Medieval and Islamic History

Balban was the first Sultan to explicitly define the theory of kingship, emphasizing the divine right of the Sultan and the absolute power of the monarch.

As noted previously, Iltutmish was the first ruler to establish Delhi as the capital of the Sultanate, moving it from Lahore.

Alauddin Khalji is often regarded as the founder of imperialism in the medieval period because he expanded the Sultanate's reach into South India and maintained a massive standing army.

Balban adopted the title Zil-i-Ilahi, which means Shadow of God on Earth, to enhance the prestige and divine status of the Sultanate. Tute-i-Hind was a title associated with Amir Khusru.

Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti established the Chishti Order in India in the late 12th century. He settled in Ajmer, which became the center of his missionary activities.

The Mir Bakshi was the head of the military department under the Mughal administration. He was responsible for intelligence, military appointments, and salary disbursements.

Qutbuddin Aibak, Yaldauz, and Bakhtiyar Khalji were all slaves/generals of Mohammad Ghori. Iltutmish was a slave of Qutbuddin Aibak, not Ghori directly.

Mahmud Ghaznavi invaded and plundered the Somnath temple in 1025 AD during his campaigns in India.

Ibn Khordadbah, an early Islamic geographer, described the seven-fold division of Hindu society in his work, Kitab al-Masalik wa'l-Mamalik.

Krishnadevaraya was the ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1509 to 1529. Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, mentions Krishnadevaraya as one of the most powerful rulers in India in his autobiography, the Baburnama.

The Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra mosque in Ajmer was commissioned by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the founder of the Delhi Sultanate.

The Moti Masjid in Agra was built by Shah Jahan. It is located within the Agra Fort complex.

Sikandar Lodhi founded the city of Agra in 1504. He shifted his capital from Delhi to Agra to maintain better control over the region.

Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah, originally known as Hassan Gangu, founded the Bahmani Sultanate in 1347. He established his capital at Gulbarga.

Firdausi was a Persian poet who wrote the Shah Nama (Book of Kings). It was dedicated to Mahmud of Ghazni.