Give an account of Muhammad Tughluq's administration.
The early years of Muhammad Tughluq's reign faced Mongol attacks, which were curbed by Tughluq's sincere efforts.
1. He took several administrative measures like Alauddin Khalji he also raised a huge standing army in Delhi.
2.He got emptied the oldest of the four cities of Delhi (Delhi-i Kunba) in order to garrison his soldiers there. The residents of the old city were sent to the new capital of Daulatabad in the south.
3.He made arrangements for the collection of produce as tax to feed the soldiers. As it was very difficult to maintain a large number of soldiers the Sultan levied additional taxes which coincided with famine in the area.
4.Muhammad Tughluq paid soldiers cash salaries. For this he introduced ‘token' currency made of cheap metals. People in the 14th century did not trust these coins. They saved their gold and silver coins and paid all their taxes to the state with this token currency.
According to the circle of justice' why was it important for military commanders to keep the interests of the peasantry in mind?
Do you think the authors of tawarikh would provide information about the lives of ordinary men and women?
What was the impact of the Mongol invasions on the Delhi Sultanate?Ans. The Delhi Sultanate mobilised a large standing army in Delhi. It posed a big administrative challenge.
Raziyya Sultan was unique in the history of the Delhi Sultanate. Do you think women leaders are accepted more readily today?
Mention the sources that provide a lot of information about the Delhi Sultans.[V. Imp.]
Find out whether there are many buildings built by the Delhi Sultans in your area. Are there any other buildings in your area that were built between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries? Describe some of these buildings, and draw sketches of them.
Why did large parts of the subcontinent remain outside the control of the Delhi Sultans? What were the repurcussions? [V. Imp.]
Who was Raziyya? Why was she not accepted as a Sultan inspite of being talented? [V. Imp.]
How did the Khaljis and Tughluqs help the people of humble birth? How did it lead to political instability?
Why were the Delhi Sultans interested in cutting down forests? Does deforestation occur for the same reasons today?
What were the steps taken to ensure that muqtis performed their duties? Why do you think they may have wanted to defy the orders of the Sultans?