Page 30 - SST Class 07

take power, but did not have the Persian or achievement of the Sultanate period. The prices
Turkic support necessary and Ala-ud-din’s 18- remained steady and there was no change in
year-old son took the throne instead, which he them even after lack of rain or other causes. It
ruled for only four years before being murdered was a unique and remarkable achievement. The
by Khusro Khan, bringing an end to the Khilji success of these economic measures was largely
Dynasty. due to the genius and personal attention of the
sultan. These measures failed to survive his death

Ala-ud-din Khilji built the Siri Fort in Delhi to protect because they operated against economic laws.
the people from Mongol invasions. Siri became the Military Administration
capital of the Khiljis. Siri is the third city of Delhi. A
Ala-ud-din was the first Delhi Sultan to maintain
large water reservoir called Huaz Khas was also part a well-equipped standing army. He paid his
of this city complex.
soldiers in cash and gave them imported horses
In Rajasthan, Ala-ud-din’s conquest of Chittor is a
of good breed. The horses were branded to
major historical event. There is a popular legend that
prevent theft. A detailed description of each
Ala-ud-Din attacked Chittor because he coveted
soldier was kept to prevent substitution. This was
Padmini the beautiful queen of Ratan Singh, the ruler
called chehra. To keep a check, he had regular
of Chittor.
supervision and parading of horses and soldiers.
ALA-UD-DIN’S MARKET CONTROL

Ala-ud-din’s measures to control the
Direction of
markets was regarded as one of the Indus Compaigns
great wonders of the world. He fixed
the cost of all commodities from food
Jhelum
grains, sugar, cooking oil to a needle Chenab
and from costly imported clothes to Ravi PUNJAB Rakas Lake
Satluj Tsangpo
horses and cattle. Very harsh punish-
Indus
ments were given if any shopkeeper DELHI Yamuna Ganga Brahmaputra
charged a higher price or tried to 1299 1303 1301 Chambal 1302 – 1303
cheat by using false weights and Ranthambhore Kara Ganga
Chittor
Son Tropic of Cancer
measures. These measures benefitted BENGAL
the people. GUJARAT Narmada 1296
Mahanadi
Somnath Mandu
1305
Devagiri Godavari Chilika
Ala-ud-din set up three markets in Delhi. 1311 B A Y
One for food grains, the second for costly ARABIAN YADAVAS Warangal O F
cloth and third for horses, slaves and SEA Krishna KAKATIYAS B E N G A L
cattle. Each market was under control of
an officer called Shahna who strictly
controlled the prices. Dwarasamudra
Impacts of Economic Kaveri Tanjore Present International
1311
Boundary of India
Madurai
Regulations PANDYAS
The economic regulations of Ala-ud- I N D I A N CEYLON O C E A N
din were the greatest administrative
Ala-ud-Din Khilji’s Campaign
Social Science-7 30