Economy During Delhi Sultanate Period

  • Land revenue was major source of income for administration.
  • The peasantry paid one third of their produce as land revenue, and sometimes even one half of the produce.
  • Agriculture formed the occupation of the bulk of the people.
  • The peasants produced a large variety of food crops, cash crops, fruits, vegetables and spices. They practiced advanced agricultural techniques such as crop rotation, double cropping, three crop harvesting, fruit grafting etc. Various types of artificial water lifting devices were also used for this purpose.
  • The Persian wheel was the most advanced water lifting device of this period.
  • During the Sultanate period, the process of urbanization gained momentum.
  • Construction of roads and their maintenance facilitated for smooth transport and communication. Particularly the royal roads were kept in good shape. Sarais or rest houses on the highways were maintained for the convenience of the travelers.
  • Cotton textile and silk industry flourished in this period.
  • Paper-making technology evolved by the Chinese and learnt by the Arabs was introduced in India during the rule of the Delhi Sultans.
  • Craft production was organized in villages as well as qasbas. There also existed imperial.
  • These karkhanas were part of the royal establishment. These units produced commodities for the consumption of the royal household and the court, Generally, expensive and luxury items were produced here.
  • In the field of commerce India had trade links with contemporary central Asia, China, South-east Asia and Europe etc