Information regarding medieval India is gathered from a large number of sources including chronicles, accounts of foreign travellers, coins, inscriptions and monuments. Genealogies and state papers written in Persian provide much information for reconstructing the history of the period. Chronicles have provided ample information with regard to the history of medieval India. Travellers from abroad give us interesting information regarding the political, social and economic conditions in medieval India. Coins have given useful information regarding the state of polity and economy during the Sultanate and Mughal periods. Epigraphic sources like inscriptions are of greater use for the pre-Mughal rather than the Mughal period. The reigns of the Bengal sultans, Shams-ud-din Firuz, and Ala-ud-din Firuz, have been established by studying inscriptions alone.
The subject matter of the book has been divided into two Sections: (I) Sultanate Period, and (II) The Mughal Dynasty. Section-I covers the rise of Turks, Slave dynasty, the Khiljis, the Tughlaqs, the Sayyids, fragmentation of the Sultanate, and Bhakti movement and Sufism. Section-II covers Babur’s establishment of Mughal rule, the reigns of Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb, developments during Mughal rule, and lastly, the Marathas. Events have been described in simple language and lucid manner for easy understanding by the readers. The text has been supplemented with pictures of monuments, inscriptions, coins, etc. wherever necessary. Important questions have been provided at the end of each chapter so that the students may know what to expect in the examination. The book will be useful for the students and teachers of History, particularly Medieval Indian History. It will also help those preparing for competitive examinations like IAS and PCS with History as an optional paper.
Atlantic Research Division is engaged in preparing quality textbooks on various subjects for postgraduate and undergraduate students pursuing various courses, as well as for those appearing in UGC-NET/SLET and other competitive examinations like IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, etc.
The Directors of the Atlantic Research Division are the following:
K.R. Gupta, M.A. Ph.D., has been teaching postgraduate classes and guiding research for about two decades in the University of Jammu and Kurukshetra University. He has written over twenty books and contributed several papers in journals being published in India and abroad.
D.S. Paul, M.A. English, has the experience of teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students at colleges and institutes. He has written and edited several books and contributed articles in journals of repute. He has set model question papers for various competitive examinations.
Meenakshi Taheem, M.A. History, has widely read the history of India and Europe. She has obtained first division in all Indian History subjects both at graduation and postgraduation level. She has done her graduation from Delhi University and postgraduation from Himachal Pradesh University. She also holds B.Ed. degree from Maharishi Dayanand University.
Manpreet Kaur is M.A., M.Phil in Political Science. She cleared her M.Phil in first division from Vinayaka Mission University. She also holds B.Ed. degree in first division from National College of Education. She is doing Ph.D. on “Violence Against Women” from IGNOU.
