Delhi Sultanate

Key Concepts

• Delhi Sultanate: A series of dynasties (Mamluk, Khilji, Tughlaq, Lodi, Sayyed, and Mughal) ruling from Delhi, expanding across northern India and, briefly, the entire subcontinent.
• Timurid Influence: The impact of Timur's empire and artistic style on the Sultanates, particularly in architecture, geometry, and the arts.
• Water Management: The introduction of advanced water systems (Persian wheels, Qanats, reservoirs) enabling the establishment of cities in strategic locations, independent of perennial rivers.
• Regional Sultanates: Independent kingdoms that emerged after the weakening of the Tughlaq rule, each developing distinct architectural and cultural identities.
• Geometric Principles: The application of geometric principles and modular systems to unify various art forms, from architecture to manuscript illumination.

Delhi Sultanate: Origins and Expansion

The Delhi Sultanate began with a slave commander of the Ghurid Sultan being appointed to establish a base in India. The Mamluk dynasty, a succession of sultans, constructed significant monuments like the Qutub Minar and Alai Darwaza. The architecture was heavily influenced by Afghanistan, with the Minaret of Jam serving as inspiration for the Qutub Minar. The Qutub Minar was a victory tower, not a mosque minaret, and its construction involved local artisans, blending local temple ornamentation with Arabic calligraphy.

The Delhi Sultanate was later ruled by the Khiljis, Tughlaqs, Lodis, Sayyeds, and Mughals. Under the Khiljis and Tughlaqs, the Sultanate expanded across the Indian subcontinent. However, the Tughlaq rule weakened, leading to the fragmentation of the country into smaller Sultanates. Mohammed Bin Tughlaq's ambitious program to unify India, including shifting the capital to Daulatabad, failed, leading to regional governors declaring independence.

Timurid Impact

Timur's invasion of India in the 1390s, though limited to the Delhi Sultanate, had a significant impact on the smaller Sultanates. Timur took artisans to his capital, Samarkand, influencing architectural styles. The Mughals claimed direct descent from Timur, identifying as Timurids. Timurid architecture, characterized by grand squares, large portals (ivans), surface decoration, and bulbous domes, influenced Sultanate architecture in India. The Registan square in Samarkand served as a model for the Bahamani kingdom's palace in Bidar.

Timur's greatest achievement was unifying various art forms (manuscript making, painting, architecture, tile work) through modular systems and geometry. The Topkapi scroll, a workman's scroll, demonstrates the application of geometrical principles across different scales, from leather bindings to palace walls. This geometry involved simple techniques applicable across a range of arts, from book covers to miniature paintings.

Geometric Principles and Islamic Renaissance

Geometry played a significant role in the Islamic renaissance of the 10th and 11th centuries. Geometricians developed techniques for creating patterns, tessellations, and mirroring effects to embellish buildings. Simple shapes like squares were rotated and connected to create decorative motifs. Graph paper, common in the Islamic world from the 10th century, facilitated the understanding of scale, proportion, grids, and symmetry.

Water Management Systems

The Sultanates introduced advanced water systems, enabling the construction of cities in previously uninhabitable locations. Unlike Indus Valley Civilization cities that dealt with excess water or Indian cities along riverbanks, the Sultanates built dams and cisterns to store water. They introduced the Persian wheel to harvest water and Qanats, horizontal tunnels tapping into higher water tables, to supply water to distant areas.

Examples include the Hauz Khas in Delhi, the fort of Kalyani in Karnataka, and the Hauz-e-Qutub (Kankaria lake) in Gujarat. These systems involved underground pipes, siphon towers, and settling towers to equalize pressure and remove sedimentation. This technology allowed cities like Bidar, Ahmednagar, and Ahmedabad to be built for strategic reasons, independent of perennial rivers.

Sultanate Legacy and Regional Variations

The Sultanates' legacy includes advanced water management, geometric principles in art and architecture, and the aspiration to emulate Timurid ideals. The regional Sultanates developed distinct architectural idioms and languages, diverging from the widespread Delhi Sultanate style. The Marathas, with their capital at Pune, adopted the Sultanate system of water conveyance, demonstrating its lasting impact.

The early Sultanate in Delhi controlled the gateway to the Gangetic plain and built capitals around Mehrauli and Tuglaqabad. The success of the Sultans continued through the Khiljis and Tughlaqs, who expanded their domains across India. However, these regions eventually rebelled, creating independent kingdoms with their own architectural styles. The aspiration to be like Timur, combined with geometric understanding, water technologies, and regional sensibilities, shaped the unique character of the regional Sultanates.