Answer Writing Practice
Paper I: 16. The Fourteenth Century:

Question 7
Briefly discuss the impact of Mongol Invasions on Delhi Sultanate. [10 marks]

According to scholars like KA Nizami as well as Pater Hardy, Mongol invasion left a deep impact on polity of Delhi sultanate with larger consequences for society, economy and culture too.

▪️Initial sultans remained occupied with the Mongol question and couldn't undertake agressive imperial policy. Eg, Balban never left Delhi except for Bengal expedition.

▪️ Weak Centralisation: To consolidate the power, initial Delhi sultans didn't take any controlling measures against Muqtis, who started to enjoy wider provincial autonomy.

▪️Need for a strong standing army required huge resources. Thus, Alauddin Khilji took steps for land revenue reforms. (Increased land revenue to 50%, developed direct relation between the state and the peasantry). He also introduced the market control policy so that salary bill of the army comes down with the cheaper supply of essential commodities to soldiers.

▪️Cultural impact: A havoc caused by the Mongol invasions in Islamic world led to flocking of scholars, Sufi saints and adventurous people towards Delhi for a safe haven. Thus, Delhi emerged as a nerve center for Islamic cultural world.


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