Twilight of the Sultanate c6.2

c6.2

The first three centuries of Turkish rule in India exhibit a similarity to the course of human life with its three stages of birth and adolescence, vigorous youth, and crabbed old age. During the first century the Empire established by men like Muhammad Ghorī and Qutbuddīn Aibak was nourished and nurtured by men like Iltutmish and Balban (1200-1290). In its period of youth (1290-1380) it was consolidated and strengthened by rulers like 'Alāuddīn Khaljī, Muhammad Tughlaq and Fīrōz. Then came old age. It had just set in when Tīmūr's invasion (1398) struck it like palsy; thereafter for half a century the Sultanate began to live as if on crutches. It showed some signs of recovery under the Lodīs (1451-1526); but that was like the last flicker of the dying lamp. Bābur's guns at Panipat sounded its death-knell.