Medieval Indian History

Notes:
The Bahamani Sultanate broke up into five states, The Nizam Shahis of Ahmadnagar, The Adil Shahis of Bijapur, The Qutb Shahis of Golconda, The Imad Shahis of Berar, The Barid Shahis of Bidar. The Adil Shahis remained in power from 1489-1686 CE

Notes:
Yusuf Adil Shah declared independence in 1489 CE, founding the Adil Shahi Sultanate. A former Georgian slave in the Bahmani Sultanate, he transformed Bijapur into a cultural hub, introduced Persianate culture, and patronized the arts, including the Jami Masjid. His reign included administrative reforms and trade promotion, fostering Bijapur’s prosperity.

Notes:
Ismail Adil Shah, son of Yusuf Adil Khan, became ruler in 1510 CE. Yusuf, founder of the Adil Shahi dynasty, fortified Bijapur using Persian architects and Indo-Islamic styles. He promoted cultural integration and built massive walls and bastions, vital in conflicts with the Vijayanagara Empire and Mughals, establishing Bijapur as a center of art and culture.

Notes:
Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk established the Qutb Shahi lineage in 1518 CE. Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk enjoyed a long and prosperous reign which lasted for 35 years from 1518 to 43 CE.

Notes:
Turkish rule in northern India (13th century) brought Sufis from Persia, Afghanistan, and Central Asia, notably the Chishti and Suhrawardi orders. Key figures included Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti and Sheikh Baha-ud-din Zakariya. The Naqshbandi order emphasized silent dhikr, while the Qadiri order adapted to local cultures, shaping medieval India’s spiritual and cultural landscape.

Notes:
Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti, a Persian Muslim mystic, founded the Chishti Order in India after settling in Ajmer around 1206 CE. His shrine became a major pilgrimage site, visited 14 times by Emperor Akbar. The Order emphasized love and tolerance, with saints like Nizamuddin Auliya promoting music and poetry as spiritual practices.

Notes:
The Battle of Ghagra, fought in 1529 A.D. near Bihar, was between Babur and Mahmud Lodhi. It marked the end of Babur’s conquest of India and was one of the first battles in India to effectively use gunpowder and artillery. Babur’s victory established Mughal control over northern India and signaled the decline of Afghan power.

Notes:
The Mughal mansabdar Raja Man Singh brought the whole of Orissa, Cooch Bihar, and parts of east Bengal, including Dacca, under the Mughal rule in 1592 A.D. The foster brother of Akbar, Mirza Aziz Koka, conquered Kathiawar in the west.

Notes:
Many officers  were appointed at the provincial level in teh administartion of Akbar such as Darogai-i- Dak was responsible for maintaining the communication channel. He usually used to pass on letters to the court through the Merwars or postal runners.

Notes:
The British visited Machlipatnam during Mughal emperor Jahangir’s reign. Captain William Hawkins arrived in 1608 for trade privileges and received a farman. Sir Thomas Roe, the English ambassador, visited from 1615 to 1619, securing more trade rights. Machlipatnam was a key port for textile trade, especially kalamkari. The British East India Company established a factory there in 1611.