Medieval and Islamic History

The Gyanvapi mosque was built by Aurangzeb in 1669 CE after partially demolishing the original Kashi Vishwanath temple at the site. The mosque stands adjacent to the current temple complex. Its name 'Gyanvapi' means 'well of knowledge' - referring to a still-extant well within the mosque premises. This reflects the Mughal policy of temple demolition and mosque construction at sacred Hindu sites.

The Red Fort in Delhi was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1638 and 1648 as his palace and fortified residence. The construction began when Shah Jahan decided to shift his capital from Agra to Delhi, and it served as the main residence of the Mughal emperors for over 200 years.

Ustad Isa (or Ustad Ahmad Lahori) is widely credited as the chief architect of the Taj Mahal, working under Emperor Shah Jahan's supervision. He was a Persian architect from the Mughal court. While the other names listed sound plausible, Benazir Begam was Shah Jahan's daughter (not an architect), and Mohamed Razaq and Abdul Ali are not documented as the Taj Mahal's chief architect. The monument's design reflects Persian, Islamic, and Indian architectural influences.

The Khilji Dynasty (1290-1320 AD) ruled Delhi during this period, founded by Jalal-ud-din Khilji after the end of the Mamluk dynasty. The most famous ruler was Alauddin Khilji, known for his military conquests and administrative reforms. Duwa Khan, Qutlugh Khwaja, and Targhi were Mongol invaders/leaders who threatened Delhi but were not rulers of the Delhi Sultanate.

The Tughlaq Dynasty ruled Delhi from 1320-1413 AD, founded by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq. Notable rulers included Muhammad bin Tughlaq (known for his eccentric administrative experiments) and Firoz Shah Tughlaq (a great builder). The Sayyid dynasty came later (1414-1451 AD), while Hasan Gangu founded the Bahmani Sultanate in the Deccan, and Amal Allana is a modern theater personality.

The Sayyid Dynasty ruled Delhi from 1414-1451 AD, founded by Khizr Khan after the decline of the Tughlaq dynasty. They were relatively weak rulers who faced internal rebellions and external threats. The Lodhi dynasty succeeded them (1451-1526 AD). Timur (Tamerlane) invaded Delhi in 1398 but was not a ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, and Badaun refers to a region, not a dynasty.

The Mughal Empire was the dominant power in Delhi from 1526 (when Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat) until 1857 (after the Sepoy Mutiny when the British Crown formally took control). While there was a brief interruption (1540-1555) when Sher Shah Suri's Sur dynasty ruled, the Mughals controlled Delhi for the vast majority of this 331-year period, making them the primary rulers of the era.

Following the suppression of the 1857 uprising, the British Crown assumed direct control of India from the East India Company in 1858, initiating the British Raj era which lasted until 1947. Delhi was under British administration during this entire period (1857-1900), with no other ruling power contested this control.

Malik Kafur, a slave general who became the most trusted commander of Alauddin Khalji, was given the title 'Malik Naib' which means deputy ruler or vice-regent. He led successful military campaigns in South India and was one of the most powerful figures in the Delhi Sultanate. Iltutmish was a Sultan himself, Tantia Topi was a Maratha leader, and Todar Mal was Akbar's finance minister.

Nur Jahan, the favorite wife of Emperor Jahangir, is credited with introducing and popularizing chikan embroidery to Lucknow. She was a patron of arts and crafts, and under her influence, Lucknow became renowned for this delicate embroidery style that involves white threadwork on white fabric.

Ibn Battuta, the Moroccan traveler, visited India during Muhammad bin Tughluq's reign (1325-1351). He stayed in India for several years and served as a qazi (judge) under the Sultan. Fa-Hien visited during the Gupta period, Hiuen Tsang during Harsha's reign, and I-Tsing came later in the 7th century.

Maham Anga was the foster-mother of Akbar who served as his wet nurse and cared for him during his childhood. She was a significant figure in Akbar's early life and held considerable influence in the Mughal court during his reign. Humayun was Akbar's father, Babur his grandfather, and Aurangzeb his great-grandson, ruling much later.

Muhammad bin Tughluq is infamous for his disastrous decision to forcibly move the entire population of Delhi to Daulatabad, including animals. This ill-conceived plan caused immense suffering and is one of the most notorious examples of medieval administrative folly. The other rulers listed did not undertake such an extreme population transfer.

Akbar was born to Emperor Humayun and his wife Hamida Banu Begum. Humayun was his father and the second Mughal emperor, while Hamida Banu Begum was his mother.

Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur was the founder of the Mughal Empire. 'Zahir-ud-din' was his personal name, while 'Babur' was his name/title meaning 'tiger' in Chagatai Turkic.