Art and Architecture Under Delhi Sultanate
Art and Architecture Under Delhi Sultanate
The new features brought by the Turkish conquerors were :
1. the dome
2. the lofty towers
3. the true arch unsupported by beam
4. the vault
» They also brought with them an expert knowledge of the use of concrete and mortar, which had hitherto been little used in India.
» The Adhai-din ka Jhonpra at Ajmer has a beautiful prayer hall, an exquisitely carved Mehrab of white marble and a decorative arch screen.
» The first example of true or voussoired arch is said to be the tomb of Ghiyasuddin Balban in Mehrauli (Delhi).
» In the Khilji period the usage of voussoired arch and dome was established and for all. Famous examples is the tomb of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia at Delhi.
» The Tughlaq buildings show stark simplicity and sobriety, probably indicating less financial resources as well as puritanical tests. Slopping walls and a dark appearance characterise the buildings. Some notable Tughlaq monuments were the fort of Tughlaquabad, the tomb of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq which marked a new phase in Indo-Islamic architecture by serving as a model for later tombs and the fort of Adilabad.
» The Sayyid period was too short to allow construction of elaborate buildings.
» The construction of double domes was the main feature of Lodhi Architecture. One building worth noting is the Moth ki Masjid erected by the prime minister of Sikandar Lodhi.
Literature of Delhi Sultanate
| Book | Author | Historical Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Tahqiq-i-Hind | Alberuni | Alberuni was an Arabian scholar who wrote about the Slave dynasty |
| Tabaqat-i-Nasiri | Minhaj-us-Siraj | Gives an account of Iltutmish's reign |
| Laila-Majnu | Amir Khusrau | Court poet of Alauddin Khilji |
| Khazain-ul-Futuh | Amir Khusrau | Describes conquests of Alauddin Khilji |
| Tughlaq-Nama | Amir Khusrau | Gives account of Ghiyasuddin's reign |
| Nuh-Siphir | Amir Khusrau | Poetic description of Alauddin Khilji |
| Fatawa-i-Jahandari | Ziauddin Barani | Gives an account of the Tughlaq dynasty |
| Tarikha-i-Firoz Shahi | Ziauddin Barani | Gives an account of Firoz Shah's reign |
| Fatwah-i-Firoz Shahi | Firoz Shah | Gives an account of his reign |
| Kitab-fl-Tahqiq | Alberuni | About Indian sciences |
| Qanun-e-Masudi | Alberuni | About astronomy |
| Taj-ul-Maathir | Hasan Nizami | History of Ilbaris, the slave dynasty |
| Chach Namah | Abu Bakr | History of Sindh region |
| Lubab-ul-Alab | Bhukhari | Persian anthology |
| Khamsah | Amir khusrau | Literature and Poems |
| Shah Namah | Firdausi | About Mohmud Ghazni's reign |
| Kitab-ul-Rehla | lbn Battutah | A travelogue with stories |
| Miftah-ul-Futuh | Amir Khusrau | Jalaiuddin's conquest and life |
| Multa-ul-Anwar | Amir Khusrau | Literary masterpieces |
| Ayina-i-Sikandari | Amir Khusrau | Literary masterpieces |
| Hasht Bihisht | Amir Khusrau | Literary masterpieces |
| Shirin Khusrau | Amir Khusrau | Literary masterpieces |
| Tarik-i-Firoz Shahi | Shams-i-Shiraj Afif | History of Tughlaqs |
| Futuh-us-Salatin | Isami | About Bahmani Kingdom |