POLITY AND ECONOMY IN DECCAN AND SOUTH INDIA

The decline of the Bahmani power gave way to the rise of five kingdoms in the
Deccan (see Unit 28 of EH103). The death of Mahmud Gawan, an Afaqi noble,
virtually sealed the fate of the Bahmani power in the Deccan and, finally, the death
of Mahmud Shah ( 1482-  1518) of the Bahmani rule. The crucial factor in the decline was the longdrawn conflict between the Afaqis and the Deccanis. Both of these
factions were dissatisfied. For example, the Deccanis blamed the Sultan for showing
extra favour to the Afaqis while the Afaqis felt their position was no more secure
and stable.

The factors which contributed towards the establishment of the Deccah kingdoms
had starled emerging during the Bahmani rule itself. The Bahmani rule was on the
decline. It is important to note that the founders of all the Deccani kingdoms were at
we point of time Bahmani nobles who had served one or the other Bahmani ruler.
Yusuf Adil Sh'ah, the founder of the Adil Shahi dynasty at Bijapur (1489) was the
tanfd-r of Bijapur; Nizam Shah Bahri, the founder of the Nizam Shah kingdom at
Ahmednagar (14%) was incharge of a number of forts in the Sahyadri ranges; Qasim
Band ul Mamalik, founder of Band Shahi dynasty at Bidar (1504) sewed as kotml
of Bidar as well as wakil during Mahmud Shah's reign; Fathullah Imad Shah, the
founder of the Imad Shahi dynasty of Berar (1510) served as tanfdar of Berar; and
Quli Qutbulmulk, the founder of the Qutb Shahi dynasty at Golkonda (1543) held
the governorship of Telangana.

Out of the five states that emerged after the decline of the Bahmani kingdoms, the
founders of the three-Bijapur, Bidar and Golkonda-were Afaqi nobles.
Ahmednagar and Bemr were under the Deccani nobles. But the Afaqi-Deccani factor
hardly dominated their relationships. Instead, it was based more on what suited their
interest, circumstances and exigencies of the time. Accordingly, even an Afaqi state
could join hands with a Deccani power against another Afaqi and vice-versa.
The history of the 16th century Deccani states cannot be studied in isolation. Each
wanted to extend its dominion at the cost of the other. As a result, alliances and
counter-alliances were a regular feature.

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POLITY AND ECONOMY IN DECCAN AND SOUTH INDIA

POLITY AND ECONOMY IN NORTH INDIA

By the end of 15th century Bahlul Lodi firmly established theLodhi  dynasty at Delhi.
He succeeded in bringing large area of North India under his control. After his death,
his son Sikandar Lodi succeeded him to the throne.

Sikandar Lodi
In the sixteenth century the Lodi Empire, under Sulta'n Sikandar Lodi, in North
India reached its zenith. In 1496, Sultan Hudin Sharqi, the ex-ruler of Jaunpur was
driven away from south Bihar and the Rajput chieftains in alliance with him were
either forced into submission, or uprooted. Their zamindaris were brought under the
control of the Sultan or reduced to the status of vassal principalities. Likewise, the
power of those Afghan and non-Afghan nobles, reluctant to acquiescelo the Sultan's
authority, was eliminated in the area around Delhi. In the first decade of the
sixteenth century, the annexation of Dholpur paved'the way for the expansion of the
Afghan rule in the regions of Rajputana and Malwa. The forts of Narwar and
Chanderi were annexed while the Khanzada of Nagaur acknowledged the suzerainty
of the Lodi Sultan in 1510-1 I . In short, the whole of North India; from Punjab in
the north-west to Saran and Champaran in north Bihar in the east, and Chanderi to
the south of Delhi were brought under the Lodi rule.

Ibrahim Lodi
Unlike his father, Sultan lbrahim Lodi (1517-1526) had to face the hostility of the
Afghan nobility soon after his accession to the throne in 1517. He found himself
surrounded by powerful nobles bent upon weakening the centre.to gain an upper
hand for themselves. His father had to fight against his brother; and relatives and
was supported by the nobles who wanted to replace the princes in the resourceful
provinces. Upon the death of Sultan Sikandar, the nobles decided to divide the
Empire between Sultan lbrahim Lodi and his yolinger brother Prince Jalal Khan
Lodi, the governor of Kalpi.
Sultan lbrahim was forced by them to accept the division which naturally weakend
the centre. Some time later, some of the senior nobles, like Khan Khanan Nuhani,
who came from their provinces to do obeisance to the new Sultan, criticised the
supporters of division, calling their action detrimental to the Empire. They also
persuaded the Sultan to rescind the agreement. On their advice, Sultan lbrahim sent
high nobles to Prince Jalal Khan. Their mission was to persuade him to withdraw
his claim and acknowledge his elder brother as the Sultan. The efforts went in vain
and this created a succession crisis.

At this juncture Sultan lbrahim appeared more powerful than his rival .brother.
Hence, the old nobles rallied round him. However, there were few exceptions like
'Azam Humayun Sarwani, the governor of Kara and his son Fath Khan Sarwani.
They stood by Jalal Khan but for some time only. When Sultan lbrahim marched in
person, even these two deserted Jalal Khan and joined the-sultan.
The Sultan deputed Azam Humayun Sarwani against Raja Bikrarnajit of Gwaliar.
This was done so because Prince Jala! Khan had taken shelter there. From Gwaliar,
Jalal Khan fled towards Malwa but was captured by the Gonds and sent as prisoner
to the Sultan in Agra. However, his escape from Gwaliar made the Sultan suspicious
of the loyalty of the old nobles to him. Azam Humayun was recalled and thrown
into prison. The Raja of Gwalar surrendered to the nobles and agreed to join the
service of the Sultan. He was given the territory of Shamsabad (Farrukhabad
district) in iqta. It was about this time that the celebrated wazir Mian Bhua also lost
royal confidence and was put under arrest. The imprisonment of the old nobles
sparked off wide-spread rebellion in the eastern region.

The Sultan raised his favourites to key positions at the court and sent others to the
provinces as governors. As a result, the old nobles became apprehensive of their
future and began to build up their power in the provinces. Darya Khan Nuhani, a
powerful governor of Rihar, became a rallying point for the dissatisfied nobles in the
east. About the same time, Babur occupied the sarkar of Bhera and Paulat Khan
 Lodi, the supreme governor of the trans-Sultej Punjab, failed to liberate it. When
summoned\to the court, Daulat Khan did not come and revolted against the Sultan in Lahore.he
also invited the uncle of Sultan Ibrahim. 'Alam Khan Lodi  and declared him as the new Sultan under the title of Sultan .
Alauddin. Both formed an alliance with Babur. the ruler of Kabul, against Sultan
lbrahim Rana $angram Singh and Babur also seems to have reached to an
understanding against lbrahim Lodi.


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POLITY AND ECONOMY IN NORTH INDIA

POLITICAL FORMATIONS IN CENTRAL AND WEST ASIA.

GEOGRAPHICAL DELIMITATION OF TURAN
AND IRAN.

The inner Asian region called Turan acquired the name Mawaraunnahr (literally
meaning between the two rivers) from its Arab conquerors as the region was situated
between two rivers Syr and Amu. The above region was surrounded by Aral sea,
river Syr and Turkestan in the North; Iran, river Amu and Afghanistan in the South; Tiensban and Hindukush mountains in the East up to the Karokorum deserts, and
the Caspian sea in the West with its diverse geographical features (arid and semi-arid
lands, stepp&, deserts, mountains, valleys and oases). Thus, the region was a
chequer-board of varied patterns of life-style ranging from nomadism, pastoralism to
a settled mode of living. This region is also a land of inland drainage with enclosed
basins away from the sea and is isolated from Atlantic and Pacific circulations.
Apart from agriculture, cattle breeding was a popular profession. The region was
famous for its horses which were exported in large numbers to India. Samarqandi
paper, and fruits (both fresh and dry) were other items of export. The eastern ridges
of Elburz mountains separated Iranian plateau from Turkestan (Iran).

In terms of physical geography, Iran or Persia consists of extensive mountain ranges
extending from Asia Minor and Cacuasus to the plains of Punjab called Iranian
Plateau. A chain of mountains surrounds the sandy saline deserts of the central

plateau thus converting it into a closed basin.

Iran had four major divisions, namily:
the Zagros system comprising Khuzistan and small outer plains,
the northern highlands of Iran (i.e., Elburz and Talish system) and the Caspian
plain,
eastern and southeastern upland rim, and
the interior region.
In terms of economic life, considerable vahation is noticed such as pastoralism
(mainly in the higher regions), agricultural settlements (in low lying areas) and
nomadism (towards the West among Kurdish shepherds) all existing simultaneously.

The northern section of Zagros connected ancient east-west trade routes, and
the Iranian wool, leather, carpets and silk found commercial outlets from several

places.

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