III. The Postclassical Period, 500–1500 > C. South and Southeast Asia, 500–1500 > 3. South Asia, 1000–1500 > a. North India and Deccan > 1337–38
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  The Encyclopedia of World History.  2001.
 
 
1337–38
 
An army of 100,000 horses, sent through Kangra into the Himalaya to conquer Tibet and China, was destroyed by rains, disease, and hill men; and with it, the resources needed to avert the loss of Bengal (1338) to the house of Balban, independent until 1539. Muslim architects used at Gaur, its capital, local brick and terra cotta to build the bold Dakhil Gateway (1459–74?).  1
 
1340
 
Tughluk sought recognition (received 1344) from the caliph in Egypt. He vainly tried to restore prosperity by redistricting and by appointing undertakers to supervise fixed crop rotation and to maintain a mounted militia.  2
 
1344–45
 
Increased penal severity culminated when Tughluk began wholesale extermination of his centurions, revenue collectors who usually failed to meet his quotas. Rebellion begun by them in Gujarat led to permanent loss of the whole south.  3
 
1346–1589
 
Shah Mirza (1346–49) founded a Muslim dynasty in Kashmir. He substituted the usual land tax of one-sixth for the extortionate rates of southern kings.  4
 
1347–1527
 
The Bahmani dynasty, founded by rebels against Muhammad Tughluk, who elected Bahman Shah (1347–48), at first ruled four provinces: Gulbarga, Daulatabad, Berar, and Bidar. The capital at Gulbarga and many other fortresses were built or strengthened with European science, to serve against Gujarat, Malwa, and Khandesh in the northwest, the Gonds, Orissa, and Telingana in the northeast; and Vijayanagar in the south.  5
 
1351–88
 
Firuz Tughluk (b. 1305) restored rational administration. He exacted tribute from Orissa (1360), Kangra (1361), and Sind (1363). He refused to disturb the Bahmani kingdom of the Deccan, its tributary Warangal, or the rebels from it, the khans of Khandesh between the Tapti and Narbada (independent 1382). He built several towns, notably Jaunpur north of Benares (1359), and many mosques, palaces, hospitals, baths, tanks, canals, and bridges—but with cheap materials and little artistic quality. His successors were too weak to prevent further dissolution of the empire.  6
 
1358–75
 
The Bahmani Muhammad I gave lasting organization to the government of the new dynasty.  7
 
1363–64
 
Warangal was forced to cede Golconda, with much treasure.  8
 
1367
 
Victory of the Bahmani over immense but ineffectual armies of neighboring Vijayanagar. It was the first of several successes and was won with artillery served by Europeans and Ottoman Turks. The subsequent massacre of 400,000 Deccani Indians led to agreement to spare noncombatants. The Great Mosque at Gulbarga was completely roofed with domes.  9
 
1392–1531
 
Malwa (formally independent in 1401) was ruled by the Ghuris and the Khaljis (1436). Hushang Shah (1405–35) fortified the capital at Mandu above the Narbada, and erected there the durbar hall Hindola Mahall, together with a great mosque. These buildings are impressive through structural design rather than surface ornament.  10
 
1394–1479
 
Jaunpur, with Awadh, became independent under the Sharki (eastern) dynasty, founded by the eunuch Malik Sarvar and his adopted sons, probably of black African descent. The second ruler, Ibrahim Shah (1402–36), was a cultured and liberal patron of learning.  11
 
1396–1572
 
Gujarat prospered under a Rajput dynasty that embraced Islam.  12
 
 
 
The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth edition. Peter N. Stearns, general editor. Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Maps by Mary Reilly, copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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