Reshaping India’s Political Map

How India’s political map changed from 1206 to 1707: the Delhi Sultanate, Vijayanagara, the Mughals and regional kingdoms, their administration, economy and travellers.

Key ideas

The Delhi Sultanate (from 1206) had five dynasties: Mamluks, Khiljis, Tughlaqs, Sayyids and Lodis.
Under the iqta system, nobles (iqtadars) were given territories to collect taxes and keep soldiers; the posts were not hereditary.
Muhammad bin Tughlaq moved his capital to Daulatabad and tried token copper coins; Ibn Battuta from Morocco served at his court.
The Vijayanagara empire in the south was founded in 1336 by the brothers Harihara and Bukka.
The Mughal Empire began after the First Battle of Panipat in 1526; it was divided into provinces called subahs.
Mughal officers held ranks called mansabs; Todar Mal surveyed land, yields and prices to fix revenue.
Regional kingdoms had their own systems, such as the Ahom paik system of service in return for land.
Traders moved money across regions with hundis, written payment notes.

Remember

Delhi Sultanate established	1206
Vijayanagara founded	1336 (Krishnadevaraya’s rule began 1509)
First Battle of Panipat	1526
Subah / mansab	Mughal province / Mughal officer’s rank
Akbar’s ministers	Diwan (finance), Mir Bakhshi (military), Khan-i-Saman (household and works)
Kumbhalgarh Fort	wall about 36 km long, built by Rana Kumbha
Years between dates	later year − earlier year

Watch out

Getting the Sultanate dynasties out of order: Mamluks, Khiljis, Tughlaqs, Sayyids, Lodis.
Mixing up the iqta (Sultanate) and the mansab (Mughal) systems.
Subtracting the wrong way round: take the earlier year from the later one.

Worked example

Vijayanagara was established in 1336 and Krishnadevaraya began his rule in 1509. (a) How many years apart were these? (b) How long before 1647 was 1336?

Working: 1509 − 1336; 1647 − 1336

Answer: (a) 173 years (b) 311 years