What were the major technological changes introduced during the Sultanate period? How did those…

Question

What were the major technological changes introduced during the Sultanate period? How did those technological changes influence the Indian society?

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

The Sultanate spread the geared Persian wheel, canals, the charkha and carding bow, paper, the true arch and dome, and new cavalry gear, which expanded cultivation, crafts, towns and a Persian-literate bureaucracy. Lime mortar enabled the true arch of Balban's tomb and the true dome of the Alai Darwaza (1311).

**Introduction**

Mohammad Habib spoke of an "urban revolution" under the Turks, and Irfan Habib traced much of it to new techniques. The Delhi Sultanate spread machines and methods that reshaped farming, crafts, writing, building and war.

**Major Technological Changes of the Sultanate Period**

1. **Gearing for water**: The geared Persian wheel spread in the Punjab and the Doab, and Firuz Shah Tughlaq's canals carried Yamuna water to Hisar.
2. **Charkha and carding bow**: The spinning wheel appears in Indian sources by the 14th century, and the dhunia's carding bow cleaned cotton faster, raising yarn output over the hand spindle.
3. **Paper**: Paper replaced palm leaf and birch bark for records.
4. **Building and cavalry**: Lime mortar enabled the true arch of Balban's tomb and the true dome of the Alai Darwaza (1311), while the iron stirrup and horseshoe aided Turkish cavalry.

**Influence on Indian Society**

SKETCH: comparison | Technology and Social Change
a: Technology
b: Social effect
- Persian wheel :: More cultivation
- Charkha, bow :: Weaver towns
- Paper :: Persian records
- Arch, dome :: Indo-Islamic cities
- Stirrup, horseshoe :: Central iqta state

1. **Agrarian growth**: Irrigation extended cultivation and swelled the revenue feeding the iqta system.
2. **Artisans and towns**: A textile boom expanded weaver groups such as the julahas, the community of Kabir.
3. **Literate bureaucracy**: Cheap paper drew Kayasthas into Persian revenue offices.
4. **Limits**: Many devices had older Indian roots, spread was uneven, and gains went mainly to the state and towns.

**Way Forward**

1. **Living lessons**: Conserving the Qutb complex and Lodi-era baolis keeps this engineering legible and its water wisdom usable.

**Conclusion**

Sultanate techniques changed India by steady diffusion, raising farm output, spreading crafts and building a Persian-literate state, part of India's composite heritage.

What were the major technological changes introduced during the Sultanate period? How did those technological changes influence the Indian society?

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