| |
| 1290–1320 |
| |
| The Khalji dynasty of Delhi was founded by Firuz of the Khalji tribe of Turks, long resident among the Afghans. He is known for releasing in Bengal 1000 Thugs (robber-murderers in honor of Siva's consort Kali) captured in Delhi. | 1 |
| |
| 1296–1316 |
| |
| Ala-ud-din, Firuz's nephew and murderer, bought allegiance with booty secured by a surprise attack on Devagiri in Maharashtra (1294–95). He consolidated the empire. | 2 |
| |
| 1297 |
| |
| Ala-ud-din conquered and despoiled Gujarat with its rich port, Cambay. Frequent revolts prompted a program of repression that included espionage; confiscation of wealth (especially of Hindus), endowments, and tax-exempt lands; and prohibition of liquor and all social gatherings. | 3 |
| |
| 1303 |
| |
| Mongol invasions (1299 and 1303) led to decrees that, by fixing low prices for all products, permitted reduction of army pay and increase of military strength to nearly 500,000 cavalry. Mongol armies were destroyed (1304 and 1306). | 4 |
| |
| 1305–1313 |
| |
| Expeditions, usually led by a eunuch, Kafur, entitled Malik Naib, effected the conquest of Malwa (1305) and the Deccan: Devagiri (1306–7, annexed 1313), Warangal (1308), the Hoysala capital at Dvarasamudra and that of the Pandyas at Madura (1310–11), and the central Deccan (1313), with enormous treasure. | 5 |
| The Alai Darwaza (1311), southern gateway of a proposed vast enlargement of Aibak's mosque, represents the finest ornamental architecture of the early Delhi Sultanate, fortunately continued in Gujarat. Amir Khusrav (1253–1325), the greatest Indian poet to write in Persian, was the son of a Turk who had fled before Chinggis Khan to Patiala. He was prolific as court poet to Ala-ud-din and later in religious retirement. Another excellent Persian poet of Delhi was Hasan-i-Dihlavi, who died at Daulatabad (1338). | 6 |
| |
| 1320–1413 |
| |
| The Tughluk dynasty was founded by the old but vigorous Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluk (d. 1325), a pure Turk who boasted 29 victories over the Mongols. He reduced to provincial status Warangal (1323) and eastern Bengal (1324). He encouraged agriculture, corrected abuses in tax collection, and perfected a postal system in which runners covered 200 miles a day. At Multan he erected a splendid octagonal tomb of Persian character for the saint Rukn-i-Alam. Increasing austerity marked the architecture of his house. | 7 |
| |
| 1325–51 |
| |
| Muhammad Tughluk hastened to the throne by deliberate parricide. A military genius, his administrative measures were warped and defeated by his own lack of wisdom, inordinate pride, inflexibility, and ferocious cruelty. | 8 |
| |
| 1327 |
| |
| Revolt of a cousin in the Deccan (1326) led to transfer of the capital to Devagiri, renamed Daulatabad. It was handsomely rebuilt with European feudal fortifications around an impregnable rock citadel. | 9 |
| |
| 1329 |
| |
| All remaining citizens of Delhi were forced to move to Daulatabad as a punitive measure. Tughluk raised taxes so high in the Doab as to force rebellion, and then destroyed both fields and cultivators. | 10 |
| |
| 1330 |
| |
| Circulation of copper fiat money equivalent to the silver tanga of 140 grains failed because of easy counterfeiting. | 11 |
| |
| 1334 |
| |
| Ibn Battuta, a Moorish traveler, was welcomed with fantastic gifts, as were other foreigners who might help in world conquest. He left on a mission to China (1342). | 12 |
| |
| 1334–78 |
| |
| Madura revolted under a Muslim dynasty, ended by Vijayanagar. | 13 |
| |
| |
