Famous for its massive dome, one of the largest in the world.
  • Architectural Firsts in Tombs (Delhi Sultanate)
    • True Arch Tomb: First example is the tomb of Balban in Delhi.
    • Double Dome: Introduced by Sikandar Lodi.
    • Octagonal Tomb: Built by Sher Shah (e.g., his tomb in Sasaram).
  • Gujari Mahal
    • Built by Raja Man Singh Tomar of Gwalior in 1510 AD.

Administrative Structures

A. The Polygars (Palayakarrars)

  • They were Territorial Administrative and Military Governors in South India.
  • Appointed by empires like the Vijayanagara, Kakatiya, and Madurai Nayaks.
  • They held sway from the 16th to the 18th centuries.

Historical Geography

  • Golconda was the capital of the Qutb Shahi kingdom.
  • Its modern location is Hyderabad (it is located 7 miles west of the city center).

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