⭐ Sabse Important Points · एक नज़र में
- Iqta System: Land revenue assignment to nobles (muqtis) in lieu of salary; not hereditary initially, later became so.
- Mansabdari System: Dual ranks—zat (personal status) and sawar (cavalry maintained); determined salary and military obligation.
- Alauddin Khalji's Market Regulations: Fixed prices, rationing, and a spy network; aimed to maintain a large army cheaply.
- Zabti Revenue System: Land measured and classified; revenue fixed at one-third of produce, paid in cash; associated with Todar Mal.
- Muhammad bin Tughlaq's Token Currency: Bronze/copper coins valued as silver; failed due to forgery and lack of state control.
- Jagirdari System: Revenue assignments to mansabdars; jagirs were transferable, not hereditary, to prevent local power bases.
Introduction · परिचय
Medieval Indian History (c. 1206–1761 CE) covers the Delhi Sultanate, Vijayanagara and Bahmani kingdoms, the Mughal Empire, and the Maratha rise. UPSC Prelims tests dynasties, administrative terms, art-architecture, land revenue, and cultural syncretism. Focus on chronology, key rulers, and unique institutions rather than exhaustive narrative.
Delhi Sultanate: Five Dynasties and Administration
Five dynasties ruled from Delhi: Slave (1206–1290), Khalji (1290–1320), Tughlaq (1320–1414), Sayyid (1414–1451), and Lodi (1451–1526). Key institutional features include the iqta system (land assignments to nobles), the diwan-i-wizarat (finance), and the market reforms of Alauddin Khalji. Muhammad bin Tughlaq's experiments (token currency, Daulatabad transfer) are frequently asked.
| Alauddin Khalji | Muhammad bin Tughlaq |
|---|---|
| Market control and price fixation | Token currency and capital transfer |
| Strong central army, harsh punishments | Administrative experiments, often failed |
| Success in short term | Long-term fiscal and political instability |
⭐ Key Points · याद रखने वाली बातें
- Iqta System: Land revenue assignment to nobles (muqtis) in lieu of salary; not hereditary initially, later became so.
- Alauddin Khalji's Market Regulations: Fixed prices, rationing, and a spy network; aimed to maintain a large army cheaply.
- Muhammad bin Tughlaq's Token Currency: Bronze/copper coins valued as silver; failed due to forgery and lack of state control.
- Firoz Shah Tughlaq: Introduced the jizya as a separate tax, built canals, and patronized the Diwan-i-Khairat (charity department).
✍️ Solved Example 1 · हल किया हुआ उदाहरण
❓ Question: Which Sultan introduced the token currency system, and why did it fail?
✅ Solution: Muhammad bin Tughlaq; it failed due to widespread forgery and inability to control minting.
💡 Explanation: The token currency (c. 1329–30) used copper/bronze coins as silver equivalents. Without a monopoly on minting and public trust, forgery flooded the market, forcing withdrawal and heavy loss to the treasury.
Mughal Empire: Administration, Revenue, and Culture
The Mughals (1526–1857) built a centralized bureaucracy. Key institutions: mansabdari (rank system), jagirdari (land assignments), and the zabti/bandobast revenue system refined by Raja Todar Mal. Akbar's sulh-i-kul (religious tolerance) and the Din-i-Ilahi, along with art and architecture (Fatehpur Sikri, Taj Mahal), are high-yield topics.
| Iqta (Delhi Sultanate) | Jagir (Mughal) |
|---|---|
| Revenue assignment to muqtis | Revenue assignment to mansabdars |
| Often became hereditary over time | Generally transferable, not hereditary |
| Military and administrative duties | Primarily revenue collection for salary |
⭐ Key Points · याद रखने वाली बातें
- Mansabdari System: Dual ranks—zat (personal status) and sawar (cavalry maintained); determined salary and military obligation.
- Zabti Revenue System: Land measured and classified; revenue fixed at one-third of produce, paid in cash; associated with Todar Mal.
- Jagirdari System: Revenue assignments to mansabdars; jagirs were transferable, not hereditary, to prevent local power bases.
- Sulh-i-Kul: Akbar's policy of universal tolerance; reflected in the Ibadat Khana debates and abolition of jizya (later reimposed by Aurangzeb).
✍️ Solved Example 1 · हल किया हुआ उदाहरण
❓ Question: What was the difference between zat and sawar ranks in the mansabdari system?
✅ Solution: Zat indicated personal rank and salary; sawar indicated the number of cavalrymen to be maintained.
💡 Explanation: A mansabdar's salary was based on zat, while sawar rank added obligation and pay for cavalry. Higher sawar relative to zat increased military responsibility and cost.
Practice Questions · खुद हल करके देखो
पहले खुद try karo, phir “Answer dekho” dabakar check karo. 👇
Q1Who among the following introduced the 'token currency' in medieval India?
👀 Answer dekho
✅ Answer: Muhammad bin Tughlaq
💡 Explanation: He issued copper/bronze coins to be used as silver tokens; the experiment failed due to forgery and lack of state control.
Q2The 'zabti' revenue system is most closely associated with which Mughal ruler?
👀 Answer dekho
✅ Answer: Akbar
💡 Explanation: Akbar's revenue minister Raja Todar Mal refined the zabti (bandobast) system: land measurement, classification, and cash revenue at one-third of produce.
Q3Which of the following pairs is correctly matched? (1) Alauddin Khalji – Market regulations (2) Firoz Shah Tughlaq – Diwan-i-Khairat (3) Akbar – Din-i-Ilahi
👀 Answer dekho
✅ Answer: All three are correctly matched
💡 Explanation: Alauddin controlled markets; Firoz Shah created the charity department; Akbar promulgated Din-i-Ilahi (1582).
⚠️ Common Mistakes · ये गलतियाँ बिल्कुल मत करना
- Confusing iqta (Sultanate) with jagir (Mughal): both are revenue assignments, but jagirs were generally transferable and not hereditary.
- Attributing the zabti system to Sher Shah Suri alone: Sher Shah's rupiya and land reforms influenced the Mughals, but the refined zabti is associated with Akbar and Todar Mal.
- Assuming the Din-i-Ilahi was a mass religion: it had very few followers and was more a courtly syncretic order.
⚡ Quick Revision · Exam से पहले 2 मिनट में दोहराओ
- Five Sultanate dynasties: Slave → Khalji → Tughlaq → Sayyid → Lodi (1206–1526).
- Mansabdari dual rank: zat (personal salary) and sawar (cavalry obligation).
- Akbar's sulh-i-kul: policy of tolerance; jizya abolished and later reimposed by Aurangzeb.