10.4 The Tughlaq Dynasty · Part 2

ciency in weight was found, an equal weight of fl esh was cut from the seller’s body and thrown down before his eyes! XI History - Lesson - - Advent of Arabs and Turks Token Currency Tughlaq’s Coins The next important experiment of Muhammad was the introduction of token currency. This currency system had already been experimented in China and Iran. For India it was much ahead of its time, given that it was a time when coins were based on silver content. When Muhammad issued bronze coins, fake coins were minted which could not be prevented by the government. The new coins were devalued to such an extent that the he, unlike Ala-ud-din, lacked the will to execute his plans successfully. Transfer of Capital Muhammad Tughlaq’s attempt to shift the capital from Delhi to Devagiri in Maharashtra, which he named Daulatabad, was a bold initiative. This was after his realization that it was difficult to rule south India form Delhi. Centrally located, Devagiri also had the advantage of possessing a strong fort atop a rocky hill. Counting on the military and political advantages, the Sultan ordered important officers and leading men including many Sufi saints to shift to Devagiri. However, the plan failed, and soon Muhammad realised that it was difficult to rule North India from Daulatabad. He again ordered transfer of capital back to Delhi. BAY OF BENGAL ARABIAN SEA I N D I A N O C E A N Map not to scale N S W E Brahmaputra Tughlaq Dynasty Major cities Kaveri Tranquebar Madras Mumbai Ahmedabad Lahore Delhi Yamuna Sutluj Ravi Chenab Jhelum Taxila Indus Godavari Narmada Tapti M a h a n a d i I N D I A L a k s h a d w e e p i s l a n d s ( I N D I A ) A n d a m a n a n d n i c o b a r i s l a n d s ( I N D I A ) Ganga Y j m i