History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c29.5

v2.c29.5

THE campaigns of 'Alâu-d-Dîn and of Tughlaq Shâh in the beginning of the 14th century extended the fame and fear of the Moslim power over the whole peninsula of India, as far as Cape Comorin and the Straits of Manâr. It was almost impossible, however, that a state in the semi-barbarous condition of the Afghâns of that day could so organise a government as to rule so extensive and varied an empire from one central point, and that as remote as Delhi. Tughlaq Shâh felt this, and proposed to establish the capital at Daulatâbâd. If he had been able to accomplish this, the whole of the south might have been permanently conquered. As it was, the Ballâla dynasty of Halebîd was destroyed in A.D. 1311,¹ and that of Worangal crippled but not finally conquered till some time afterwards, while the rising power of Vijayanagar formed a barrier which shielded the southern states against Muhammadan encroachment for some centuries after that time; and but for the establishment of Muhammadan kingdoms independent of the central power at Delhi, the Dekhan might have been lost to the Moslims, and the Hindûs held their own for a long time, perhaps for ever, to the south of the Vindhya range.