📜 Medieval India – UPSC Notes Index
Welcome to your one-stop guide for Medieval Indian History for UPSC preparation. This index is carefully structured to help aspirants find topics easily — covering everything from early medieval kingdoms, the Delhi Sultanate, to the Mughals and Bhakti-Sufi movements. Dive in and explore India's rich historical landscape with simplified, well-organized notes.
1. EARLY MEDIEVAL PERIOD
Dynasties of the North
Dynasties of East and North-East
Assam
Varmans and Senas (East Bengal)
Kalinga (Orissa)
Dynasties of the Deccan and South India
Chalukyas of Kalyani (10th–12th century AD)
Yadavas of Devagiri
Kakatiyas (950–1323 AD)
Chola Empire (later half of 9th–13th century)
Hoysalas (10th–14th Centuries)
Later Pandyas
Advent of Islam in India
Ghaznavids in India
Ghurids in India
2. DELHI SULTANATE
Introduction
Slave or Mamluk Dynasty (1206–1290 AD)
Qutub-ud-din Aibak (1206–1210 AD)
Shams-ud-din Iltutmish (1210–1236 AD)
Razia Sultan (1236–1240 AD)
Balban (1266–1287 AD)
Khalji Dynasty (1290–1320 AD)
Jalaluddin Khalji (1290–1296 AD)
Alauddin Khalji (1296–1316 AD)
Tughlaq Dynasty (1320–1413 AD)
Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (1320–1325 AD)
Mohammad Bin Tughlaq (1325–1351 AD)
Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351–1388 AD)
Sayyid Dynasty (1414–1451 AD)
Lodi Dynasty (1451–1526 AD)
Bahlul Lodi (1451–1489 AD)
Sikandar Lodi (1489–1517 AD)
Ibrahim Lodi (1517–1526 AD)
Life in Delhi Sultanate
3. BAHAMANI AND VIJAYANAGAR EMPIRE
Introduction
Rise of the New Kingdoms
Bahmani Kingdom (1347–1527 AD)
Rulers and Their Contributions
Vijayanagar Empire (1336–1650 AD)
Sources to Study Vijayanagar Empire
Account of Foreign Visitors
Origin and Expansion
Vijayanagar–Bahmani Conflict
Important Rulers and Their Contributions
Administration of Vijayanagar Empire
Nayaka System
Society
Economy
Architecture of Hampi/Vijayanagar
4. MUGHAL EMPIRE
Babur (1526–1530 AD)
Introduction
Major conquests in India
Military and Warfare
Architecture
Literature
Religious views
Humayun (1530–1540 & 1555–1556 AD)
Introduction
Major conquests in India
Humayun on exile (1540–1555)
Humayun’s Rule in India
Sher Shah Suri (Sur Empire) (1540–1555 AD)
Introduction
Conquests
Administration
Trade
Akbar (1556–1605 AD)
Introduction
Major conquests in India
Central Administration
Provincial administration
Land revenue system
Methods of Assessment used during Akbar’s Reign
Mansabdari system
Rajput Policy
Architecture
Religious views
Literature
Paintings
Jahangir (1605–1627 AD)
Introduction
Military Campaigns/Conquests
Administration
Architecture
Literature
Religious views
Shah Jahan (1628–1658 AD)
Introduction
Major events/battles in India
Administration
Religious Policy
Architecture
Literature
Aurangzeb (1679–1707 AD)
Introduction
Major events/battles
Religious views
Nobles
Relation with East India Company
Architecture
Art and Literature
Later Mughals
Bahadur Shah I (1707–1712 AD)
Jahandar Shah (1712–1713 AD)
Farruk Siyar (1713–1719 AD)
Muhammad Shah (Rangeela) (1719–1748 AD)
Alamgir II (1754–1759 AD)
Shah Alam II (1759–1806 AD)
Akbar II (1806–1837 AD)
Bahadur Shah II (1837–1857 AD)
Reasons for the decline of Mughals
5. THE MARATHAS
Introduction
Shivaji (1627–1680 AD)
Introduction
Military Conquests
Confrontation Against Bijapur
Shivaji and the Mughals
Coronation and Deccan Campaigns
Last Days of Shivaji
Shahu’s Reign (1707–1749 AD) and Peshwa’s Rise
Maratha Administration
Central Government
Other Points Related to their Functioning
Provincial Government
Revenue Administration
Military Organisation
Judicial System
Rule of the Peshwas (1713–1818 AD)
Balaji Viswanath (1713–1720 AD)
Baji Rao I (1720–1740 AD)
Expeditions/Conquests
Balaji Baji Rao (1740–1761)
Third Battle of Panipat (1761)
Background
Course of War
The Anglo-Maratha Wars
Outcome of the Third Anglo-Maratha War
Maratha Administration under Peshwas (1714–1818 AD)
6. BHAKTI AND SUFI TRADITIONS
Bhakti Movement
Sources to Study the Bhakti Movement
Causes for the Birth of Bhakti Movement
Main Features of the Bhakti Movement
Early Proponents
Attitude towards Caste
Literature
Women Devotees
Mixing of Little and Great Traditions
VEERASHAIVA/LINGAYAT Tradition
Tantrism
Religious Ferment in North India
Proponents of Bhakti Movement
Adi Shankaracharya (788–820 AD)
Ramanuja (1017–1137 AD)
Namdeva (1270–1350 AD)
Jnaneshwar (1275–1296 AD)
Ramananda (1400–1470 AD)
Kabir (1398–1448 AD)
Baba Guru Nanak (1469–1538 AD)
Vallabhacharya (1479–1531 AD)
Chaitanya (1485–1533 AD)
Shankaradeva (1499–1569 AD)
Tulsi Das (1532–1623 AD)
Tukaram (1608–1649 AD)
Guru Ramdas (1608–1681 AD)
Janabai (1258–1350 AD)
Mirabai (1498–1546 AD)
Sur Das
Bahinabai or Bahina (1628–1700 AD)
Sufi Movement
Introduction
Origin of Sufism in India
Sources to Study the Sufi Movement
Main Principles of Sufism [UPSC 2012]
Orders of Sufism (Silsilah)
Chishtiya Order
Life in the Chishti Khanqah
Chishti Devotion
Languages and Communication
Sufis and the State
Qadriya Order
Suharwardi Order
Naqshbandi Order
Bhakti and Sufi Interaction
7. THROUGH THE EYES OF TRAVELLERS
Al-Biruni (Kitab-ul-Hind)
Introduction
Translations
Kitab-ul-Hind (Tahqiq-i-Hind/History of India)
Al-Biruni’s Description of the Caste System
Ibn Battuta (Rihla)
Introduction
Service in Delhi and Exploration of South Asia and Beyond
About Cities
The Prosperity of Towns
François Bernier (Travels in the Mughal Empire)
Introduction
Comparing East and West (Bernier’s Observations)
Impact and Influence
Complex Social Reality
Table on foreign travellers
