1. Delhi Sultanate and the Vijayanagara Empire
From 1206 to 1526 five dynasties ruled from Delhi. In the south, the Vijayanagara Empire, with its capital at Hampi in Karnataka, became one of the richest states of its time.
The five dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate
- Mamluk (Slave) dynasty from 1206: Qutb-ud-din Aibak began the Qutub Minar; Iltutmish completed it and introduced the silver tanka and copper jital.
- Razia Sultan (1236-1240) was the only woman to rule from the Delhi throne. Balban followed a policy of 'blood and iron'.
- Khalji dynasty (1290-1320): Alauddin Khalji controlled market prices; his general Malik Kafur raided the south.
- Tughlaq dynasty (1320-1414): Muhammad bin Tughlaq shifted the capital to Daulatabad and issued token copper currency; Ibn Battuta visited his court.
- Sayyid (1414-1451) and Lodi (1451-1526) dynasties followed. Sikandar Lodi founded Agra; Ibrahim Lodi lost to Babur at Panipat in 1526.
Before and around the Sultanate
- In the battles of Tarain, Prithviraj Chauhan defeated Muhammad Ghori in 1191 but lost to him in 1192.
- Timur invaded and sacked Delhi in 1398.
- Amir Khusrau, a poet and musician, served several Delhi sultans and was a disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya.
- The Bahmani Sultanate was founded in the Deccan in 1347, first at Gulbarga (Kalaburagi), later at Bidar.
The Vijayanagara Empire
- Founded in 1336 by the brothers Harihara and Bukka of the Sangama dynasty; the sage Vidyaranya is linked with its founding.
- The capital Vijayanagara (Hampi) stood on the Tungabhadra river; Hampi became a UNESCO site in 1986.
- Four dynasties ruled: Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Aravidu.
- Krishnadevaraya (1509-1529, Tuluva) is its most famous king; he wrote the Telugu work Amuktamalyada and hosted the 'Ashtadiggajas' poets.
- Foreign visitors: Nicolo de Conti (Italian), Abdur Razzaq (Persian), and the Portuguese Domingo Paes and Fernao Nuniz.
- In the Battle of Talikota (Rakkasa-Tangadi) in 1565, an alliance of Deccan sultanates defeated Vijayanagara and Hampi was sacked.
Quick facts
- Delhi Sultanate
- 1206-1526
- Only woman Sultan of Delhi
- Razia Sultan
- Market reforms
- Alauddin Khalji
- Capital to Daulatabad
- Muhammad bin Tughlaq
- Second Battle of Tarain
- 1192
- Vijayanagara founded
- 1336, Harihara and Bukka
- Amuktamalyada
- Krishnadevaraya
- Battle of Talikota
- 1565
- Hampi UNESCO
- 1986
💡 Learn the Sultanate order with the memory line 'My Kind Teacher Sends Love': Mamluk, Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, Lodi.
📝 5-question quiz on this lesson: enrol free to take it and track your score.
