Medieval History

Revision Notes
Medieval History Revision Notes

North Indian Kingdoms – The Rajputs

The medieval period can be divided into two stages:

 Early medieval period: 8th – 12th century A.D.
 Later Medieval period: 12th-18th century.

Rajputs
There are many theories that support their origins such as the Agni Kula theory, Tribal Origin theory,
Foreign Origin theory, Kshatriya Origin theory, and mixed origin theory.

Rajput Period (647 - 1200 AD)

From the death of Harsha to the 12th century, the destiny of India was mostly in the hands of various
Rajput dynasties.

Rajput Clans
There were nearly 36 Rajput’ clans. The major clans were:
 The Palas of Bengal
 The Chauhans of Delhi and Ajmer
 The Rathors of Kanauj
 The Guhilas or Sisodiyas of Mewar
 The Chandellas of Bundelkhand
 The Paramaras of Malwa
 The Senas of Bengal
 The Solankis of Gujarat

Pala Dynasty
Gopala (765-769 A.D.)
 Founder of Pala Dynasty and he also restored order.
Dharmapala (769-815 A.D.)
 He is the son of Gopala and succeeded his father.
 He brought Bengal, Bihar, and Kanauj under his control.
 He defeated the Pratiharas and became the master of Northern India.
 He was a steadfast Buddhist and founded the famous Vikramasila University and several
monasteries.
 He also restored the Nalanda University.

Devapala (815-855 A.D.)

 Devapala is the son of Dharmapala.
 He captured Assam and Orissa.
Mahipala (998-1038 A.D.)
 The Palas became powerful during his reign.
 The Pala dynasty declined after the death of Mahipala.

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Medieval History Revision Notes

Tomars of Delhi
 AnangaPala I founded Tomar Dynasty in 8the Century AD.
 Anangpal II was the founder of Dhillikapuri, which eventually became Delhi.
 Anangpal Tomar II was succeeded by his grandson Prithviraj Chauhan.
 Chauhans captured Delhi in the middle of the 12th century and the Tomars became their
feudatories.
Chauhans of Delhi and Ajmer
 The Chauhans declared their independence in the 1101 century at Ajmer and they were the
feudatories of the Pratiharas.
 They captured Ujjain from the Paramaras of Malwa and Delhi in the early part of the 12th
century.
 They shifted their capital to Delhi.
 Prithviraj Chauhan was the most important ruler of this dynasty.
Chandellas of Bundelkhand
 Established them in the 9th century.
 Nannuk, a ruler of small kingdom was the founder of Chandela Dynasty.
 Bundelkhand region was popularly known by the name of Jejakabhukti.
 The capital city of Chandels was Khajuraho which was later changed to Mahoba.
 Kalinjar was their important fort.
 The Chandellas built the most famous Kandariya Mahadeva Temple in 1050 A.D. and a number of
beautiful temples at Khajuraho.
 Paramardi the last independent Chandella ruler was defeated by Qutb-ud-din Aibak in 1203 A.D.
Art and Architecture of Rajputs
 Temples at Khajuraho
 Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneshwar
 The Sun Temple at Konark
 The Dilwara Temple at Mount Abu

Arab And Turkish Invasions in India

Arab Invasion
Muhammad-bin-Qasim (713 AD)
 Al-Hajjajj, the Governor of Iraq sent Muhammad-bin-Qasim to India.
 He Conquered Sind with the permission of Caliph Walid
 Muhammad-bin-Qasim defeated Dahir the ruler of Sind in the Battle of Rewar.
 Muhammad-bin-Qasim called Multan as ‘The City of Gold’
 Jizya was imposed first time on non-Muslims.
 Muhammad-bin Qasim was the son-in-law of Al-Hajjaj, so he dismissed him and sent to
Mesopotamia as a prisoner where he was tortured to death.
 The art of administration, astronomy, music, painting, medicine and architecture were learnt by
Arabs from India and they spread astronomy, Indian Philosophy, and numerals to Europe.
 Muhammad-bin-Qasim did not spread his empire to India because of Gupta strong army.

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Turkish Invasion in India

Mahmud of Ghazni (971 to 1030 AD)
 In 1001 A.D. Mahmud of Ghazni invaded India. He was the first Turkish to invade India.
 He attacked 17 time to India during 1001 AD. To 1028 AD.
 He returned to Ghazna with enormous wealth after defeating Jaipala, the ruler of the Hindu Shahi
Dynasty.
 Mahmud of Ghazni’s significant invasion in India was against the Somnath temple in 1025 A.D.
 Ghazni died in 1030. Mahmud of Ghori came up.

Muhammad of Ghori (1149 – 1206 AD)

 He was the third Muslim ruler who invaded India. He was the ruler of Ghori in Afghanistan.
 He first invaded India in 1175 A.D.
 Muhammad of Ghori was defeated by Prithviraj in the First Battle of Tarain in 1191 A.D.
 In second battle of Tarain (1192), the joined forces of the Rajput rulers under Prithviraj were
defeated by Muhammad of Ghori. Prithviraj was held as a prisoner and later put to death with his
court poet poet and friend Chandbardai (wrote – Prithviraaj Raso).
 Qutb-ud-din Aibak was appointed as the commander by Muhammad of Ghori.
 Muhammad of Ghori defeated Jaichandra in the Battle of Chandawar (1194 A.D.).
 Muhammad-bin-Baktiyar Khilji, one of the commanders of Muhammad of Ghori destroyed
Vikramasila in 1202 and Nalanda Universities in 1203A.D.
 He was assassinated on 25th March 1206 A.D. in Central Asia by some Shia rebels and Khokhars.

Delhi Sultanate (1206 – 1526 AD)

Five Major Dynasty ruled over Delhi Sultanate -:
1. Slave (Ghulam) or Mamluk Dynasty (1206 – 1290)
2. Khilji Dynasty (1290- 1320)
3. Tughluq dynasty (1320 – 1414)
4. Sayyid Dynasty (1414 – 1451)
5. Lodi dynasty (1451 – 1526)

Slave Dynasty (1206 – 1290 AD)

 Slave dynasty was also named the ‘Mamluk’ dynasty; the word Mamluk is an Arabic word that
means “slave/owned”.
 Three dynasties were established during this period.
1. Qutbi dynasty (c. 1206 – 1211 CE) – Its founder was Qutub-ud-din Aibak.
2. First Ilbari dynasty (c. 1211- 1266 CE) – Its founder was Iltutmish.
3. Second Ilbari dynasty (c. 1266 – 1290 CE) – Its founder was Balban.

Qutub-ud-din Aibak (1206 – 1210 AD)

 Qutub-ud-din Aibak founded the Slave dynasty.
 Muslim writers called Aibak “Lakh Baksh” or giver of lakhs because he donated liberally.
 He was the first to take the title “Sultan” and he made Lahore his capital.

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 He also started the construction of the Qutub Minar (first storey only) after the name of his
teacher and the famous Sufi saint Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar.
 Aibak died suddenly while playing Chaugan (horse polo) in c. 1210 CE.

Iltutmish (1210 – 1236 AD)

 Iltutmish belonged to the Ilbari tribe and therefore, his dynasty was named the Ilbari dynasty.
 He is regarded as the real consolidator of Turkish rule in India.
 In c. 1220 CE, the leader of the Mongols, Temujin, popularly known as Chengiz Khan, attacked
India.
 Iltutmish brought Bengal and Bihar back into the Delhi Sultanate.
 In c. 1229 CE, he received ‘mansur’, the letter of recognition from the Abbasid Caliph by which he
became the legal sovereign ruler of India.
 He completed the construction of Qutub Minar at Delhi (238 ft).
 He also introduced the Arabic coinage in India and the silver tanka (175 grams), and Bronze Jital.
 Iltutmish establsihed Turkan-i-Chahalgani (Chalisa Group), a group of 40 elite powerful military
leaders.
 He patronised many scholars and a number of Sufi saints came to India during his reign.

Raziya Sultan (1236 – 1239 AD)

 Raziya Sultan was the first and only female ruler of medieval India’s Sultanate period.
 Raziya appointed an Abyssinian slave, Malik Jamal-ud-din Yaqut as master of the Royal horses
(Amir-i-akhur).
 Raziya Sultan discarded the female apparel and held the court with her face uncovered which
further created resentment.
 She was defeated and killed on the way to Delhi by Bahram Shah.

Balban (1266 – 1286 AD)

 Balban ended the Group of forty (Chalisa) which was established by the Iltutmish.
 According to Balban, the Sultan was God’s shadow on earth, Zil-e-Ilahi and the recipient of divine
grace, Nibyabat-e- Khudai.
 He introduced new customs sajida and kissing the Sultan’s feet (paibos) to prove his superiority
over the nobles.
 He introduced the Persian festival of Nauroz.
 He established a separate military department, Diwan-e-arz and reorganised the army.
 The Sultan who called himself Naib-i-Khudai or Deputy of God was Balban.
 Balban died in c. 1287 CE.

Kaiqubad (1287 – 1290 AD)

 Kaiqubad was the grandson of Balban and was made the Sultan of Delhi by the nobles.
 He was soon replaced by his son, Kaimur.
 In c. 1290 CE, Feroz, the Ariz-e-Mumalik (the minister of war) murdered Kaimur and captured the
throne. He took the title of Jalal-ud-din Khalji and established the Khalji dynasty.

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Khilji Dynasty (1290 – 1320 AD)

Jalal-ud-din Khalji (1290 – 1296 AD)
 He was 70 years old when he assumed power.
 The Khaljis were of mixed Turkish-Afghan descent.
 He adopted the policy of tolerance and avoided harsh punishments.
 Alauddin Khalji murdered his father-in-law Jalal-ud-din Khalji near Kara and took the throne of
Delhi.

Alauddin Khalji (1296 – 1316 AD)

 He was appointed as the Amir-i-Tuzuk (Master of ceremonies) and also Arizi-i-Mumalik (minister
of war) during the reign of Jalaluddin Khalji.
 The public sale of liquor and drugs was totally banned during his reign.
 Alauddin maintained a huge permanent standing army.
 Mongols attacked Delhi six time during his reign.
 He sent an army under two of his generals, Nusrat Khan and Ulugh Khan to capture Gujarat in c.
1299 CE.
 Malik Kafur (Hazar Dinari), a eunuch was also taken to Delhi from Gujarat conquest and later he
became the military commander of Alauddin Khilzi.
 In 1301 he attacked Ranthambore. The Rajput women committed Jauhar or self-immolation.
 In 1303, Alauddin attacked the Chittor fort. He attacked Chittor because he coveted Padmini, the
queen of Raja Ratan Singh. The Rajput women including Rani Padmini performed Jauhar. The
book Padmavat written by Jayasi.
 In 1305, under the able leadership of Ain-ul-Mulk, the Khalji army captured Malwa.
 Alauddin sent Malik Kafur to lead the Khalji dynasty invasions to south India.
 In 1306 – 1307, Malik Kafur attacked Devagiri. The ruler of Devagiri, Rai Ramachandra
surrendered and was treated honourably.
 In 1309, Malik Kafur launched his campaign against Warangal. Its ruler Prataparudra Deva was
defeated. He gave him Kohinoor Diamond to Malik Kafur.
 According to Amir Khusrau, Malik Kafur reached as far as Rameshwaram, built a mosque there
and returned to Delhi with huge wealth.
 He built a famous gateway of Qutub Minar known as Alai Darwaza.
 Alauddin assumed the title of Sikander-i-Sani and gave the title of Tuti-i-Hind to Amir Khusrau.
 He introduced the system of dagh (branding of horses) and prepared Huliya (descriptive list of
soldiers).
 He established four separate markets in Delhi, one for grain (mandi); another for cloth, sugar,
dried fruits, oil and butter; third for horses, cattle and slaves and the fourth market for
miscellaneous commodities. Each market was under the control of a high officer called Shahna-i-
Mandi.
 There was spy called munhiyans who sent reports to the Sultan regarding the functioning of these
markets.
 He was the first sultan of Delhi who ordered measurement of land.
 Alauddin Khalji died in 1316.

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Qutbuddin Mubarak Khilzi (1316 – 1320 AD)

 He was the first sultan of Delhi Sultanate who declared himself as Khalifa.
 He was fond of nude men and women and himself stayed nude.
 He was mentally ill, because someone he wear the cloths of women and ran in the court.
 He was murdered by his Vajir (PM) Khusro Khan.

Nasiruddin Khusrau Shah (1320 AD)

 He described himself as the representative or commander of Pagambar.
 The governor of Dipalpur, Ghazi Malik killed Khusrau Shah and ascended the throne of Delhi
under the title of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq in c. 1320 CE.
 He was the only Hindu convert to sit on the throne of Delhi.

Tughluq Dynasty (1320 – 1414 AD)

Gayasuddin Tughlaq/Ghazi Malik (1320 – 1325 AD)

 He was the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty.
 He laid the foundation for Tughlaqabad (a strong fort) near Delhi.
 It is believed that Jauna Khan treacherously killed his father and ascended the throne with the
title Muhammad bin Tughlaq in c. 1325 CE.

Muhammad Bin Tughlaq/Jauna Khan (1325 – 1351 AD)

 Muhammad bin Tughlaq shift his capital from Delhi to Devagiri so that he might be able to control
south India better. Devagiri which was renamed as Daulatabad.
 In 1329 CE, Muhammad bin Tughlaq introduced a token currency, made of copper to replace gold
and silver coins.
 Muhammad bin Tughlaq increased the land revenue on the farmers of the doab land between the
Ganga and Yamuna rivers.
 He launched a scheme by which takkavi loans (loans for cultivation) were given to the farmers to
buy seeds and to extend cultivation.
 He set up a separate department for agriculture, Diwan-i-amir-Kohi.
 Muhammad bin Tughlaq was the only Delhi Sultan who had received a comprehensive literary,
religious and philosophical education.
 The famous traveller Ibn Batuta (author of Safarnama Rehla) visited India during this period (1334
AD) and was appointed Qazi at Delhi for a period of 10 years.

Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351 – 1388 AD)

 Firoz Shah Tughlaq also attacked Jajnagar (modern Orissa) and collected huge money from the
temples (such as the Puri Jagannath temple).
 Firoz Shah collected 1300 Sanskrit manuscripts from the Jwalamukhi temple library and Arizuddin
Khan translated these into the Persian language.
 He was the first sultan to impose an irrigation tax. But at the same time, he also built a number of
irrigation canals and wells.

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 The longest canal was about 200 km in length from Sutlej to Hansi.
 During his reign, there were around 1200 fruit gardens in and around Delhi generating more
revenue.
 He developed royal factories called karkhanas in which thousands of slaves were employed. He
also increased the number of slaves by capturing the defeated soldiers and young persons.
 Monuments like Qutb Minar and Jama Masjid were repaired and Ashokan pillars from Meerut
and Topara were brought to Delhi during his reign.
 Diwan-i-Khairat, a new department was established to support orphans and widows.
 Free hospitals like Dar-ul-Shifa and marriage bureaus for poor Muslims were also established.
 He himself authored the book, Futuhat-e-Firozshahi.

Sayyid Dynasty (1414 – 1451 AD)

 Sayyed Dynasty was the second shortest term dynasty of Delhi Sultanate (37 Years).
 In 1414 AD, Khizr Khan defeated Daulat Khan and established Sayyed Dynasty.
 They rule for the period of 37 years with total four kings.

Lodi Dynasty (1451 – 1526 AD)

Bahlol Lodhi (1451 – 1489 AD)

 He founded the Lodhi dynasty.
 In 1476, he defeated the sultan of Jaunpur and annexed it to Delhi Sultanate.
 He annexed the Sharqui dynasty and introduced Bahlol copper coins.

Sikander Lodhi (1489 – 1517 AD)

 He introduced the Gazz-i-Sikandari, a new measurement yardstick and a system of auditing of
accounts.
 Many temples were destroyed and he re-imposed Jiziya on non-Muslims during his reign.
 In 1504, he founded Agra and wrote Persian verses under the name Gulrukhi.

Ibrahim Lodhi (1517 – 1526 AD)

 Daulat Khan Lodhi invited Babur to invade India.
 Babur marched against Delhi, defeated and killed Ibrahim Lodhi in the First Battle of Panipat in
1526.

Vijayanagar Empire (1336-1646 AD)

 Harihara and Bukka are the founders of the Vijayanagar Empire in 1336 AD. on the southern
banks of Tungabhadra. They made Hampi as the capital city.
 They served under Vira Ballala III, the Hoysala King.
 Vijayanagar Empire was ruled by four important dynasties and they are: Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva,
Aravidu.

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Harihara I
 In 1336 A.D. Harihara I became the ruler of Sangama Dynasty. He captured Mysore and Madurai.
 In 1356 A.D. Bukka-I succeeded him

Krishnadeva Raya (1509-1529 A.D.)

 According to Domingo Paes, a Portuguese traveller “Krishnadeva Raya was the most feared and
perfect king there could possibly be”.
 He conquered Sivasamudram in 1510A.D and Raichur in 1512A.D
 He developed the naval power understanding the vital role of overseas trade.
 He maintained friendly relations with the Portuguese and Arab traders.
 It was during his period the Vijayanagar Empire reached its zenith of glory.
 Ashtadiggajas: A group of eight scholars adorned his court and they were:
 Allasani Peddanna – the author of Manucharitram, he was also known as Andhra Kavitapitamaha
 Nandi Thimmana – the author of Parijathapaharanam
 Tenali Ramakrishna
 The successors of Krishnadeva Raya were weak, the combined forces of Ahmednagar, Bijapur,
Golconda and Bidar declared war on Vijayanagar during the rule of Aliya Rama Raya. He was
defeated and Vijaynagar empire ended.
 The Hazara Ramasami temple and Vittalaswamy temple was built during this period
 Krishnadevaraya wrote Amuktamalyada in Telugu and Usha Parinayam and Jambavathi Kalyanam
in Sanskrit.

Mughal Empire (1526 – 1857 AD)

 The Mughal Empire in India was founded by Babur, a Central Asian ruler.
 His original name was Zahiruddin Muhammad.
 He was related to Timur (the founder of the Timurid dynasty) on his father’s side and to Chengiz
Khan (Mongol ruler) through his mother.
 The Mughals are also referred to as Timurids because they are considered descendants of Timur.
Babur (1526 – 1530 AD)
 He established himself first in Kabul (1504) and then moved from Afghanistan into India through
the Khyber Pass.
 It is believed that Babur was invited to fight against Ibrahim Lodhi (son of Sikander Lodhi) by
Daulat Khan Lodhi (governor of Punjab), Rana Sanga of Mewar and Alam Khan (uncle of Ibrahim
Lodhi).
Battle Year Held between
First Battle of Panipat 1526 Babur defeated Lodhi King Ibrahim Lodhi
Battle of Khanwa 1527 Babur defeated Rana Sanga
Battle of Chanderi 1528 Babur defeated Medini Rai
Battle of Ghaghara 1529 Babur defeated Afghans
 Soon afterwards Babur died in 1530 at the age of 47 in Agra while on his way to Kabul.
 He was buried in Arambagh in Agra and later his body was taken to Kabul.
 He was a devoted follower of Naqshbandiya Sufi Khwaja Ubaidullah Ahrar.

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 He wrote his memoir in Turki, his mother tongue, the Tuzuk-i-Baburi/Baburnama.

 He was a keen naturalist and has described the flora and fauna of India.

Humayun (1530 – 1556 AD)

 Humayun succeeded Babur in December 1530 at the young age of 23.
 Humayun means fortune but he is considered to be the most unfortunate ruler of the Mughal
Empire.
 In the Battle of Chausa, near Buxar (1539), Sher Khan defeated Humayun and adopted the title of
Sher Shah.
 Humayun escaped from the battlefield swimming across the river with the help of a water carrier.
 Humayun was again defeated at the battle of Kannauj/battle of Bilgrama (1540). Humayun flee
from Delhi, and became an exile for the next fifteen years (1540- 1555).
 He married Hamida Banu Begum. They stayed at Amarkot, a Hindu kingdom ruled by Rana Prasad
and in 1542, Akbar was born to them.
 In 1555, following the breakup of the Sur Empire, he recovered the Mughal throne.
 He died (in 1556) from a fall from the first floor of the library building in his fort at Delhi.
 Gulbadan Begum, his half-sister wrote Humayun-nama.

The Afghan / Sur Dynasty (1540 – 1555)

Sher Shah Suri (1486 – 1545)
 The founder of the Sur dynasty and also the second Afghan empire (after the Lodhis) whose
original name was Farid.
 Later, Farid served under the Afghan governor of Bihar, Bahar Khan Lohani, who gave him the
title of Sher Khan for his bravery (as he killed a tiger).
 He again defeated Humayun in the battle of Kannauj (1540 CE) and declared himself as Emperor
of Hindustan at the age of 54.
 He also introduced silver Rupayia (1 Rupayia = 64 Dams) and gold coin (Ashrafi/Mohur).
 Sher Shah introduced new copper coins called Dam and these were in circulation till c. 1835 CE.
 Sher Shah restored the old imperial road called “The Grand Trunk road” (by Ashoka).
 Sher Shah was succeeded by his son, Islam Shah, who ruled till 1553.
 In 1555, Humayun defeated the Afghans and recovered Delhi and Agra.

Akbar (1556 – 1605 AD)

 When Humayun died, Akbar was at Kalanaur in Punjab, commanding operations against the
Afghan rebels there.
 He was crowned at Kalanaur in 1556 at the young age of 13 years and 4 months.
 During the first few years of Akbar’s reign (c. 1556 – 1560 CE), Bairam Khan acted as his regent.
Bairam Khan was Humayun’s confidante and gained the title of Khan-i-Khanan.
 Bairam Khan represented Akbar in the Second Battle of Panipat (1556) with Hemu Vikramaditya
(wazir of Adil Shah of Bengal).

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 Akbar removed Bairam Khan and gave him the option of serving at the court or anywhere outside
it or retiring to Mecca. Bairam Khan chose Mecca but on his way was killed by an Afghan at Patan
near Ahmedabad.
 The first expedition of Akbar was sent to capture Gwalior (1559-1560) before moving towards
Malwa.
 In the famous Battle of Haldighati, Rana Pratap Singh, ruler of Mewar was severely defeated by
the Mughal army led by Man Singh in 1576.
 Akbar built Fatehpur Sikri (city of victory) near Agra.
 Many buildings of Gujarati and Bengali styles are found in this complex.
 The most magnificent building in it is the Jama Masjid and the gateway to it is called Buland
Darwaza (176 ft high), built in c. 1572 CE to commemorate Akbar’s victory over Gujarat.
 Other important buildings at Fatehpur Sikri are Jodha Bai’s palace and Panch Mahal with five
storeys.
 He built his own tomb at Sikandra (near Agra) which was completed by Jahangir.
 Ain-i-Akbari and Akbarnama wrote by Abul Fazl. The translation of Mahabharata into the Persian
language was done under the supervision of Abul Faizi (brother of Abul Fazl).
 Utbi and Naziri were the other two leading Persian poets.
 The most famous Hindi poet was Tulsidas, who wrote the Hindi version of the Ramayana – the
Ramacharitmanas was the contemporary of Akbar.
 Akbar organised the nobility as well as his army by means of the mansabdari system.
 After marrying Jodha Bai of Amber, he abolished jizya and also the pilgrim tax.
 In 1582, he set up a new religion called Din-i-Ilahi/Tawhid-i-Ilahi (Divine Monotheism) which
believes in one God and Sulh-i-Kul i.e, equal toleration and respect to all religious sects.

9 Jewels of Akbar
Abul Fazl Authored Akbarnama and Ain-i-Akbari.
On the orders of Prince Salim, he was killed by Bir Singh Bundela.
Faizi Brother of Abul Fazl.
He also translated Lilavati (a work on mathematics) into Persian.
Tansen He served as a great musician in the court of king Ramachandra who
titled him “Tansen”. He was born as Tanna Mishra. Akbar gave him
the title of “Mian”.
Raja Birbal His original name was Mahesh Das. Akbar gave him the title of
“Raja” and “Birbal”.
Raja Todar Mal He was the head of the revenue system.
Raja Man Singh Army General of Akbar.
Fakir Aziao Din Chief advisors of Akbar.
Abdul Rahim Son of Bairam Khan, he translated Baburnama into Persian.
Khan-i-Khanan
Mirza Aziz Koka Known as Khan-i-Azam or Kotaltash.

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Medieval History Revision Notes

Jahangir/Salim (1605 – 1627 AD)

 Salim was the eldest son of Jodha Bai and Akbar, who succeeded to the throne in 1605, after the
death of Akbar.
 He assumed the title of Nur-ud-din Muhammad Jahangir (conqueror of the world).
 He married Mehr-un-nisa in 1611 (widow of Sher Afghan) who was also known as Nur Jahan (light
of the world).
 Arjmand Banu Begum (later known as Mumtaz) married Jahangir’s third son, Prince Khurram
(later known as Shah Jahan).
 Arjun Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru was beheaded BY Jahangir for supporting Khusrau.
 Jahangir was the first Muslim ruler to annex Kangra (in 1620).
 During Jahangir’s reign, the British visited Machilipatnam. Captain Hawkins (1608-1611) and
Thomas Roe (1615-1619) visited his court. Thomas Roe got the farman for setting up an English
factory at Surat.
 He wrote his autobiography, Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri in Persian.
 He visited Kashmir and laid a number of gardens there like Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh.
 He built the Moti Masjid at Lahore and also his own mausoleum at Lahore.
 Mughal painting reached its peak under Jahangir. The use of “halo” or “Divine lights” behind the
king’s head started under him.

Shah Jahan (1628- 1658)

 His mother was a Hindu Jagat Gosain. He was married to Arjmand Banu Begum (Mumtaz Mahal).
 Shah Jahan’s reign is considered the “The Golden Age” of the Mughal empire.
 Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world. Its construction was
started in 1631 and was completed in 22 years. Its design was prepared by Ustad Isa and Isa
Muhammad Effendi and the main dome was designed by Ismail Khan.
 He constructed the Moti Masjid at Agra (built in white marble), the Sheesh Mahal, Musalman Burj
at Agra (where he spent his last days in captivity) and Jama Masjid at Delhi (in red stone).
 The famous Red Fort at Delhi with its Rang Mahal, Diwan-i-am and Diwan-i-khas was built by him.
He also built Shalimar Bagh in Lahore and the city of Shahjahanabad. He also got Bebadal Khan to
build the Peacock Throne, on which is inscribed the famous Amir Khusrao couplet “if there is
paradise on earth, it is here”. Shah Jahan’s reign is described by French travellers Bernier and
Tavernier, Italian traveller Manucci.
 Inayat Khan wrote Shah Jahan Nama.
 His son, Dara Shikoh translated the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads into the Persian language.
 Towards the end of 1657, Shah Jahan fell ill at Delhi for some time but later recovered.
 In the battle of Samugarh (1658), Aurangzeb defeated Dara Shikoh, which practically decided the
issue of succession. Aurangzeb crowned himself with the title of “Alamgir” (conqueror of the
world).
 Aurangzeb entered the Agra Fort and forced Shah Jahan to surrender. Shah Jahan was confined to
the Agra Fort and strictly put under vigil. Shah Jahan was lovingly nursed by his daughter, Jahan
Ara. He died in 1666 and was buried beside his wife’s grave in the Taj Mahal.

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Medieval History Revision Notes

Aurangzeb (1658 – 1707 AD)

 Aurangzeb ruled for almost 50 years and during his long reign, the Mughal empire reached its
territorial climax.
 Aurangzeb’s measures were designed to convert India from a dar-ul-Harb (land of infidels) into
dar-ul-Islam (land of Muslims).
 At the beginning of his rule, he forbade the kalima being inscribed on coins and abolished the
festival of Navroz (as it was considered a Zoroastrian practice favoured by the Safavid rulers of
Iran).
 The celebration of Muharram was stopped.
 In 1675, he executed the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur.
 Aurangzeb himself was proficient in playing the veena.
 Aurangzeb discontinued the practice of Jharokha darshan (showing himself to the public from the
balcony), since he considered it anti-Islamic.
 In 1679, he reimposed jizya and pilgrim tax.
 Aurangzeb was a God-fearing Muslim. He did not like ostentation and led a simple life.
 He earned for his personal expenses by copying the Quran (holy book of Muslims) and selling
those copies.
 Due to all these qualities, he began to be regarded as a Zinda Pir (living saint).
 He constructed the Moti Masjid at Delhi and the Badshahi Mosque at Lahore.
 Mirza Mohammad Qasim authored Alamgirnama.
 His constructed Badshahi Masjid (Lahore) and Bibi Ka Maqbara (Aurangabad) for his wife Rabia-
ud-Durani.
 Aurangzeb sent two of his great generals Shaista Khan and Jai Singh one after the other to
capture Shivaji. Jai Singh captured Shivaji and took him to Delhi, but Shivaji managed to escape to
the Deccan.
 Shivaji, employing guerrilla tactics, defied the Mughal forces till his death at the age of 53 in 1680.
 After the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, the Mughal Empire was coming up to end because there
was no able ruler to maintain the big Mughal Empire.

Later Mughals
Bahadur Shah I / Muazzam (1707-1712)
 He was 65 when he ascended the throne.
 Eldest son of Aurangzeb, Bahadur Shah became the emperor following a succession war with his
brothers.
 He was given the title of “Shah-i-Bekhabar” by Mughal historians like Khafi Khan.
Jahandar Shah (1712-1713)
 The era of kingmakers in the history of India started.
 Jahandar Shah was the first puppet ruler in Mughal India.
 Jahandar Shah won the throne with the help and support of Zulfiqar Khan, the most powerful
noble of the time.
 The prince was the least interested in administration and it passed into the hands of Zulfiqar.

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Medieval History Revision Notes

Farukh Siyar and The Saiyyids (1713-1719)

 He was supported by the Saiyyid brothers – Hussain Ali Khan and Abdulla Khan.
 They were made the mir-bakshi and wazir respectively.
 Later he was killed by Saiyyid brothers.
 Within a short span of eight months three young princes were raised to the throne by the Saiyyad
brothers.

Muhammad Shah (Rangeela) (1719-1748)

 During his reign Nadir Shah invaded Delhi.
 Saadat Khan and Nizam-ul-Mulk invited Nadir Shah to invade India.
 Nadir Shah almost emptied the treasury and also took away the famous Kohinoor and the
Peacock throne.

Ahmad Shah (1748 – 1757)

 Ahmad Shah Abdali (ruler of Afghanistan) invaded Delhi during his reign

Alamgir Ⅱ (1754 – 1759)

 Battle of Plassey (23 June 1757) was fought during his tenure.

Ali Gauhar/Shah Alam Ⅱ (1759 – 1806)

 During his reign, the Mughal power was depleted very fast that peoples saying in
Persian “Sultanat-e-Shah Alam, Az Dili ta Palam”, meaning “The kingdom of Shah Alam is from
Delhi to Palam,”
 Third Battle of Panipat (1761 CE) was fought during his reign between the Marathas and Ahmad
Shah Abdali.
 Battle of Buxar (1764) fought between British East India Company, led by Hector Munro and the
combined armies of Mir Qasim (Nawab of Bengal), Shuja-ud-Daula (Nawab of Awadh) and the
Mughal Emperor Shah Alam Ⅱ.
 The war was brought to an end by the Treaty of Allahabad (1765 CE) under which Diwani rights
(right to collect revenue) of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa were granted to EIC.
 He was the first Mughal ruler who became an EIC pensioner.

Akbar Ⅱ (1806 – 1837)

 He gives the title of “Raja” to Ram Mohan Roy.
 He was a great poet and he introduced the Hindu-Muslim unity festival Phool Walon Ki Sair.

Bahadur Shah Ⅱ/Zafar (1837 – 1857)

 Last ruler of the Mughal Empire.
 He was an accomplished poet and his pen name was Zafar (victory).
 He participated in the 1857 Revolt. After the revolt was suppressed, he was deported to Rangoon
with a pension of 1 lakh per annum and he died in 1862.

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Medieval History Revision Notes

New successor states

Hyderabad (Founded in 1724 by Nizam-ul-mulk Asaf Jhah).

 He was the wazir of the Mughal empire in 1722.
 From 1720, he had strengthened his control over Deccan.
 He followed a policy of religious tolerance in his state. He died in 1748.

Bengal (Founded in 1717 by Murshid Quli Khan and Alivardi Khan)

 Murshid Quli Khan was the governor there since 1717.
 He died in 1727 and his son Shuja-ud-din ruled till 1739.
 Alivardi Khan killed Shuja-ud-din and became the ruler of Bengal.

Awadh (Founded in 1722 by Saadat Khan Burhan-ul-mulk)

 Saadat Khan Burhan-ul-mulk was appointed as governor of Awadh in 1722.
 He was followed by his nephew Safdar Jung and he ruled till 1754.

Mysore (Founded by Hyder Ali)

 First ruler of Mysore was Hyder Ali who was a petty officer in the Mysore army.
 He was illiterate, he was visionary and realised the importance of western military equipment.
 He died in 1782 and was succeeded by his son Tipu. Tipu Sultan is also known as Lion of Mysore.
 He made a modern navy and added various western weapons into his army.

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