Delhi Sultanate, the Mughals and Medieval Architecture
Delhi Sultanate, the Mughals and Medieval Architecture
Medieval Indian history in NTPC centres on rulers and their reforms, the great battles, and monuments with their builders. Learn the five Sultanate dynasties in order, the six great Mughals, and the battles of Panipat, Khanwa and Haldighati.
1. Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526)
| Dynasty | Key rulers and facts |
|---|---|
| Slave (Mamluk) 1206-1290 | Qutbuddin Aibak began the Qutub Minar; Iltutmish completed it, introduced the silver tanka and copper jital; Razia Sultan first woman ruler; Balban's "blood and iron" policy |
| Khilji 1290-1320 | Alauddin Khilji: market reforms, branding of horses (dagh), defeated Mongol raids |
| Tughlaq 1320-1414 | Muhammad bin Tughlaq moved the capital to Daulatabad and issued token currency; Firoz Shah Tughlaq built canals |
| Sayyid 1414-1451 | Founded by Khizr Khan |
| Lodi 1451-1526 | Bahlol Lodi founder; Sikandar Lodi founded Agra; Ibrahim Lodi lost at Panipat |
2. Mughal Empire
| Ruler | Key facts |
|---|---|
| Babur | First Battle of Panipat (1526) defeated Ibrahim Lodi; Khanwa (1527) defeated Rana Sanga; wrote Baburnama |
| Humayun | Lost to Sher Shah Suri at Chausa (1539) and Kannauj (1540); regained throne 1555 |
| Akbar | Second Battle of Panipat (1556) defeated Hemu; Din-i-Ilahi; mansabdari; Battle of Haldighati (1576) against Maharana Pratap |
| Jahangir | Chain of justice; Sir Thomas Roe visited his court |
| Shah Jahan | Taj Mahal, Red Fort (Delhi), Jama Masjid |
| Aurangzeb | Reimposed jizya; Bibi ka Maqbara built in his reign |
Sher Shah Suri: rupiya silver coin, rebuilt the Grand Trunk Road (Sadak-e-Azam)
3. Monuments and Builders
| Monument | Builder |
|---|---|
| Qutub Minar | Begun by Qutbuddin Aibak, completed by Iltutmish |
| Alai Darwaza | Alauddin Khilji |
| Buland Darwaza, Fatehpur Sikri | Akbar (Buland Darwaza for the Gujarat victory) |
| Humayun's Tomb | Commissioned by his widow Bega Begum (Haji Begum) |
| Taj Mahal, Red Fort Delhi | Shah Jahan |
✗ The First Battle of Panipat was between Akbar and Hemu | ✓ That was the Second (1556); the First (1526) was Babur against Ibrahim Lodi
✗ Shah Jahan built the Buland Darwaza | ✓ Akbar built it at Fatehpur Sikri
हिंदी नोट: पानीपत का पहला युद्ध (1526) बाबर और इब्राहिम लोदी के बीच, दूसरा (1556) अकबर और हेमू के बीच हुआ। कुतुब मीनार कुतुबुद्दीन ऐबक ने शुरू की और इल्तुतमिश ने पूरी की। ताजमहल शाहजहाँ ने बनवाया।
Exam Pointer: Verified NTPC pattern: the opponent of Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat (August 2025 UG CBT-1). Sultanate-reform and monument-builder questions are tagged syllabus-based.
Pariksha Pattern: Every Way NTPC Asks This Topic
Pattern 1: Battles and their participants
[PYQ: NTPC UG CBT-1 12-Aug-2025 Shift-1]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. Who defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat in 1526?
Babur.
Answer: Babur
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. Match the battle with the year and the defeated side: Khanwa, Second Panipat, Haldighati.
Khanwa 1527, Rana Sanga defeated by Babur. Second Panipat 1556, Hemu defeated by Akbar's forces. Haldighati 1576, Maharana Pratap against Akbar's army.
Answer: 1527 Rana Sanga; 1556 Hemu; 1576 Maharana Pratap
Pattern 2: Sultanate rulers and reforms
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. Who introduced market control reforms in the Delhi Sultanate?
Alauddin Khilji.
Answer: Alauddin Khilji
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. Which Sultan moved his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad and issued token currency, and who introduced the silver tanka?
Muhammad bin Tughlaq moved the capital and issued token currency. Iltutmish introduced the silver tanka.
Answer: Muhammad bin Tughlaq; Iltutmish
Pattern 3: Mughal rulers' facts
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. Which Mughal emperor started Din-i-Ilahi?
Akbar.
Answer: Akbar
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. Which English ambassador visited Jahangir's court, and who defeated Humayun at Chausa and Kannauj?
Sir Thomas Roe visited Jahangir. Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun.
Answer: Sir Thomas Roe; Sher Shah Suri
Pattern 4: Monuments and builders
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. Who built the Alai Darwaza?
Alauddin Khilji.
Answer: Alauddin Khilji
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. Who completed the Qutub Minar, and which Mughal emperor built the Buland Darwaza and why?
Iltutmish completed the Qutub Minar. Akbar built the Buland Darwaza at Fatehpur Sikri to mark his victory in Gujarat.
Answer: Iltutmish; Akbar, for the Gujarat victory
60-Second Revision
- Sultanate order: Slave, Khilji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, Lodi.
- Panipat I 1526 (Babur-Ibrahim Lodi), Khanwa 1527, Panipat II 1556, Haldighati 1576.
- Qutub Minar: Aibak began, Iltutmish completed.
- Shah Jahan: Taj Mahal, Red Fort; Akbar: Buland Darwaza.