- Many Muslim intellectuals and
artists sought refuge in Delhi when Genghis Khan sacked
Baghdad in AD 1250.
- Three Sufi orders emigrated
towards Delhi between the 13th and 14th
centuries.
- The Sultans did not interfere
with the social and cultural practices of the population -
their agenda was economic – not social.
- There were some conversions
to Islam but population generally remained Hindu.
- They imposed a protection tax
on the non-Muslims, later removed by the Mughal Emperor Akbar.
- Brought in new irrigation
methods – introduced the Persian wheel.
- ‘Unani’ system of
medicine brought to India by refugees fleeing Genghis Khan.
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1206 - Qutab ud din Aibak proclaimed himself Sultan
of Delhi, on Mohammad Ghor’s death.
1211 - Aibak died playing polo and his son-in-law
Shams ud din Iltutmish became Sultan of Delhi. He built the mausoleum of
Saint Qutub-ud-din Bakhtiyar Kaki and also built Shamsi Talab, the site
where the Sultan saw the footprints of the Holy Prophet’s horse Buraq.
1220 – the fourth storey of Qutub Minar completed
1235 – Iltutmish completed work on his tomb
within the Qutab Minar complex.
1236 – Iltutmish died. His daughter, Razia
Sultana, ruled Delhi for three and a half years.
1265 – Ghiasuddin Balban ascended the throne of
Delhi. Ruled for 22 years. Apart from Sanskrit and Hindi, Turki, Arabic and
Persian languages introduced.
1287 – Balban died grieving for his son, who was
killed fighting the Mongols. Many claimants to the throne.
1290 - Jalauddin Firoze, an old man, of the tribe
of Khiljis, came to the throne of Delhi.
1296 - Jalaluddin Firoze Khilji murdered by his
nephew Alauddin Khilji who was also his son-in-law.
Alauddin Khilji became Sultan of Delhi.
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