Optional History (Medieval) for

UPSC CSE

By Arghyadip Bhattacharya

Administrative reforms

• After sitting on throne Allauddin Khilji analyzed the causes behind revolt & rebellions,corruptions.

• 4 conclusions:

a. Presence of excess wealth. Because people have sufficient time to think about the strength and weaknesses of sultan

b. The failure of Sultan to pay proper attention to various development

c. The practice of wine. Because A.K. felt people forget their real status under the influence of wine and they starts challenging the authority of sultan.

d. The practice of relationship among nobles. Because it makes them more powerful.

To counter these Allauddin Khilji issued 4 ordinances , which is known as his Administrative reforms :

a) Excess wealth taken away.Free grants such as‘Inam’, ‘Milk’ ,‘Idrar’ giving by state were taken back

b) Spy system reorganised & spies were appointed by states

c) Prohibition of taking wine. This order could not be implemented effectively . Because people started making wine at their home. So the order was modified.prohibition of wine in public places.

d) Prior permission of Sultan for inter marriages among Nobles

Administrative reforms

• Administrative reforms were highly successful ,no major revolts

❑ Revenue reforms :• Key objective- to mobilize maximum

possible resources to maintain a large army & to keep treasury filled

• Reforms –

a. Revenue reforms were introduced In Doab region at first ,because-

1. It was close to capital

2. Strongest intermediaries

Administrative reforms

b.Land revenue system of assessment known as Masahat system

c. Land revenue was increased to 50 % of produce

d. Intermediaries under taxation

e. New taxes named as ‘Ghori’(House Tax), ‘Chorai’(Grazing Tax)

f. The rate of khums(state’s share in war booty) was increased

g. Honest senior officers in Revenue dept. Patowary inspected by Sultan

h. Severe punishment to the corrupt officer

Administrative reforms

MARKET REGULATION• REASONS:

Different Historians gave different opinions

1. Ziauddin Barni in his book ‘Tarikh-i-Firozsahi’

wrote that it was for military purposes

2. Amir Khasru in his book ‘Khazin-ul-Futuh’wrote that it was for public welfare

3.Closer examination reveals these reforms were primarily introduced to maintain a large army in low cost which benefited everyone.

IMPLEMENTATIONS

• Division of State into 2 types of territories known as

A. Controlled zone (Lahore to Allahabad & some parts of Rajputana),Army used to stay

B. Free zone

Controlled zone

• Controlled zone was close to capital & supervised by the Sultan

• For implementation of market regulation new dept. known as‘Dewan-i-Riyasat’ headed by Sadir-i-Riyasat

• 3 types of market for different goods

IMPLEMENTATIONS

Market for different goods

Mandi(Market of Food

grains)

Sarai Adil(Market of

Clothes & sugar)

Market for trade living

beings(slaves,animals,birds

etc)

• Each market was placed under a police officer known as ‘Shehna-i-mandi ’ to keep strict vigil

• Fixed the prices of every item by State

• Weights & measures were also determined by the state

• Merchants & traders were issued license to set up shops

• Under weight selling results equal amount of flesh from traders body

Steps taken to ensure market availability of various goods.

1. Atleast 50% of land rev. from Doab region in kind.

• The peasants were not allowed to keep any surplus beyond 10 mounds(Barni). They had to sell excess amount to state @ fixed price

• Subsidy to importers

• Profit percentage was fixed

(according to Barni not more than

10%)

• Buffer stores were maintained

• Rationing system

IMPACT

1. Large army maintained easily ,promoted imperialism

2. Privileges of nobility was curtailed. Limits had been imposed on luxury items to be purchased from the market including horses & other imported goods

3. Common people of Delhi was benefited greatly-stability in the price of goods , due to buffer stocks no problem during femine also

4. No inflation as such for more than 10 years

5. Peasants suffered heavily due to market regulation.Peasants had to purchase from local market @ unregulated prices

6. Merchants & traders also suffered heavily -because they were not allowed to make a profit more than 10 % , they had to line in the environment of constant fears because there was severe punishment for any violation.

7.Importers brought huge amounts of goods to Delhi. Growth of trade & commerce .

According to Barni , importers brought huge amount of goods to Delhi as their profits were guaranteed by state

8. This helped the growth of trade & commerce

9.Rural urban economic integration

10.Didn’t allow the market forces of demand & supply

11. Artisans & craftsman suffered because they had to purchase raw materials from open market @ unregulated price

12. Economic evils ,black marketing, hoarding were absent because none was allowed to keep the goods beyond reasonable needs

MILITARY REGULATIONS

• Alauddin Khalji maintained a large permanent standing army and paid them in cash from the royal treasury.

• According the Ferishta, he recruited 4,75,000 cavalrymen.

• He introduced the system of dagh (branding of horses)- This was the check the malpractice of changing royal / approved horses with those of low quality. and prepared huliya (descriptive list of soldiers)-This was to prevent the system of deploying substitute soldiers..

• In order to ensure maximum efficiency, a strict review of army from time to time was carried out.

• The introduction of paying salaries in cash to the soldiers

• Alauddin Khalji died in 1316.

• Although the Sultan was illiterate, he patronized poets like Amir Khusrau and Amir Hasan.

• He also built a famous gateway known as Alai Darwaza and constructed a new capital at Siri.

• Mubarak Shah and Khusru Shah were the successors of

Alauddin Khalji.

• Ghazi Malik, the governor of Dipalpur, killed the Sultan Khusru Shah and ascended the throne of Delhi under the title of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq in 1320.

• Who built the ‘Alai Darwaja’ and

Siri Fort?

(a) Ghiasuddin Tughlaq

(b) Firoz Shah Tughlaq

(c) Alauddin Khilji

(d) Mohd. Bin Tughlaq