The Delhi Sultanate

🎯 Learning Objective

Learn the order of the five dynasties and their key rulers, reforms and monuments.

💡 Concept

• The Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526) was ruled in turn by five dynasties: Slave, Khilji, Tughlaq, Sayyid and Lodi.
• The Slave (Mamluk) dynasty was founded by Qutb-ud-din Aibak in 1206; it also gave Delhi its first and only woman ruler, Razia Sultan.
• The Qutub Minar was begun by Qutb-ud-din Aibak and completed by Iltutmish; it is in Delhi and is the tallest brick minaret in the world.
• Alauddin Khilji (Khilji dynasty) is famous for his market/price-control reforms and for the conquests of the south by his general Malik Kafur.
• Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq attempted two famous experiments: shifting the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad, and introducing a token (copper) currency — both failed.
• Firoz Shah Tughlaq is remembered for building canals and the cities of Firozabad, Hisar and Jaunpur.
• The Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta visited India during Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq's reign and wrote the 'Rihla'.
• The Lodi dynasty was the last; Ibrahim Lodi was defeated by Babur at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, ending the Sultanate.

✏️ Easy Example

Q. Which ruler started the construction of the Qutub Minar in Delhi?

1. It was begun by the founder of the Slave dynasty
2. That ruler was Qutb-ud-din Aibak; Iltutmish completed it

Answer: Qutb-ud-din Aibak

🇮🇳 Real-Life Example

The order of the five dynasties is a guaranteed question. And every tourist to Delhi's Qutub Minar should know Aibak began it and Iltutmish finished it — a classic exam and general-knowledge fact.

📝 Exam-Level Example

Q. Who was the first woman ruler of the Delhi Sultanate?

1. She belonged to the Slave (Mamluk) dynasty
2. She was Razia Sultan, daughter of Iltutmish

Answer: Razia Sultan

📝 Exam-Level Example

Q. Which Sultan shifted his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad?

1. This was one of two famous failed experiments
2. It was done by Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq

Answer: Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq

🪄 Memory Trick

Order of the five dynasties — 'SKTSL': Slave, Khilji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, Lodi.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

• ❌ Getting the dynasty order wrong — remember Sayyid comes before Lodi.
• ❌ Crediting the whole Qutub Minar to one ruler — Aibak began it, Iltutmish completed it.

🏆 Exam Tips

• ✅ Tie each dynasty to one signature fact: Slave–Qutub Minar, Khilji–market reforms, Tughlaq–capital shift.
• ✅ Ibn Battuta (Tughlaq era) is the traveller most often paired with the Sultanate.

📌 Summary

• Delhi Sultanate 1206–1526, five dynasties in order 'SKTSL'
• Qutub Minar: begun by Aibak, completed by Iltutmish
• Alauddin Khilji = market/price-control reforms
• Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq = capital shift + token currency (both failed)