Muslim Society in Northern India During the 15th and First Half of the 16th Century

The fifteenth century and the first half of the sixteenth century represent a period when the proliferation of Provincial Sultanates was accompanied by a diffusion of Muslim culture in India. There was a spirit of self-confidence in this diffusion as well as a tendency towards accommodation with local traditions. Yet this process has often been neglected for the reason notably that specialist regional studies have been preferred to attempts towards an overall view. This book aims at filling this gap by providing an account of Muslim society and culture of Northern India during this period. Separate chapters are devoted to the life and customs of the various strata of Muslim society from the ruling class downwards, the system of education, advances in learning, the sufic orders, the mahdavi movement and the interaction with the Bhakti movement. The information has been brought together mainly by an extensive exploration of the Persian sources, many of which are unpublished and have been consulted in manuscript. The book contains an extensive bibliography and a comprehensive index. It was originally a doctoral thesis, which has been considerably revised to incorporate additional material.