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Foreign Policies under Delhi Sultanate: Foreign Envoys, Foreign Travellers And Foreign Invasions!

Last Updated on Jan 20, 2025
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The Foreign Policies under Delhi Sultanate were evident in their outlook toward neighbouring states. The Delhi Sultanate was a Muslim empire that extended over Indian subcontinent in medieval times. Although they had problematic relations with the Rajputs, other Muslim kingdoms, on the whole, had a friendly relationship with them.

In this article, we will learn about the Foreign Policies under Delhi Sultanate. This forms a significant part of the UPSC IAS exam. UPSC Prelims and UPSC Mains Paper I have many questions about this topic. It is also an important topic for UPSC History Optional and essential for the UGC NET History exam. Every year over 5-7 questions on political history are in the question paper.

Foreign Envoys

The Delhi Sultanate was a dominant empire in its era, attracting numerous foreign envoys who sought to establish diplomatic ties with the Sultanate. The Foreign Policies under Delhi Sultanate were so friendly that other kingdoms tended to send their envoys to the Sultans. These envoys hailed from various regions and empires, including the Mongol Empire, the Timurids, and the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt.

One of the most noteworthy diplomatic missions during the Delhi Sultanate was the visit of Marco Polo, the Venetian traveler who arrived during Sultan Alauddin Khilji. Polo documented his visit in his travelogue, Il Milione, describing the wealth and power of the Delhi Sultanate. Additionally, he met with the Sultan and commended Alauddin Khilji as a just ruler with a strong grip on his empire.

Another significant envoy who came as a result of lenient Foreign Policies under the Delhi Sultanate was Ibn Battuta, the Moroccan traveller who visited the Sultanate during the reign of Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq. In his travelogue, Rihla, Ibn Battuta described the various regions and cities of the Sultanate and met with Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq, praising his administrative prowess.

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Foreign Travellers

The lenient Foreign Policies under Delhi Sultanate welcomed foreign envoys and foreign travellers who visited for various reasons such as trade, pilgrimage, and education. These travellers hailed from regions and empires, such as China, Persia, and Central Asia. Let us learn about few such travellers. 

Wang Huan

Among the notable foreign travellers was Wang Huan, a Chinese traveller who visited during Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq's reign. Wang Huan recorded his experiences in his travelogue, Daoyi Zhilüe, and lauded the Sultanate's agricultural productivity and textile quality.

Amir Khusrau

Another renowned foreign traveller was Amir Khusrau, a Persian scholar celebrated for his mastery of Persian and Indian languages and his contributions to the Indo-Persian culture's development. Although born in Persia, Khusrau spent most of his life in the Delhi Sultanate, serving various Sultans as court poets and scholars.

Alberuni

Alberuni was a Persian scholar who visited India in the 11th century. He is known for his work "Kitab al-Hind," which provides valuable insights into Indian history, culture, and religion.

Niccolò de' Conti

Niccolò de' Conti was an Italian merchant who travelled to India in the 15th century. He spent several years in the region, trading in spices and textiles and documenting his experiences in a book called "Narrative of the Portuguese Embassy to China and India."

Athanasius Nikitin

Athanasius Nikitin was a Russian trader who travelled to India in the 15th century. He spent several years in the region, trading spices and textiles and documenting his experiences in a book called "Journey Beyond Three Seas."

Domingo Paes

Domingo Paes was a Portuguese traveller who visited India in the 16th century. He was a member of the entourage of the Portuguese governor, Afonso de Albuquerque, and documented his experiences in a book called "Chronicle of the Kings of Bisnaga and the Country of Vijayanagar."

Foreign Invasions

The Delhi Sultanate had a powerful army, but it faced many foreign invasions from nearby empires and kingdoms, like the Mongols, Timurids, and Rajputs. The Foreign Policies under Delhi Sultanate, however, excluded a few, like Rajputs, which ultimately led to their demise. Genghis Khan was the Mongol Emperor who led a big invasion. His grandson, Hulagu Khan, beat the Sultanate's army but had to retreat because he didn't have enough resources.

Another big invasion was led by Timur, or Tamerlane, who defeated the Sultanate's army in the Battle of Delhi. He destroyed the city, killed many people, and caused extensive damage. But the Delhi Sultanate didn't give up. They rebuilt under the leadership of their sultans, and they made friends with neighbouring empires and kingdoms, like the Ottoman Empire and the Safavid Empire.

The Sultanate also talked to foreign envoys, travellers, and invaders. These interactions led to the exchange of ideas and knowledge, which helped develop Indo-Persian culture. You can still see the influence of this culture today in India's architecture, literature, and culture.

Conclusion

The Foreign Policies under Delhi Sultanate were really complex and had different parts to them, like talking to other countries, using their army, and sharing culture. The Sultanate talked to people from other places, and travellers came to visit too. They learned a lot from each other, and this helped to create a new culture called Indo-Persian. Even though the Delhi Sultanate had to deal with a lot of attacks from other countries, they still stayed in power and were really important in India. 

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Foreign Policies under Delhi Sultanate FAQs

Yes, the Delhi Sultanate faced several foreign invasions, including invasions by the Mongols and Timurids.

Foreign invasions had a significant impact on the Delhi Sultanate, causing widespread destruction and loss of life, but the Sultanate was able to recover and rebuild under the leadership of its various sultans.

The Delhi Sultanate's diplomatic engagements with neighbouring empires and kingdoms contributed to the exchange of ideas and knowledge, leading to the development of Indo-Persian culture and the spread of Islam in the region.

Some of the famous foreign envoys who visited the Delhi Sultanate were Marco Polo, Ibn Battuta, and ambassadors from the Mongol Empire.

Foreign travellers such as Amir Khusrau and Wang Huan contributed to the development of Indo-Persian culture by introducing new ideas, languages, and literary forms to the Sultanate.

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