Question

Which of the following rulers belonged to the slave dynasty ?
A.Iltutmish
B.Humayun
C.Akbar
D.Ahmad Shah Abdali

Answer 1

Hint: Slave dynasty is also called as Mamluk dynasty or Gulham dynasty established by Qutub-ud-din aibak in northern India. He made Lahore as his capital by holding Delhi as an administrative unit.

Complete step by step answer: The Slave dynasty was established by Qutub ud din aibak in 1206. It was one of the five dynasties which ruled over Delhi in the period of Delhi sultanate. Ten sultans from 1206 to 1290 ruled over northern India. They set up administrative machinery for the kingdom and carried civil & military reforms which helped them to control around 80 years.

Development in architecture in the slave dynasty can be seen through mosques, gardens, monasteries, dargahs, reservoirs and minarets. Qutub ud-din aibak, the first ruler of slave dynasty initiated the construction of Delhi's earliest muslim mosque Quwwat ul Islam mosque and the world’s tallest brick minaret Qutub Minar which was later completed by Iltutmish. Iltutmish was the third Mamluk king and was considered as the effective founder of the Delhi Sultanate. He expanded his empire towards central India and captured Gwalior further raided Bhilsa and Ujjain. He introduced the silver tanka and the copper jital (coins) and set up the Iqtadari system. In defending his empire he went against Mongol invaders and Rajputs. His work in the slave dynasty was praised by many scholars and historians.
Under this dynasty, an unusual thing came into being when Razia sultan, the first Muslim woman who ruled over delhi. She managed to keep the unit after his brother by running the administration justly. Then many sultans came and finally in 1290 after the death of Muiz -ud din Muhammad qaiqabad the slave dynasty declined and rise of khaljis began.

Looking at the options given:

Option A. Sultan Shams- ud din Iltutmish was the third sultan of the slave dynasty. This is the correct answer.

Option B. and C. Both Humayun and Akbar were from Mughal dynasty. Both are incorrect.

Option D. Ahmad Shah Abdali is also known as Ahmad Shah Durrani was the founder of the Durrani Empire. This is an incorrect option.

Note: Iltutmish’s full name was Shams al- Din Iltutmish. He added three more storeys in Qutub Minar in 1220. In his reign, Delhi emerged as the centre of Islamic power and culture as he patronized many scholars and historians including Minhaj-i-Siraj.