Medieval History of India

Bhakthi Movement in North India

The ideas and activities that emerged in the medieval period based on devotion to God are generally called the Bhakti Movement. Bhakti Movement first grew as a popular movement in South India, later spread to North India. Historians point out that the main feature of the Bhakti Movement is the active presence of women in it. Kabir, Guru Nanak, Mirabai (Rajasthan), and Lal ded (Kashmir) are the prominent propagators of the Bhakti Movement in North India.

Results of the Bhakti Movement

◆ The idea of ​​social equality against caste discrimination was strengthened by the Bhakti Movement.

◆ The idea of ​​equality between men and women began to take shape.

◆ When Kabir and Lal ded, who were backward in caste, led the Bhakti Movement, the idea of ​​social equality gained popularity.

◆ Regional languages ​​developed.

◆ Unethical practices were questioned.

◆ Challenged orthodox Brahminical traditions.

◆ Represented women and the marginalized lower castes.

◆ Contributed to literature and music.

Kabir: In addition to being a poet in the Bhakti movement, he was also a social reformer who had a wide influence on the people. Kabir believed that God was the invisible form of Brahma. Concerned by the disastrous effects of the Chaturvarnya, Kabir exposed the primitive injustices that existed in the Hindu society through his poems. Although he could not obtain higher education, Kabir was able to formulate and spread ideas that were considered innovative at that time. He founded a new religion, which was acceptable to all people. The basic principles of new religion are human brotherhood and a sense of God's greatness. Ordinary people of different castes and religions became his followers. He traveled all over the country to spread his theories. He opposed giving up household life to take up monasticism.

Guru Nanak: He became proficient in Punjabi, Sanskrit, Hindi and Parsi at a very young age. He emphasized monotheism and tried to unify the principles of Hinduism and Islam. He was an advocate of religious tolerance and universal brotherhood. He opposed the external rituals of Hinduism and Islam, idolatry, pilgrimage, etc. He promoted the middle path of combining household duties with spiritual life. Guru Nanak's contribution to the prayer songs is known as Shabad. He advised his followers to prepare their meals from a common kitchen (langar). Nanak's ideas later paved the way for the origin of Sikhism.

Mirabai: Mirabai is one of the most well-known names in the North Indian Bhakti movement. Mira was a Rajput princess from the princely state of Merta in Marwar, Rajasthan. Mira was married to Bhojan, son of Rana Sanga of Chittor, Rajasthan. But Mira, who was not interested in married life, left the palace and traveled all over the country with music. Mirabai's devotional songs in praise of Krishna are known as 'bhajans'. Mirabai composed many bhajans addressing Krishna. Mirabai accepted a leatherworker, Rayidas, as her guru. It was a protest against the caste system. People called Mira 'Bhaktamira'.

Sultanate dynasties of Delhi

1. Slave Dynasty (1206-1290)

The Slave Dynasty was founded by Qutbuddin Aibak, a slave and later a confidant of Muhammad Ghori. The Slave Dynasty is also known by the names Mamluk, Ilbari, Yamini, and Ghulam. He was the first ruler of the Slave Dynasty with the title of 'Sultan' from 1206 to 1210 and is known as 'Lakbhaksh' (donor of lakhs). Although Muhammad Ghori laid the foundation of Muslim rule in India, the Slave Dynasty is considered to be the first Muslim dynasty in India. The construction of the famous Qutub Minar in Delhi was started by Qutbuddin Aibak. Its construction was completed during the reign of another king of the Slave Dynasty, Iltutmish. The most capable ruler of this dynasty was Balban. Balban, who adopted the policy of 'thief and iron', ruthlessly crushed his enemies. Kaikubad was the last ruler of the slave dynasty. Jalaluddin Khilji founded the Khilji dynasty by killing Balban's successor, Kaikubad.

2. Khilji Dynasty (1290-1320)

This dynasty was founded by Jalaluddin Khilji in 1290. The most famous king of this dynasty was Alauddin Khilji. He married Kamala Devi, the widow of the king of Gujarat. Alauddin Khilji was the first to introduce price control and market control in India. Alauddin Khilji's court poet was Amir Khusrau. The dynasty also collapsed when Mubarak Shah, the last king of the Khilji dynasty, was assassinated by Khusro Khan. The Khilji Sultans were of Turkish origin.

3. Tughlaq Dynasty (1320-1414)

This dynasty was founded by Ghiyasuddin (Gazi Malik) Tughlaq in 1320 after the assassination of Khusro Khan. The most famous of this dynasty was Muhammad bin Tughlaq. Another important ruler of this dynasty was Firoz Shah Tughlaq. He was the one who devised irrigation schemes for agricultural development and imposed a tax called 'Jaziya' on Hindus. After Firoz Shah, the dynasty weakened. In 1398, Timur invaded India during the reign of the last king of the Tughlaq dynasty, Muhammad bin II.

4. Sayyid Dynasty (1414-1451)

After the Tughlaq dynasty, the Sayyid dynasty ruled Delhi. This dynasty was founded by Kisar Khan.

5. Lodhi Dynasty (1451-1526)

In 1451, Bahlul Lodhi founded the Lodhi dynasty by defeating the last Sayyid king, Alauddin Alam Shah. Sikandar Lodhi was the most powerful of the Lodhi sultans. He founded Agra. The last king of the Lodhi dynasty, Ibrahim Lodhi, was defeated in the First Battle of Panipat at Panipat and Babur established the Mughal Empire, ending the Sultanate in India.

Panipat War

After the death of the great conqueror Timur, his grandson Babur successfully invaded northern India and established the Mughal dynasty in India. Babur marched from Central Asia into northern India, leading a force of hard-riding cavalry from Central Asia and Ottoman Turkish mercenaries. In 1525, he conquered the Punjab, then crossed the Indus River with 2,000 soldiers and reached Panipat, 53 miles north of Delhi. By this time, he had increased his army to 15,000.

He then faced an army of 30,000 to 40,000 men led by Ibrahim Lodi. Babur's strategy was defensive. He placed cannons brought by the Turks in the gaps between the lines of horse-drawn carts carrying the army's supplies. Lodi could see that Babur had secured a strong position. Lodi spent days making strategic moves to find ways through Babur's defenses. When this failed, he launched a direct attack on 20 April 1526.

The Afghans made several attempts to break through Babur's army. But each time they were defeated. The combined action of Babur's defenses and weapons completely surprised the Afghans. Babur then turned to the offensive. He surprised his opponents and achieved victory. About 15,000 Afghans, including Ibrahim Lodi, were killed. Babur continued his victorious march by capturing Delhi and Agra. Thus he founded the Mughal dynasty. This battle is known as the First Battle of Panipat.

Mughal Empire (AD 1526 – AD 1857)

The Mughal dynasty, which lasted from Babur to Bahadur Shah Zafar, ruled India for about three hundred years. The Mughal emperors were brave, cruel, and cunning. Some were great like Akbar!

Babur was a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan, who shook the Asian countries. While he was the ruler of Fergana, Lodi's uncle Alam Khan sought Babur's help to fight Ibrahim Lodi, the then Sultan of Delhi. Thus, Babur came to India. The First Battle of Panipat took place. Babur won that battle. Delhi and Agra came under Babur's control. That was the beginning of Mughal rule. Soon he conquered many neighboring countries and became the main ruler of North India. Agra became the capital of Babur.

Babur died in 1530. Babur's eldest son Humayun became the emperor. Although he was a cultured man, he was not a strong ruler. He often lost power and had to wander around as some of his relatives cheated for power. He fell down the stairs of the library and died.

Akbar was the son of Humayun. Akbar, the pride of the Mughal dynasty, is one of the most talented rulers the world has ever seen. Akbar took over the rule at the age of thirteen. Akbar became notable after defeating Hemu in the Second Battle of Panipat. Many kings bowed down to Akbar's military campaigns. The kings of Amber and Chittor surrendered. He conquered the kingdoms one by one. He was not only skilled in war but also in administration. A just ruler, he encouraged artists and scholars. This great ruler, who loved all religions equally, established the religion “Din Ilahi”.

Akbar’s third son, Salim, was a great archer. After Akbar, Salim became the emperor. He took the name Jahangir. The name means conqueror of the world. He was a good ruler, painter and music lover. Jahangir breathed his last seeing his sons fighting for power. After Jahangir, Shah Jahan defeated his brother Shahriyar in the struggle for the throne and became emperor. His real name was Khurram. Shah Jahan was a good ruler. But the death of his wife Mumtaz devastated Shah Jahan. The Taj Mahal is a monument built in Agra in memory of Mumtaz, and he breathed his last while imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb.

Shah Jahan's successor, Aurangzeb, was the last great Mughal emperor. Although he was a powerful ruler, he failed to win the love of his subjects. He expelled all the artists from the palace. None of the eleven emperors who succeeded Aurangzeb could strengthen the empire. Finally, the three and a half centuries of Mughal rule ended forever in the face of the unyielding British imperial power. After the Third Battle of Panipat, the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II became a pensioner of the English. Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled by the British for leading the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857.

Vijayanagara Empire

Hariharan and Bukhan founded the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336. Vidyaranya was their teacher. The most famous Vijayanagara ruler was Vana Krishnadevaraya. Krishnadevaraya had a council of ministers known as the 'Ashtadiggajam'. Tenali Raman was also his audience. Domingos Pius was a Portuguese traveler who visited Vijayanagara during the reign of Krishnadevaraya. Vijayanagara was built on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. The ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire are located in Hampi, Karnataka. Krishnadevaraya was called 'Abhinavabhojan'. 'Amukta Malyata' is his work. 'Varaham' is a gold coin issued by the rulers of Vijayanagara. The Battle of Talikota, which took place between Vijayanagara and a joint Muslim army in 1565, marked the end of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Maratha Empire (AD 1674 –AD 1818)

Shivaji was the founder of the Maratha Empire. He was noted as a protector of Hinduism and an excellent administrator. Shivaji was able to unite the scattered Marathas and build a strong Hindu state. Shivaji, who was installed as Chhatrapati at Raigad in 1674, established a good system of administration. There was an advisory council called 'Ashtapradhan' to advise and assist Shivaji in administrative matters. Balaji Vishwanath was the first Peshwa (Prime Minister) of the Maratha Empire. The Third Battle of Panipat, which took place in 1761, when Balaji Bajirao was the Peshwa, destroyed the Maratha Empire.