Economy During Delhi Sultanate Period
The administration of the Delhi sultanate heavily relied on land revenue as a major source of income. Peasants were required to pay a significant portion of their produce, ranging from one-third to one-half, as land revenue. Agriculture was the primary occupation of the majority of people, and they produced a diverse range of crops, including food crops, cash crops, fruits, vegetables, and spices. Advanced agricultural techniques like crop rotation, double cropping, three crop harvesting, and fruit grafting were widely practiced, along with the use of artificial water lifting devices such as the Persian wheel.
Urbanization gained momentum during the Sultanate period, and the construction and maintenance of roads and sarais facilitated communication and transportation. The textile industry, especially cotton and silk production, flourished. The Chinese paper-making technology was introduced in India, and craft production was organized in villages and qasbas. There were also royal karkhanas that produced expensive and luxury items for the royal household and court.
In terms of commerce, India had trade links with several regions, including central Asia, China, South-east Asia, and Europe.
