Question

Prepare a table of all the important Muslim rulers discussed in "The Turkish invasion and the establishment of the delhi sultanate" chapter. Write their contribution to India.

Answer 1

Ruler	Period (in chapter)	Contribution / Impact on India
Mahmud of Ghazni	Raids c. AD 1001–1027 (as given in the chapter)	Invaded northern India repeatedly (17 raids), looted wealth of temple towns (notably the Somnath temple), significantly weakened some temple-centred polities and carried vast wealth to Ghazni, an important early phase in Turkic incursions into India.
Muhammad Ghori (Shihab‑ud‑Din)	Late 12th century; defeated Prithviraj Chauhan (Second Battle of Tarain, AD 1192), died AD 1206	Defeated the Rajput ruler at the Second Battle of Tarain (1192), which opened the way for sustained Muslim rule in North India; appointed Turkish slaves (e.g., Qutb‑ud‑din Aibak, Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji) as his viceroys, laying the foundation for Muslim polities that followed.
Qutb‑ud‑din Aibak	Took over after Ghori’s death (AD 1206); ruled till AD 1210	Established the Mamluk/Slave dynasty in India; built mosques in Delhi and Ajmer; began construction of the Qutb Minar; consolidated Ghori’s Indian territories under local Sultanate rule.
Iltutmish	Early 13th century (succeeded after Aram Shah; consolidated the Sultanate, chapter)	Consolidated and expanded the Slave dynasty: suppressed internal revolts, subdued Punjab and Multan, crushed the Bengal governor’s revolt, annexed regions (Ujjain, Malwa, Gwalior), obtained recognition from the Caliph of Baghdad (giving legitimacy), issued gold/silver coins, and brought stability and prestige to the Delhi Sultanate.
Razia Sultan	Mid‑13th century (daughter of Iltutmish, chapter)	One of the few woman rulers mentioned: she was a capable and just ruler who attempted to govern directly but faced strong opposition from the Turkish nobles (“the Forty”); her reign highlighted both the possibilities and limits for women rulers in that period.
Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji	Late 12th/early 13th century (as mentioned in the chapter)	A slave‑commander under Ghori who became viceroy of Bengal and neighbouring territories, an example of how Ghori’s slaves established autonomous rule in parts of eastern India.
Ghiyasuddin Balban	Ruled till AD 1287 (chapter)	Strong administrator and military ruler of the Slave dynasty’s later phase: introduced administrative reforms, improved roads and communication, maintained an intelligence/spy system to check revolts, repelled Mongol threats, and provided stability and prosperity in the Sultanate.