1. Which ruler first established his or her capital at Delhi?
Tomara Rajputs were the first rulers to establish their capital at Delhi.
2. What was the language of administration under the Delhi Sultans?
Persian language.
3. In whose reign did the Sultanate reach its farthest extent?
Muhammad Tughluq’s reign
4. According to the ‘circle of Justice’ why was it important for military commanders to keep the interests of the peasantry in mind?
Soldiers received their salaries from the revenue collected from peasants. That is why military commanders kept the interest of peasants in their mind.
5. What is meant by the ‘internal’ and external frontiers of the Sultanate?
‘Internal’ frontier of the Sulnate meant the hinterland of the cities. The ‘external’ frontiers of the Sultnate were areas which were not under the control of the Sultan.
6. Do you think the authors of tawarikh would provide information about the lives of ordinary men and women?
No, they mostly wrote about Sultans only to get rich rewards.
7. Name the various rulers under Rajput dynasty.
- Tomaras (1130 - 1165) with most important ruler being Ananga Pala.
- Chauhans (1165 - 1192) with most important ruler being Prithviraj Chauhan.
8. Who were the early Turkish rulers?
- Qutubuddin Aibak (1206 - 1210)
- Shamsuddin Iltutmish (1210 - 1236)
- Raziyya (1236 - 1240)
- Balban (1266 - 1287)
9. Who were the rulers under Khilji dynasty?
- Jalaluddin Khilji (1290 - 1296)
- Alauddin Khilji (1296 - 1316)
10. Who were the main rulers under Tughluq dynasty?
- Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (1320 - 1324)
- Muhammad Tughlaq (1324 - 1351)
- Firoz shah Tughlaq (1351 - 1388)
11. How do come to know about the Delhi Sultanate?
Inscriptions coins and architecture provide a lot of information but especially valuable are ‘histories’, tarikh (singular) / tawarikh (plural) written in Persian, the language of administration under the Delhi Sultans.
12. Who were authors of tawarikh?
The authors of tawarikh were learned men including secretaries, administrators, poets and courtiers who both recounted events and advised rulers on governance, emphasising the importance of just rule.
13. Mention the four stages in making a manuscript.
- Preparing the paper
- Writing the text
- Melting gold to high light important words and passages
- Preparing the binding
14. What is birthright?
Birthright is privileges claimed on account of birth. For example, people believed that nobles inherited their rights to govern because they were born in certain families.
15. What are gender distinctions?
Gender distinctions are social and biological difference between women and men. Usually, these differences are used to argue that men are superior to women.
16. What is hinterland?
The lands adjacent to a city or port that supply it with goods and services.
17. Define garrison town.
It is a fortified settlement, with soldiers.