State and Society in Medieval India — Class 9 Social Science (Samacheer Kalvi)
TN State Board (Samacheer Kalvi) Class 9 Social Science, History — Chapter 7. The Delhi Sultanate, Mughals, Vijayanagara, Bhakti & Sufi movements.
1. About this lesson
This chapter covers the political and social history of medieval India from the Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526 CE) through the Mughal Empire (1526–1707 CE), including the Vijayanagara and Bahmani kingdoms in the Deccan and the Bhakti and Sufi movements.
2. The Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526 CE)
| Dynasty | Founder | Period | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slave (Mamluk) | Qutb-ud-din Aibak | 1206–1290 | Aibak built Qutb Minar; Iltutmish consolidated; Razia Sultana (first woman ruler) |
| Khalji | Jalal-ud-din Khalji | 1290–1320 | Alauddin Khalji — market reforms, price control, military campaigns to South |
| Tughlaq | Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq | 1320–1414 | Muhammad bin Tughlaq — token currency, capital shift (Delhi → Daulatabad); Firoz Shah Tughlaq |
| Sayyid | Khizr Khan | 1414–1451 | Short-lived; weak rulers |
| Lodi | Bahlul Lodi | 1451–1526 | Ibrahim Lodi defeated by Babur at First Battle of Panipat (1526) |
Administration
- Iqta system: Land revenue assignment to nobles (Iqtadars) in exchange for military service.
- Diwan-i-Risalat: Department of religious affairs.
- Amir Khusrau — famous poet in Alauddin Khalji's court.
3. The Mughal Empire (1526–1707 CE)
| Emperor | Reign | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Babur | 1526–1530 | Founder; defeated Ibrahim Lodi at First Battle of Panipat (1526); defeated Rana Sanga at Khanwa (1527) |
| Humayun | 1530–1540, 1555–1556 | Lost to Sher Shah Suri; regained with Persian help |
| Akbar | 1556–1605 | Greatest Mughal; Din-i-Ilahi; abolished jizya; Mansabdari system; Fatehpur Sikri |
| Jahangir | 1605–1627 | Known for justice (chain of justice); Nur Jahan's influence |
| Shah Jahan | 1627–1658 | Golden Age of architecture — Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Jama Masjid |
| Aurangzeb | 1658–1707 | Reimposed jizya; expanded empire to its largest extent; Deccan campaigns |
Mansabdari System
- Every officer held a mansab (rank). Two components: Zat (personal rank/salary) and Sawar (number of cavalry to maintain).
- Introduced by Akbar.
Decline of the Mughals
- Aurangzeb's Deccan campaigns drained the treasury.
- Weak successors; rise of regional powers (Marathas under Shivaji, Sikhs, Rajputs).
- Invasions by Nadir Shah (1739) and Ahmad Shah Abdali.
4. Vijayanagara and Bahmani Kingdoms
Vijayanagara Empire (1336–1646 CE)
- Founded by Harihara and Bukka (two brothers) on the banks of the Tungabhadra River.
- Krishnadevaraya (1509–1529) — greatest ruler; patron of Telugu literature (Ashtadiggajas).
- Capital: Hampi (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
- Known for temple architecture, trade, and military power.
- Defeated at the Battle of Talikota (1565) by the combined Deccan Sultanates.
Bahmani Kingdom (1347–1527 CE)
- Founded by Ala-ud-din Bahman Shah.
- Capital: Gulbarga → Bidar.
- Constant conflict with Vijayanagara over the Raichur Doab.
- Later split into five Deccan Sultanates: Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmadnagar, Berar, Bidar.
5. Bhakti Movement
- Bhakti = devotion to a personal god; rejected ritualism and caste.
- Key saints:
- Ramanuja (11th c.) — Vishishtadvaita; Srivaishnavism.
- Basaveshwara (12th c.) — Lingayatism; "Work is worship."
- Kabir — rejected both Hindu and Muslim orthodoxy; "God is one."
- Guru Nanak (1469–1539) — founder of Sikhism.
- Chaitanya — Krishna bhakti in Bengal.
- Meera Bai — Krishna devotee.
- Tukaram — Marathi saint; Abhangas.
- Women Bhakti saints: Meera Bai, Andal, Akka Mahadevi, Janabai.
6. Sufi Movement
- Sufism = Islamic mysticism; emphasized love of God, devotion, and inner purity.
- Key Silsilahs (orders): Chishti (Moinuddin Chishti — Ajmer; Nizamuddin Auliya — Delhi; Baba Farid), Suhrawardi, Naqshbandi, Qadiri.
- Sufis used Sama (music) to attain spiritual ecstasy. Chishtis believed in service to humanity.
- Khanqah: Sufi hospice/hospice — center for spiritual and charitable activities.
- Promoted Hindu-Muslim unity.
7. Worked examples
Example 1. Who founded the Slave dynasty? Qutb-ud-din Aibak.
Example 2. Who introduced the Mansabdari system? Akbar.
Example 3. Who founded the Vijayanagara Empire? Harihara and Bukka on the banks of the Tungabhadra.
Example 4. Name the greatest ruler of Vijayanagara. Krishnadevaraya (1509–1529).
8. Book-back questions (Samacheer Kalvi)
I. Choose the correct answer
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The founder of the Slave dynasty was — (a) Iltutmish / (b) Qutb-ud-din Aibak / (c) Balban / (d) Razia. Ans: (b) Qutb-ud-din Aibak.
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Alauddin Khalji's market reforms aimed at — (a) religious conversion / (b) controlling prices / (c) land reforms / (d) expanding trade. Ans: (b) controlling prices.
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Muhammad bin Tughlaq transferred his capital from Delhi to — (a) Agra / (b) Lahore / (c) Daulatabad (Devagiri) / (d) Fatehpur Sikri. Ans: (c) Daulatabad (Devagiri).
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Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the — (a) Second Battle of Panipat / (b) First Battle of Panipat (1526) / (c) Battle of Khanwa / (d) Battle of Haldighati. Ans: (b) First Battle of Panipat (1526).
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The greatest ruler of Vijayanagara was — (a) Harihara / (b) Bukka / (c) Krishnadevaraya / (d) Devaraya II. Ans: (c) Krishnadevaraya.
II. Fill in the blanks
- The Iqta system was land revenue assignment to nobles for military service.
- Din-i-Ilahi was the syncretic religion founded by Akbar.
- The Bhakti saint who said "Work is worship" was Basaveshwara.
- Guru Nanak founded Sikhism.
- The Sufi saint of Ajmer was Moinuddin Chishti.
III. Find out the correct statement
- (a) Razia Sultana was the first woman ruler of the Delhi Sultanate → Correct. (b) Babur was defeated at the First Battle of Panipat → Wrong. Babur won; Ibrahim Lodi was defeated. (c) Vijayanagara was founded on the banks of Godavari → Wrong. Founded on the Tungabhadra River. (d) Aurangzeb abolished jizya → Wrong. Aurangzeb reimposed jizya; Akbar abolished it.
IV. Match the following
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| Qutb-ud-din Aibak | Slave Dynasty founder |
| Alauddin Khalji | Market reforms, price control |
| Akbar | Mansabdari, Din-i-Ilahi |
| Krishnadevaraya | Vijayanagara's greatest ruler |
| Kabir | Bhakti saint — rejected orthodoxy |
V. Answer briefly
-
Iqta system — Land revenue assignment to nobles (Iqtadars) in exchange for maintaining troops and providing military service to the Sultan.
-
Mansabdari system — Introduced by Akbar. Every officer held a mansab (rank) with Zat (personal rank) and Sawar (cavalry). Ensured loyalty and efficient administration.
-
Bhakti movement — Devotional movement rejecting ritualism and caste. Key saints: Ramanuja, Basaveshwara, Kabir, Guru Nanak, Meera Bai. Emphasized personal devotion to God.
-
Sufi orders — Sufi mystics organized into Silsilahs: Chishti (Moinuddin Chishti, Nizamuddin Auliya), Suhrawardi, Naqshbandi, Qadiri. Khanqah = Sufi hospice.
VI. Answer in detail
-
Describe the administrative reforms of Alauddin Khalji.
- Market reforms: fixed prices of all commodities; strict enforcement by Shahna (market controller).
- Military: maintained a large standing army paid in cash.
- Land revenue: directly collected from peasants; eliminated middlemen.
- Intelligence system: spies reported on nobles.
- Prohibited social gatherings of nobles to prevent conspiracies.
-
Compare Vijayanagara and Bahmani kingdoms.
- Vijayanagara: Founded by Harihara and Bukka (1336); capital Hampi; Tungabhadra River. Krishnadevaraya — peak. Defeated at Talikota (1565).
- Bahmani: Founded by Ala-ud-din Bahman Shah (1347); capital Gulbarga → Bidar. Split into 5 Deccan Sultanates.
- Both constantly fought over the Raichur Doab. Both patronised art, architecture, and literature.
9. Common mistakes
- Mistake: Babur was defeated at Panipat. Fix: Babur won the First Battle of Panipat (1526); defeated Ibrahim Lodi.
- Mistake: Akbar reimposed jizya. Fix: Akbar abolished jizya; Aurangzeb reimposed it.
- Mistake: Vijayanagara was on the Godavari. Fix: Vijayanagara was on the Tungabhadra River.
- Mistake: Bhakti movement emphasized ritualism. Fix: Bhakti movement rejected ritualism and caste.
10. Quick revision
- History Ch 7 · Medieval India.
- Delhi Sultanate: Slave→Khalji→Tughlaq→Sayyid→Lodi (1206–1526). Iqta system.
- Mughals: Babur (Panipat 1526) → Humayun → Akbar (Mansabdari, Din-i-Ilahi) → Jahangir → Shah Jahan (Taj Mahal) → Aurangzeb.
- Vijayanagara: Harihara-Bukka, Krishnadevaraya, Hampi, Talikota 1565.
- Bhakti: Kabir, Guru Nanak, Meera Bai, Basaveshwara.
- Sufi: Chishti order — Moinuddin Chishti (Ajmer), Nizamuddin Auliya (Delhi).
