Delhi Sultanate

Delhi Sultanate was an empire in Gangetic plain and Nepal (South Asia) that lasted from 1206 to 1526 CE, about 320 years. Its people spoke Turkic languages (Gokturk, Uyghur, Seljuk, Ottoman, Kazakh, Tatar).

Five dynasties of Turkic, Sayyid and Afghan origin ruled north India from Delhi for 320 years. They repelled the Mongols, spread Persian court culture and Indo-Islamic architecture, and under Muhammad bin Tughlaq reached the far south.

See Delhi Sultanate on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

1206 to 1526 CE

Duration

320 years

Type

Empire

Region

Gangetic plain and Nepal, South Asia

Language family

Turkic

Capital

Delhi, briefly Daulatabad

Became

• Mughal Empire 1526 to 1857 CE

Events in South Asia during its time

• 1398 Timur sacks Delhi
• 1498 Vasco da Gama reaches Calicut
• 1526 First Battle of Panipat

Neighbours in South Asia

• Chola Empire 848 to 1279 CE
• Mughal Empire 1526 to 1857 CE
• Ahom Kingdom 1228 to 1826 CE
• Kingdom of Mysore c. 1399 to 1950 CE
• Kingdom of Kandy 1469 to 1815 CE
• Hoysala Empire c. 1026 to 1343 CE
• Vijayanagara Empire 1336 to 1646 CE
• Bengal Sultanate 1352 to 1576 CE
• Bahmani Sultanate 1347 to 1527 CE
• Kakatiya dynasty 1163 to 1323 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Middle East
• Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE, Central and Southern Africa
• Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
• Srivijaya c. 650 to 1377 CE, Southeast Asia
• Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE, North and West Africa
• Khmer Empire 802 to 1431 CE, Southeast Asia
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Europe
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Middle East

Questions