HomeEducational ResourcesTughluq Dynasty Notes with PDF

Tughluq Dynasty Notes with PDF

By October 4, 2025 Educational Resources 0 Comments

These notes are your ultimate revision weapon to revise Tughluq Dynasty. We’ve distilled years of previous exam questions (PYQs) into one powerful, concise resource. Everything you need to know, nothing you don’t.

  • PYQs, Decoded: All key concepts from past exams, organized and simplified.
  • Revise in Record Time: Short, precise, and designed for last-minute review.
  • Focus on What Matters: Master high-probability topics and boost your confidence.
  • Free PDF to download.

The Delhi Sultanate: Key Dynasties and Rulers

I. The Tughluq Dynasty (1320 – 1412 AD)

  • A. Overview
    • Ruled the Delhi Sultanate for the longest period (92 years).
    • Founded by Ghiyasuddin Tughluq.
  • B. Ghiyasuddin Tughluq (Reign: 1320-1325 AD)
    • Background:
        • Original name was Ghazi Malik.
        • Was a general and governor of Depalpur under Alauddin Khalji.
        • Earned the title ‘Malik-ul-Ghazi’ for defeating the Mongols 29 times.
      • Parentage: Father was a Qaraunah Turk (slave of Balban), mother was a Hindu Jat woman.
    • Ascension:
      • Ascended the throne in 1320 by assassinating Khusrau Shah, and overthrown the Khalji dynasty.
    • Agricultural & Administrative Reforms:
      • Credited as the first ruler of the 14th century to dig canals for irrigation.
      • Fixed the land revenue demand at 1/3rd of the produce.
      • Restored the privileges of the Khuts and Muqaddams (village headmen).
  • C. Muhammad Bin Tughluq (Reign: 1325-1351 AD)
    • Reputation & Character:
      • Considered the most learned ruler of the Delhi Sultanate.
      • Well-versed in Astronomy, Mathematics, and Medicine.
      • His ambitious schemes were largely unsuccessful.
      • Historian Badayuni remarked on his death: “The king was freed from his people and they from their king.”
    • Major Policies & Failures:
      • Token Currency:
        • First Sultan to introduce token currency (brass/copper coins).
        • Reasons: Shortage of silver, ambition for empire expansion, inspiration from China.
        • Failure Reason: Lack of government control over minting led to widespread forgery.
      • Transfer of Capital:
        • Transferred the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad (Devgiri).
        • Reasons: More central location, to punish people of Delhi, strategy to unite North and South India.
      • Agricultural Department:
        • Established ‘Diwan-i-Amir-Kohi’ (or ‘Diwan-i-Kohi’) to improve agriculture.
        • Involved selecting areas for agrarian reforms and planning crop rotation.
      • Military Campaigns:
        • Launched failed expeditions to Khurasan and Qarachil.
      • Cultural Openness:
        • First Sultan to participate in public celebration of Hindu festivals (e.g., Holi).
        • Appointed non-Turk and non-Indian Muslims to high ranks, drawing criticism from orthodox nobles.
    • Ibn Battuta’s Visit:
      • The Moroccan traveler visited India during his reign.
      • Was appointed as the Qazi (Judge) of Delhi.
      • In 1342 AD, was sent as the Sultan’s ambassador to China.
      • Wrote ‘Kitab-ul-Rehla’ (Rihla), which describes the Sultanate’s postal system.
    • Death:
      • Died in 1351 near Thatta (Pakistan) while pursuing a rebel named Taghi.
  • D. Firuz Shah Tughluq (Reign: 1351-1388 AD)
    • Succession: Succeeded his cousin, Muhammad Bin Tughluq.
    • Public Works & Irrigation:
      • Built the maximum number of canals among Delhi Sultans.
        • Key Canals: Sutlej to Ghaggar (96 miles), Yamuna to Hisar (150 miles), others to Firuzabad.
      • Dug 150 wells for travelers.
      • Built 50 dams and 30 lakes (as per historian Farista).
      • Planted 1,200 new orchards and renovated 30 old gardens.
      • Established the Public Works Department during the Sultanate period.
      • Built 300 new towns (e.g., Jaunpur, Fatehabad, Hisar).
    • Taxation:
      • Introduced the irrigation tax ‘Haqq-i-Sharb’ (Haqq-i-Sharb).
      • Farmers using canal water had to pay 1/10th of their harvest.
    • Administration & Social Welfare:
      • First Indian ruler to organize and fund the Haj pilgrimage from the state exchequer.
      • Established an ‘Employment Exchange’ for the unemployed.
      • Founded institutions:
        • Dar-ul-Shafa: A free hospital.
        • Diwan-i-Khairat: For orphans, widows, and dowries for needy Muslim women.
      • Maintained a huge department for slaves (Diwan-i-Bandgan), caring for ~180,000 slaves.
    • Cultural & Religious Policies:
      • Levied Jizya on Brahmins.
      • Established a ‘Translation Department’ to translate Sanskrit texts into Persian.
    • Architectural Interests:
      • Transported two Ashoka Pillars to Delhi:
        • From Topra (installed near Firuzabad mosque).
        • From Meerut (installed at present-day Bada Hindu Rao Hospital).
  • E. Decline and End of the Dynasty
    • Last Ruler: Nasiruddin Mahmud (reigned 1394-1412 AD).
    • Timur’s Invasion:
      • Mongol conqueror Timur invaded India in 1398 AD during Nasiruddin’s reign.
      • The invasion shattered the Delhi Sultanate, leading to the dynasty’s disintegration.
      • Timur appointed Khizr Khan as governor of Multan, Depalpur, and Lahore before leaving.
    • Aftermath:
      • The Tughluq dynasty ended in 1412 AD.
      • Khizr Khan established the Sayyid dynasty in 1414 AD.
      • Alam Shah (1445-1451 AD, Last ruler of Sayyid dynasty)

II. Other Dynasties and Key Figures

  • A. The Khalji Dynasty (1290 – 1320 AD)
    • End of the Dynasty:
      • Khusrau Shah (a Hindu convert) was the last Khalji ruler.
      • His reign was short (2 months); Hindu gods were worshipped in royal palaces during his rule.
    • Military Reforms:
      • Alauddin Khalji introduced the horse branding system (Dag).
  • B. The Slave Dynasty
    • Military Reforms:
      • Balban first set up a separate military department, Diwan-i-Arz.
  • C. The Sayyid and Lodi Dynasties
    • The Sayyid dynasty (1414-1451) was established by Khizr Khan after the Tughluqs.
    • The Lodi dynasty (1451-1526) succeeded the Sayyids.

III. Other Administrative and Regional Facts

  • A. Ain-ul-Mulk Multani
    • A high-ranking official who served under Alauddin Khalji (conquered Malwa in 1305), Muhammad-Bin-Tughluq, and Firuz Shah Tughluq.
  • B. Founding of the Jaunpur Sultanate
    • Founded by Malik Sarwar (titled Khwaja Jahan), a former minister of the last Tughluq ruler.
    • It was an independent state.

Know More About the Tughluq Dynasty:

Related Posts