The Khilji Khalji dynasty:

1
The Khilji (Khalji) dynasty

• Problems of succession and power-transfers

2
Review from last week

• Sufisan alternative mode of power
• Spiritual rather than political/economic
  authority
• Closer to peopleboth Muslim and non-Muslim
• Balbanlast of the Ilbari rulers, changes the
  culture of the Delhi Sultanate into a more
  formal, courtly tradition
• --concentrates power in his own hands through
  reforms

3
Impact of Balban

• Economy stabilizes, market towns increase in
  numberdue to increased migration from
  Afghanistan and Persia
• Mongols contained on NW border
• Power of chehelgan reduced, through iqta reform
  and garrison towns, but they become more hostile
  to centralized rule
• Balbans severe punishments and killings greatly
  reduce the number of qualified officers and
  generals, independent action discouraged and
  sycophancy encouraged
• No competent successor remains when Mohammad, the
  older son is dies in 1285.

4
Balbans Family
5
Problems of succession

• Turkish custom did not favor primogeniture
• The nobility had some say in the selection of the
  next ruler if sultan did not appoint an heir
• Balbans attempt to create a succession failed
• Younger son Bughra Khan resented and feared his
  father since 1275 events in Bengal
• Muhammads son Kaykhusrau was designated heir
  after Mohammads death in 1285 but opposed by
  amirs
• Bughar Khans son Kayqabad and his son Kayumars
  both had short reigns while the chehelgan
  attempted to use them as puppet rulers, Bughra
  stayed far away from Delhi

6
The Khaljis

• A tribe of mixed Afghani/Turkish descent
• Benefited from Balbans reforms, had greater
  cohesion than other groups, unite and nominate
  their senior chief, Jalal-ud-din Khilji as ruler
  (r. 1290-96)
• His generosity had won support, but is later
  criticized
• Growing evidence of his lack of desire from
  confrontation makes Khaljis nervous
• His nephew Ala-ud-din Khalji demonstrates
  superior military and leadership skills,
  particularly in the raid on Deogiri (1293-95),
  Khiljis begin to support him instead
• Jalal ud-din is assassinated on his nephews
  orders in 1296

7
Ala-ud-Dins addition of tribute paying areas
8
Khilji reforms--military

• Treasure from raids and economic reforms funds
  Military improvements
• Branding and registration of horses
• Role calls for soldiers
• Regulation of horse trade
• Fixed and regular cash salaries for soldiers
  reduces reliance on iqtas
• Ample supplies assured through economic reforms

9
Market Reforms

• Grain prices in cities and towns regulated to
  prevent excessive profits and ensure regular
  supply even in times of scarcity
• Markets for different goods created, regulated by
  officers inspecting goods for quality, weights,
  and measures
• Safety along trade routes increases, market towns
  proliferate starting in this period
• Registration of Merchants, advances made for
  certain trade goods from treasury

10
Controls over Chehelgan

• Reduced income from reforms, control over army
  also reduced
• More dependent on king for salaries and
  assignments
• Prohibited from forming alliances through
  marriages or under cover of parties
• Increased surveillance of activities, audits of
  wealth and tax collections

11
South Asia at the time of Khiljis death, 1316

• Long period of stability, furthest extent of
  Sultanate empire
• Power of Chehelgan greatly reduced, that of new
  groups such as Afghans and some Rajputs
  increasesthis too has some drawbacks
• Economic gains continue into the later sultanate
  dynasties
• Royal patronage leads to greater interest in
  architecture, patronage of literature, founding
  of schools (madrasas)
• Relative prosperity of Indian Sultante leads to
  greater migration of scholars, Sufis, from Iran
  and Afghanistan as Mongal invasions continue
  (cont. next slide)

12
Cont.

• Greater period of Urbanization, Muslims mainly to
  be found in Urban areasboth rich and poor
• Urban poor, certain peasants, new migrants favor
  Sultanas do some ulema and sufis who gain
  patronage
• The Urban rich (Nobility, some merchants)
  antagonized.
• Some Sufis such as the Chistis critical of
  growing power of Sultan.
• Reaction of Peasants mixeddue to market reforms

13
End of Khilji rule Problems of Succession

• Ala-ud-din Khilji was bed-ridden and ill during
  his last year, Malik Kafur, his general, was in a
  much stronger position to grab the throne than
  his teenage sons.
• During a bloody coup, many of the Khilji princes
  were killed, but their body-gaurds were able to
  resist Kafur and kill him.
• Mubark Shah succeeded as Khilji king, however, he
  delegated much of his authority to his generals.
  He had a close relationship with one.

14
The last Khilji Sultan

• By the early 14th century, the Khilji army had
  large numbers of Hindu soldiers working for
  various emirsHindu and Muslim
• Khusrau Khan, a recent convert, was the general
  and using his power base in the army killed
  Mubarak Shah in a coup in 1320.
• Only the opposition of the Turkish emirs stopped
  Khusrau Khan from rulingthe last of the
  important Sultanates, the Tughlaqs, would replace
  him.

15
Break

• Discuss Paper 1 and Research Proposal (end of
  class, those not working on proposal may leave
  early)
• Use Rizvi readings for review for paper
• Discuss chicago style citations

16
To what extent were the rulers of the Delhi
Sultanate able to create stable political and
social institutions in South Asia? In framing
your answer analyze some of these (ex. the iqta
system, administration, economy, religious
patronage, etc) in detail to explain how they
supported or undermined the rule of the Sultans.
17
Create Thesis, Organize evidence

• After reviewing readings and notes, select the
  strongest evidence you havefactors creating
  stability or instability in the Sultanate.
• Are any of these points related? Can you frame
  them more concisely?
• Pick the 3 or so strongest points to discuss in
  paper and formulate thesis

18
Creating a good thesis

• Do not state the very general points or merely
  repeat what the question asks ex. of weak
  thesis Many factors created a stable (or
  unstable) administration during the Sultanate
  period in South Asia.
• Use specific and clear wording in your thesis
• Ex. The (specific elements) helped foster
  stability during the Sultanate period because. .
  . .
• Offer an argument or identify a causal factor
  (how or why something happens)

19
A good thesis Cont.

• A strong thesis can offer shades of complication,
  but to do it well, make sure you have a clearly
  worded sentences.
• Ex. some institutions can have mixed impacts,
  i.e. promote stability in some situations,
  instability in others (ex. Market reforms)
• Do not have one long, run on sentence that offers
  a list of factors, but does not explain their
  interconnections, or offer a strong argument

20
Organize Paper

• Structure your paper around your thesis, make
  sure you transition well from one point to
  another.
• For each point discussed, find specific evidence
  from the readings. Make sure you cite your
  evidence correctly. Without citations your paper
  will get an automatic F
• Each paragraph should add a little bit more to
  your argument/thesis. This is a short paperstay
  focused on your argument
• Make sure your conclusion wraps all your evidence
  together
• Proofread paper and CHECK CITATIONS before
  handing in the paper

21
Chicago Style

• You may use either endnotes or footnotes
• Please use the Insert menu, (select references)
  in MS word, instead of doing it manually, this
  will save you time and re-number notes as you add
  and delete sections in your draft.
• All bib. Information is in your syllabus.
• You do not need a bibliography.

22
Example of Chicago citation

• Ist mention of a text
• Joe Author, Title of book, (New York
  Publishing Co, 2003), 7. or
• Joe Author, Title of Essay, in (rest same as
  the 1st example from book), or
• Joe Author, Article Title, Journal Name, Issue
  no, date, 14.
• 2nd time and after Smith, 35.

23
For slides or Lecture notes

• Use my last name and date of the lecture.
• Slides on website are titled with the day they
  were used.
• Keep in mind
• Primary sources (such as Beruni) are best
• Secondary sources (such as Rizvi and other
  authors) are also good.
• Slides and lecture notes are the weakest form of
  evidence. Use them sparingly.

24
Research Proposal

• Step 1meet with me this week to explore
  bibliography and topic possibilities
• Finalize bibliography and title with me by end of
  week 3 (this can be done on email, but leave lots
  of time24hrs for my response)
• Start reading your strongest sources to
  formulates proposalskim others for now

25
Framing a proposal

• Dont offer a vague idea you have not thought
  through my paper is about the court poet Amir
  Khusrau and his life.
• Your proposal should explain what specific issue
  about your topic you will explore and why it is
  important I will examine the writings of Amir
  Khusrau (1253-1325) to understand how the Turkish
  emirs of the Delhi Sultanate assimilated facets
  of Indian culture into their traditions. This
  research will help explain in what ways Sultanate
  culture became rooted in South Asia, etc.
• Explain how your sources relate to your topic,
  their possible strengths and weaknesses.
• Create a strong bibliography that matches your
  proposal.