The Delhi Sultanate: The History and Legacy of the Medieval Islamic Dynasty in India [Audiobook]

India has been the location of many different empires throughout its long history. The Indus Valley Civilization was home to one of the world’s first civilizations more than 5,000 years ago, which was followed by the Aryan-Vedic culture and then a host of other kingdoms that flourished across the Sub-Continent. The Delhi Sultanate was comprised of five dynasties that expanded their borders, and Islam, at sword point, but also through diplomacy and trade. The Delhi Sultanate became known as a state that welcomed the expertise of foreigners, no matter their religion, and promoted the welfare of its citizens through a host of social programs. Eventually, the Delhi Sultanate grafted ideas and inspiration from India’s pre-Islamic past with those of Islam to create a state that was quite unique and powerful. The Delhi sultans were themselves descended from Turks and brought with them ideas from Persia. Furthermore, as their empire grew, they invited scholars from throughout the Islamic world to their country, and as Muslim scholars, scientists, and administrators from the Near East made their way into India, the Delhi sultans also incorporated some of the cultural ideas of the native Hindu Indians to create a state that was as unique as any the world had ever seen.