Satish Chandra’s History of Medieval India is a comprehensive overview of the history of the Indian subcontinent between the eighth and eighteenth century. It focuses on:
For the first time, this reprint is accompanied by the free Orient BlackSwan Smart App. This app allows students to:
Satish Chandra was Chairman, University Grants Commission, and Professor, Medieval Indian History, and Dean, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University. He was also Chairman of the Twelve-volume Comprehensive History of Indian Scheme of the Indian History Congress, implemented by the Comprehensive History of India Society, and Vice-Chairman of the Society for Indian Ocean Studies.
List of Maps Preface
1. India and the World Europe • The Arab World • Africa
2. Northern India: Age of the Three Empires (800–1000) The Struggle for Domination in North India: The Palas • The Pratiharas • The Rashtrakutas • Political Ideas and Organisation
3. South India: The Chola Empire (900–1200) The Rise of the Chola Empire • Age of Rajaraja and Rajendra I • Chola Government—Local Self Government • Cultural Life
4. Economic and Social Life, Education and Religious Beliefs (800–1200) Trade and Commerce • Nature of Society • The Caste System • Condition of Women • Dress, Food and Amusements • Education, Science and Religious Learning • Religious Movements and Beliefs
5. The Age of Conflict (Circa 1000–1200) The Ghaznavids • The Rajput States • The Turkish Conquest of North India • The Battle of Tarain • Turkish Conquest of the Ganga Valley • Causes of the Defeat of the Rajputs
6. The Delhi Sultanat—I (Circa 1200–1300) The Mameluk Sultans (Thirteenth Century) • Struggle for the Establishment of a Strong Monarchy • Iltutmish (1210–36) • Raziya • Era of Balban (1246–87) • The Mongols and the Problem of the Northwest Frontier • Internal Rebellions and the Struggle for Territorial Consolidation of the Delhi Sultanat
7. The Delhi Sultanat—II (Circa 1300–1400) The Khaljis and the Tughlaqs • The Khaljis (1290–1320) • The Tughlaqs (1320–1412) • Expansion of the Delhi Sultanat • Internal Reforms and Experiments • Muhammad Tughlaq’s Experiments • Decline arid Disintergration of the Delhi Sultanat: Firuz and his Successors
8. Government, and Economic and Social Life under the Delhi Sultanat The Sultan • Central Administration • Local Administration • Economic and Social Life • Peasants and Rural Gentry • Trade, Industry and the Merchants • The Sultan and the Nobles • Town Life: Slaves, Artisans and Others • Caste, Social Manners and Customs • Nature of the State • Religious Freedom under the Sultanat
9. The Age of Vijayanagara and the Bahmanids and the Coming of the Portuguese (Circa 1350–1565) The Vijayanagara Empire—Its Foundation and Conflict with the Bahmani Kingdom • The Bahmani Kingdom— Its Expansion and Disintegration • Mahmud Gawan • Climax of the Vijayanagara Empire and its Disintegration • The Advent of the Portuguese
10. Struggle for Empire in North India—I (Circa 1400–1525) Eastern India—Bengal, Assam and Orissa • Western India—Gujarat • Mahmud Begarha • Malwa, Mewar • Northwest and North India—The Sharqis, the Lodi Sultans • Kashmir
11. Cultural Development in India (1200–1500) Architecture • Religious Ideas and Beliefs • The Sufi Movement • The Chishti and Suharwardi Silsilahs • The Bhakti Movement. The Vaishnavite Movement • Literature and Fine Arts
12. Struggle for Empire in North India—II Mughals and Afghans (1525–1555) Central Asia and Babur • Conquest of India • The Battle of Panipat (20 April 1526) • The Battle of Khanwa • The Afghans • Significance of Babur’s Advent into India • Humayun’s Conquest of Gujarat and his Tussle with Sher Shah • Sher Shah and the Sur Empire (1540–55) • Contribution of Sher Shah
13. Consolidation of the Mughal Empire Age of Akbar Early Phase—Contest with the Nobility (1556–67) • Early Expansion of the Empire (1560–76) • Administration • Mansabdari System and the Army • Organization of Government • Relations with the Rajputs • Rebellions and Further Expansion of the Mughal Empire • Towards Integration: State, Religion and Social Reforms
14. The Deccan and South India (Up to 1656) Mughal Advance Towards the Deccan • Conquest of Berar, Ahmadnagar and Khandesh • Rise of Malik Ambar and Frustration of Mughal Attempt at Consolidation • Extinction of Ahmadnagar, and Acceptance of Mughal Suzerainty by Bijapur and Golconda • Cultural Contribution of the Deccan States
15. India in the First Half of the Seventeenth Century Political and Administrative Developments in India • Jahangir • Nur Jahan • Shah Jahan’s Rebellion • Mahabat Khan • Foreign Policy of the Mughals—Shah Jahan’s Balkh Campaign • Mughal-Persian Relations—the Last Phase • Growth of Administration: Mansabdari System and the Mughal Army • The Mughal Army
16. Economic and Social Life under the Mughals Economic and Social Conditions • Standard of Living Pattern of Village Life and the Masses • The Ruling Classes: The Nobles and Zamindars • Zamindars and the Rural Gentry • The Middle Strata • Organization of Trade and Commerce • Foreign Trade and the European Traders
17. Cultural and Religious Developments Architecture. Painting • Language, Literature and Music • Music • Religious Ideas and Beliefs, and Problems of Integration
18. Climax and Disintegration of the Mughal Empire—I Problems of Succession. Aurangzeb’s Reign—His Religious Policy. Political Developments—North India • Northeast and East India • Popular Revolts and Movements for Regional Independence: Jats, Afghans and Sikhs • Relations with the Rajputs—Breach with Marwar and Mewar
19. Climax and Disintegration of the Mughal Empire—II The Rise of the Marathas • Early Career of Shivaji • Treaty of Purandar and Shivaji’s Visit to Agra • Final Breach with Shivaji—Shivaji’s Administration and Achievements • Aurangzeb and the Deccani States (1658–87) • The First Phase (1658–68) • The Second Phase (1668–84) • The Third Phase (1684–87) • Aurangzeb, the Marathas and the Deccan—the Last Phase (1687–1707). Decline of the Mughal Empire—Responsibility of Aurangzeb
20. Assessment and Review
Appendix Books for Further Reading Index