Medieval and Islamic History

Ain-i-Akbari is the third volume of the Akbarnama, which was written by Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak, the court historian of the Mughal Emperor Akbar.

Islam first reached the Indian subcontinent through Arab traders who visited the Malabar Coast in the 7th century. Later, in 712 AD, the Arab general Muhammad bin Qasim conquered the Sindh region, establishing the first significant Islamic political presence. The subsequent arrival of Turks and other groups happened much later in the medieval period.

In Shivaji's military administration, the Sarnobat (or Sar-i-Naubat) was the commander-in-chief of the infantry or the army. It was a key position in the Ashtapradhan council.

Murar Baji Deshpande was a legendary Maratha commander who valiantly defended the Fort of Purandar in 1665 against the massive Mughal army led by Rajput general Raja Jai Singh, ultimately sacrificing his life along with his Mavli soldiers.

Prince Salim (later Emperor Jahangir) orchestrated the assassination of Abul Fazl in 1602 because he viewed him as an obstacle to his succession and a negative influence on Akbar.

Abbas Khan Sarwani was a historian during the reign of Akbar who wrote the Tarikh-i-Sher Shahi (History of Sher Shah). This work provides a detailed account of the life, administration, and military achievements of Sher Shah Suri, the founder of the Sur Empire.

The Moti masjid at Agra fort was built by Shahjahan in honour of Asaf Khan

Haribans, Mukund, and Daswant were renowned painters in the imperial workshop of Emperor Akbar. They contributed significantly to the development of the Mughal school of painting.

Haji Ibrahim Sarhindi was commissioned by Emperor Akbar to translate the Atharva Veda into Persian.

Iltutmish was the Sultan of Delhi when the Mongol leader Genghis Khan reached the Indus, and an emissary was sent to his court.

Ragadarpan, a work on Indian music, was translated into Persian during the reign of Firuz Shah Tughluq, who was a patron of learning and arts.

Muhammad bin Tughluq established the Diwan-i-Amir Koh, a department dedicated to agricultural development and the expansion of cultivated land.

In the Delhi Sultanate, the Mustauf-i-Mamalik was the official responsible for auditing the income and expenditure of the state. This was a key financial post within the administrative hierarchy.

Firuz Shah Tughluq abolished various illegal and oppressive cesses, collectively known as 'Abwab', to provide relief to the peasantry and improve agricultural conditions.

Under Sher Shah Suri's administrative reforms, the 'Amil' was a revenue official responsible for measuring land and assessing land revenue at the pargana level.