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The Delhi Sultanate Exercise Solutions | KalviGavani

TN Class 7 Social Science The Delhi Sultanate exercise solutions — Mamluk Khalji Tughluq Sayyid Lodi dynasties, administration, MCQ and detailed answers.

Updated 12 June 202617 min read

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The Delhi Sultanate — Exercise Solutions Guide

Solve every exercise on your own first, then cross-check your answers here. Understanding why an answer is correct matters more than memorising it.

I. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Q1. ______ laid the foundation of the 'Mamluk' dynasty.

(a) Iltutmish (b) Balban (c) Qutb-ud-din Aibak (d) Razia

Answer(c) Qutb-ud-din Aibak — Qutb-ud-din Aibak, a slave of Muhammad Ghori, laid the foundation of the Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty in 1206 CE after Muhammad Ghori's death. He became the first Sultan of Delhi.

Q2. Qutb-ud-din shifted his capital to Delhi from ______.

(a) Lahore (b) Agra (c) Devagiri (d) Ajmer

Answer(a) Lahore — Qutb-ud-din Aibak shifted his capital from Lahore to Delhi, making Delhi the centre of political power in India for centuries to come.

Q3. ______ completed the construction of the Qutb Minar.

(a) Qutb-ud-din Aibak (b) Razia (c) Iltutmish (d) Balban

Answer(c) Iltutmish — Although Qutb-ud-din Aibak started the construction of the Qutb Minar, it was completed by his son-in-law and successor, Iltutmish, who also added more storeys to the tower.

Q4. ______ laid the foundation of the city Tughluqabad near Delhi.

(a) Muhammad-bin-Tughluq (b) Firoz Shah Tughluq (c) Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq (d) Ala-ud-din Khalji

Answer(c) Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq — Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq, the founder of the Tughluq Dynasty, built the city of Tughluqabad near Delhi. It was a massive fortified city, of which ruins still remain.

Additional MCQs

Q5. Bandagan is a Persian term for ______

(a) Nobles (b) Slaves purchased for military service (c) Land revenue collectors (d) Religious leaders

Answer(b) Slaves purchased for military service — The Delhi Sultans, especially Iltutmish, relied on bandagan (slaves purchased for military service) who were trained as administrators and warriors and were personally loyal to the Sultan.

Q6. Iltutmish granted ______ to members of his army.

(a) Jagirs (b) Iqtas (c) Zamindaris (d) Suyurghals

Answer(b) Iqtas — Iltutmish granted iqtas (land assignments) to his army members. The iqta holder (muqti) collected revenue from the land and maintained troops for the Sultan.

Q7. Jauhar was the Rajput custom of ______

(a) Land donation (b) Men dying in battle and women burning themselves on a pyre (c) Military training (d) Revenue collection

Answer(b) Men dying in battle and women burning themselves on a pyre — Jauhar was a Rajput practice where men fought to death in battle and women burned themselves on a funeral pyre to avoid capture and dishonour. It was notably performed during the sack of Chittor by Ala-ud-din Khalji.

II. Fill in the Blanks

1. ______ was the founder of the Tughluq dynasty.

AnswerGhiyas-ud-din Tughluq

Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq founded the Tughluq Dynasty in 1320 CE after ending the Khalji rule. He built the city of Tughluqabad and established an efficient administration.

2. Muhammad-bin-Tughluq shifted his capital from Delhi to ______

AnswerDevagiri (Daulatabad)

Muhammad-bin-Tughluq shifted his capital from Delhi to Devagiri (renamed Daulatabad) in the south, hoping to control the southern territories better. However, the move caused great hardship and was eventually reversed.

3. ______ patronized the famous Persian poet Amir Khusru.

AnswerBalban

Though often attributed to multiple Sultans, in the textbook context, Balban is noted for patronising Persian culture. Amir Khusru was also patronised by Ala-ud-din Khalji and other Sultans.

4. Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid in Delhi was built by ______

AnswerQutb-ud-din Aibak

Qutb-ud-din Aibak built the Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid (meaning "Might of Islam") in Delhi, one of the earliest mosques built in India using materials from demolished Hindu and Jain temples.

5. The threat of Mongols under Chengiz Khan to India was during the reign of ______

AnswerIltutmish

Chengiz Khan's Mongol forces reached the borders of India during Iltutmish's reign. Iltutmish wisely refused shelter to the Khwarezm Shah, avoiding direct conflict with the Mongols and thus protecting his kingdom.

Additional Fill in the Blanks

6. ______ is an Arabic word meaning slave.

AnswerMamluk

Mamluk is an Arabic word meaning "slave" or "owned." The first dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate is called the Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty because its founders were originally slaves.

7. One significant military expedition of Ala-ud-din Khalji was against the Deccan kingdom of ______

AnswerDevagiri

Ala-ud-din Khalji conducted military expeditions against the southern kingdoms, starting with Devagiri (the Yadava kingdom). His general Malik Kafur later extended campaigns to Warangal, Dwarasamudra, and Madurai.

8. ______ was proclaimed a separate sultanate in 1334.

AnswerMadurai

Madurai broke away from the Delhi Sultanate and became a separate sultanate in 1334, during the decline of Muhammad-bin-Tughluq's authority in the south.

III. Match the Following

#Column AColumn BMatch
1Tughril KhanGovernor of BengalGovernor of Bengal
2Ala-ud-dinGovernor of KaraJalal-ud-din Yakut
3Bahlol LodiGovernor of SirhindGovernor of Sirhind
4RaziaJalal-ud-din YakutJalal-ud-din Yakut
Explanation- Tughril Khan was the Governor of Bengal who revolted against Balban. - Ala-ud-din was the Governor of Kara before he became Sultan. - Bahlol Lodi was the Governor of Sirhind before founding the Lodi Dynasty. - Razia appointed Jalal-ud-din Yakut, an Abyssinian slave, as a close advisor, which angered the Turkish nobles.

IV. True or False (with Corrections)

Q1. Qutb-ud-din Aibak died of a mysterious fever.

AnswerFalse

Correction: Qutb-ud-din Aibak died from injuries sustained in an accidental fall from a horse while playing polo (chaugan), not from a mysterious fever.

Q2. Razia was an able and brave fighter.

AnswerTrue

Razia was the only woman ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. She was an able administrator and brave fighter who personally led her army in battle. However, the Turkish nobles opposed her rule because she was a woman.

Q3. The Turkish nobles chose Iltutmish, son of Aibak, as Sultan.

AnswerFalse

Correction: The Turkish nobles chose Iltutmish, son-in-law of Aibak (not son), as Sultan. Iltutmish was married to Aibak's daughter and was also a slave of Aibak.

Q4. Firoz Shah Tughluq refused to accept an invitation from a Bahmani Prince to intervene in the Deccan.

AnswerTrue

Firoz Shah Tughluq followed a policy of non-interference in the Deccan and refused invitations to intervene, which helped maintain peace in the south.

Additional True or False

Q5. The Delhi Sultanate was ruled by a single dynasty throughout its existence.

AnswerFalse

Correction: The Delhi Sultanate was ruled by five dynasties: Mamluk (Slave), Khalji, Tughluq, Sayyid, and Lodi — spanning from 1206 to 1526 CE.

Q6. Ala-ud-din Khalji introduced the Iqta system.

AnswerFalse

Correction: The Iqta system was introduced by Iltutmish, not Ala-ud-din Khalji. Ala-ud-din Khalji actually modified the system by paying soldiers in cash instead of land grants.

V. Assertion and Reason / Analytical Questions

Q1. A: Balban maintained a cordial relationship with Mongols. R: The Mongol ruler, a grandson of Chengiz Khan, assured that Mongols would not advance beyond Sutlej.

Answer(a) R is the correct explanation of A

Balban maintained a cordial relationship with the Mongols because the Mongol ruler Hulagu Khan (a grandson of Chengiz Khan) gave an assurance that Mongol forces would not advance beyond the Sutlej river. This diplomatic understanding helped Balban focus on consolidating his rule in Delhi.

Q2. Find the correct pair:

(a) Hoysala — Devagiri (b) Yadavas — Dwarasamudra (c) Kakatiyas — Warrangal (d) Pallavas — Madurai

Answer(c) Kakatiyas — Warrangal

The correct pairings are: Hoysala — Dwarasamudra, Yadavas — Devagiri, Kakatiyas — Warrangal, and Pandyas — Madurai. Only the Kakatiyas-Warrangal pairing is correctly matched among the options.

Q3. Find the wrong statement:

"Razia established the department of spies to gather intelligence about the conspirators and the troublemakers against her rule."

AnswerThis statement is wrong. It was Balban, not Razia, who established the department of spies (diwan-i-arz and intelligence network) to suppress conspiracies. Balban was known for his ruthless intelligence system.

VI. Very Short Answers

Q1. Name the land granted to army officials in lieu of a regular wage.

AnswerIqta — The Iqta system was introduced by Iltutmish. Land was granted to military officials (muqtis) who collected revenue from it and maintained troops for the Sultan. This system ensured loyalty and a standing army without direct cash payments.

Q2. Who founded the city of Agra?

AnswerSikandar Lodi — Sikandar Lodi, the most capable ruler of the Lodi Dynasty, founded the city of Agra in 1506 and shifted his capital there from Delhi. Agra became an important centre of trade and culture.

Q3. Name the ruler who established Muslim rule in India in the 12th century.

AnswerMuhammad Ghori — Muhammad Ghori established Muslim rule in India in the 12th century by defeating Prithiviraj Chauhan in the Second Battle of Tarain (1192). Unlike Mahmud of Ghazni who came only to plunder, Ghori came to conquer and establish an empire.

Q4. Write a note on Chahalgani.

AnswerIltutmish organised the Turkish nobility into a select group of 40 nobles known as Chahalgani (The Forty). This group helped the Sultan administer the kingdom but later became a powerful force that influenced succession and politics. Balban eventually destroyed the Chahalgani system to consolidate absolute power.

Q5. How did Ala-ud-din Khalji consolidate the Delhi Sultanate?

AnswerAla-ud-din Khalji consolidated the Sultanate through: 1. Securing the northern frontiers against Mongol invasions. 2. Conquering Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Malwa in the north. 3. Sending his general Malik Kafur on southern campaigns that reached Madurai. 4. Introducing military and market reforms to maintain a strong, well-paid army. 5. Controlling prices and preventing hoarding through market regulations.

Q6. List out the contributions of Firoz Shah Tughluq.

Answer1. Rewarded Sufis and religious leaders generously. 2. Created charities to aid poor Muslims. 3. Built colleges, mosques, and hospitals. 4. Banned inhuman punishments and abolished taxes not recognised by Muslim law. 5. Promoted agriculture by waiving debts and constructing many irrigation canals. 6. Built new towns such as Firozabad, Jaunpur, Hissar, and Firozpur.

VII. Short Answers

Q1. Explain the Iqta system of the Delhi Sultanate.

AnswerThe Iqta system was a land-based revenue system introduced by Iltutmish. Under this system:
  • Land (iqta) was granted to military officials and nobles called muqtis.
  • The muqti collected revenue from the land and maintained a specified number of troops for the Sultan.
  • The muqti kept a portion of the revenue for personal expenses and sent the rest to the central treasury.
  • The Sultan could transfer iqta assignments, preventing any noble from becoming too powerful.
  • Ala-ud-din Khalji later modified this by paying soldiers in cash instead of land grants.

Q2. Compare the First and Second Battles of Tarain.

AspectFirst Battle of Tarain (1191)Second Battle of Tarain (1192)
Fought betweenPrithiviraj Chauhan vs. Muhammad GhoriPrithiviraj Chauhan vs. Muhammad Ghori
ResultPrithiviraj defeated GhoriGhori defeated Prithiviraj
OutcomeGhori was wounded and fledMuslim rule was established in India
SignificanceShowed Rajput strengthMarked the beginning of the Delhi Sultanate

Q3. Describe Balban's theory of kingship.

AnswerBalban believed in the divine right of kings and the absolute power of the Sultan. His theory of kingship included: 1. Divine origin — The Sultan was God's representative on earth. 2. Fear and respect — The Sultan must be feared and respected by all, including nobles. 3. Destruction of Chahalgani — He eliminated the group of 40 nobles who challenged royal authority. 4. Department of spies — He established an elaborate spy network to monitor nobles and officials. 5. Ceremonial court — He introduced Persian customs like sijda (prostration) and paibos (kissing the Sultan's feet) to instil awe.

VIII. Detailed Answers

Q1. Write about the invasion of Timur in 1398.

AnswerTimur (Tamerlane), the Mongol ruler of Samarkand, invaded India in 1398, a decade after Firoz Shah Tughluq's death. The invasion had devastating consequences:

1. Context — After Firoz Shah Tughluq's death, the Delhi Sultanate was weakened by succession disputes and political instability. Timur took advantage of this weakness.

2. The invasion — Timur entered India in December 1398. He plundered and massacred the people of Delhi. The city was looted of its wealth, and thousands were killed.

3. Impact on Punjab — Punjab, besides Delhi, was the province that suffered the most from Timur's raid. Entire towns were destroyed and populations decimated.

4. Carrying away wealth and artisans — Timur carried away enormous wealth including gold, silver, and jewels. He also took along Indian artisans like carpenters and masons to build monuments in Samarkand.

5. Aftermath — Timur did not stay to rule India. He left after the plunder, and the Delhi Sultanate was so weakened that it took years to recover. This invasion exposed the vulnerability of the Sultanate and contributed to its eventual decline.

Q2. Evaluate Muhammad-bin-Tughluq as Sultan of Delhi.

AnswerMuhammad-bin-Tughluq was a learned but impractical ruler whose hasty decisions caused chaos:

1. Transfer of Capital (1327) — He shifted the capital from Delhi to Devagiri (renamed Daulatabad) in the south, hoping to control southern territories. The forced migration caused immense suffering, and people died during the journey. He later reversed the decision, making the whole exercise futile.

2. Increased Taxation in Doab — He raised the land tax in the fertile Doab region to increase revenue. The tax was so high that peasants abandoned their lands and revolted, leading to a severe famine.

3. Token Currency (1329) — Due to a shortage of silver, he introduced copper token currency with the same value as silver coins. However, people began forging copper coins in large numbers. The Sultanate could not prevent counterfeiting, and the experiment led to state bankruptcy. Trade collapsed, and foreign merchants stopped accepting the token coins.

4. Agricultural Policy — He set up a department of agriculture to increase cultivation and offered loans to farmers. However, the implementation was poor, and the policy failed.

5. Conclusion — While Muhammad-bin-Tughluq was well-read, generous to scholars, and had grand visions, his lack of practical judgment and failure to anticipate consequences made him one of the most controversial Sultans of Delhi.

Q3. Describe the administrative measures of Ala-ud-din Khalji.

AnswerAla-ud-din Khalji was the most effective administrator of the Delhi Sultanate:

1. Military reforms — He maintained a large standing army paid in cash. He introduced the dagh (branding of horses) and chehra (descriptive roll of soldiers) to prevent fraud.

2. Market control — He fixed prices for essential commodities — food grains, cloth, and horses. Severe punishment was given to those who hoarded goods or sold above the fixed price. This ensured the army could afford supplies.

3. Revenue reforms — He increased the state's share of land revenue to one-half (50%) of the produce. He measured land and assessed tax accordingly.

4. No drinking — He banned the drinking of alcohol to maintain discipline.

5. Spy system — He maintained an extensive network of spies to monitor nobles, officials, and even market traders.

6. Southern conquests — His general Malik Kafur conquered Devagiri, Warangal, Dwarasamudra, and Madurai, making the Sultanate the most extensive Indian empire since the Mauryas.

IX. Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS)

Q1. How would you evaluate Muhammad-bin-Tughluq as Sultan of Delhi?

AnswerMuhammad-bin-Tughluq was a complex ruler — learned and visionary but impractical and hasty. His major decisions demonstrate this contradiction:
  • Visionary but impractical — The idea of shifting the capital to Daulatabad was strategically sound (to control the south), but he failed to consider the human cost of forcing the entire population to migrate. The subsequent reversal showed indecisiveness.
  • Innovative but poorly implemented — The token currency concept was ahead of its time, but he lacked the administrative machinery to prevent counterfeiting. The result was economic disaster.
  • Harsh taxation — Increasing taxes in the Doab region was fiscally motivated but ignored the ground reality of farmer capacity. It led to revolt and famine rather than increased revenue.
  • Scholarly patron — Despite his administrative failures, he was a patron of learning, supported scholars, and his court was home to intellectuals like Ibn Battuta.
  • Overall assessment — He was a "mixture of opposites" — brilliant but flawed, innovative but impractical, generous but often cruel. His reign demonstrates that vision without practical implementation leads to governance failure.

X. Match the Father with Son

#FatherSon
1Qutb-ud-din AibakAram Shah
2IltutmishRukn-ud-din-Firuz
3BalbanKaiqubad
4Ghiyas-ud-din TughluqMuhammad-bin-Tughluq
5Bahlol LodiSikandar Lodi

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Treating the Delhi Sultanate as one dynasty — The Delhi Sultanate was ruled by five separate dynasties (Mamluk, Khalji, Tughluq, Sayyid, Lodi). Each had distinct rulers, policies, and contributions.

2. Confusing Iqta with Jagir — Iqta was the Delhi Sultanate system of granting land to military officials. Jagir was the Mughal system of granting land to mansabdars. They belong to different periods.

3. Mixing up the two Battles of Tarain — The First Battle of Tarain (1191) was won by Prithiviraj Chauhan. The Second Battle (1192) was won by Muhammad Ghori, leading to Muslim rule in India.

4. Saying Aibak's son succeeded him — Iltutmish was Aibak's son-in-law, not his son. Aibak's actual son, Aram Shah, was a weak ruler and was soon replaced.

5. Attributing the spy system to Razia — The department of spies was established by Balban, not Razia. Balban used it to eliminate the Chahalgani and consolidate power.

6. Confusing Mahmud of Ghazni with Muhammad Ghori — Mahmud of Ghazni came only to plunder (17 raids). Muhammad Ghori came to conquer and establish an empire. Do not confuse the two.

7. Saying token currency was introduced by Ala-ud-din Khalji — Token currency was introduced by Muhammad-bin-Tughluq, not Ala-ud-din Khalji. Ala-ud-din Khalji introduced market controls and paid soldiers in cash.

Exam Checklist

  • [ ] I can list the five dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate in chronological order
  • [ ] I can explain the Iqta system and distinguish it from the Jagir system
  • [ ] I can describe Qutb-ud-din Aibak's contributions (Qutb Minar, Quwwat-ul-Islam Masjid)
  • [ ] I know that Iltutmish was Aibak's son-in-law and completed the Qutb Minar
  • [ ] I can explain Razia's brief reign and the challenges she faced as a woman ruler
  • [ ] I can describe Balban's theory of kingship and the destruction of Chahalgani
  • [ ] I can list Ala-ud-din Khalji's administrative and military reforms
  • [ ] I can explain Muhammad-bin-Tughluq's three failed experiments (capital shift, Doab tax, token currency)
  • [ ] I can describe Firoz Shah Tughluq's contributions (canals, towns, charities)
  • [ ] I can narrate Timur's invasion of 1398 and its impact
  • [ ] I can compare the First and Second Battles of Tarain
  • [ ] I can explain the Jauhar custom and the sack of Chittor
  • [ ] I can describe the Indo-Saracenic architectural style with examples
  • [ ] I can match fathers with sons (Aibak-Aram Shah, Iltutmish-Rukn-ud-din, etc.)

Frequently Asked Questions

The five dynasties were Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty, Khalji Dynasty, Tughluq Dynasty, Sayyid Dynasty, and Lodi Dynasty, ruling from 1206 to 1526 CE.