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The Delhi Sultanate shaped medieval India’s economy through agriculture, trade, crafts, and taxation.
Much of the historical focus is on rulers and courts, but records also provide insight into peasants, trade systems, craft industries, and religious influence on society.
- (i) Historians often ignored ordinary life, focusing on court events.
- (ii) Commodity prices are mentioned sporadically in historical accounts.
- (iii) The economic history gives clues to peasants, merchants, and craftsmen.
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Ibn Battutah’s Account of the Delhi Sultanate Economy
The Moroccan traveler Ibn Battutah visited India in the 14th century and recorded detailed observations of economic life.
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Travel and Observations
- (i) Stayed at Muhammad Tughlaq’s court for eight years.
- (ii) Wrote about roads, products, and people’s lives.
- (iii) Mentioned village industries like oil pressing, weaving, and dyeing.
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Crops and Village Economy
- (a) Rice, sugarcane, wheat, cotton, and indigo were major crops.
- (b) Sesame and oil-seeds formed the basis of oil pressing industries.
- (c) Crops supported weaving, dyeing, and jaggery production.
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Peasants and Rural Gentry in the Delhi Sultanate
The rural economy was marked by hardships for peasants and privileges for village elites.
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Peasant Life
- (i) Peasants formed the bulk of the population, surviving on subsistence farming.
- (ii) Frequent famines and wars worsened their condition.
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Rural Elites and Landowners
- (a) Prosperous owner cultivators dominated village panchayats.
- (b) Village headmen and landlords enjoyed privileges and misused power.
- (c) Alauddin Khalji curbed their influence, but they still lived better than ordinary peasants.
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Hindu Rajas under the Delhi Sultanate
Many Hindu rajas continued to hold authority under the Sultanate system.
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Autonomy and Court Relations
- (i) Rajas retained control of their estates.
- (ii) Several rajas visited Balban’s court, showing political influence.
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Trade, Industry, and Merchants during the Delhi Sultanate
The Sultanate period saw remarkable urban growth, trade expansion, and merchant prosperity.
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Urban Trade and Cities
- (i) Key cities: Delhi, Lahore, Multan, Daulatabad, Kara, Lakhnauti, Anhilwara, Cambay.
- (ii) Bengal and Gujarat were famous for textiles and gold/silver work.
- (iii) Handicrafts flourished: leather, metalwork, carpets, stone cutting, paper making.
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Overseas and Merchant Trade
- (a) Trade with Red Sea, Persian Gulf, China.
- (b) Imports: silk, ivory, porcelain, horses.
- (c) Merchant groups: Arabs, Tamils, Kalingas, Gujaratis, Marwaris, Bohras.
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Travel and Infrastructure
- Royal roads and sarais improved travel safety.
- Muhammad Tughlaq built roads and developed postal systems.
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Crafts and Techniques in the Delhi Sultanate
The era saw new crafts, technologies, and agricultural improvements.
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Craft Innovations
- (i) Introduced by Turks: glass making, paper making, spinning wheel.
- (ii) Improved loom, Persian wheel, and superior mortar.
- (iii) Metallurgical advances: iron stirrups and armor.
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Impact on Economy
- (a) Boost in craft industries contributed to urban prosperity.
- (b) Agricultural improvements ensured 14th-century affluence.
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Religion and Society in the Delhi Sultanate
Religion influenced both politics and social life, with Sufism and Bhakti shaping culture.
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Religious and Social Life
- (i) Islam was the state religion, but Hinduism and Buddhism persisted.
- (ii) Sufi saints spread spiritual teachings.
- (iii) Bhakti movement influenced society and culture.
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Summary of Delhi Sultanate Economy and Society
The economic condition of the Delhi Sultanate (13th–16th century) highlights agrarian struggles, urban prosperity, trade expansion, craft industries, and religious influence. Accounts of Ibn Battutah, reforms of Alauddin Khalji, and infrastructure of Muhammad Tughlaq provide valuable insights. This topic remains essential for students to understand India’s medieval economy and socio-cultural history.
