Medieval History notes · Chapter 14 of 15 · Mughals and Surs · 1540–1555
Sur dynasty
7 sections, 13 flashcards. Open a card to check your answer, or revise them in the app with spaced revision.
At a glance
- Sher Shah Suri, an Afghan from Sasaram in Bihar, drove Humayun out of India and ruled for only five years — yet his administration, roads and coinage became the model for Akbar.
Timeline
- 1538 Captures Rohtasgarh fort in Bihar
- 1539 Defeats Humayun at Chausa; takes the title Sher Shah
- 1540 Defeats Humayun at Kannauj (Bilgram) and becomes emperor
- 1545 Killed at Kalinjar
- 1545–53 Islam Shah rules
- 1555 Humayun defeats Sikandar Suri at Sirhind — Sur rule ends
Check yourself
In which two battles did Sher Shah defeat Humayun?
Chausa (1539) and Kannauj/Bilgram (1540).
Who succeeded Sher Shah?
Islam Shah (1545–53).
Which Bihar fort did Sher Shah capture in 1538?
Rohtasgarh.
Sher Shah Suri (1540–45)
- Born Farid; his father Hasan Sur held the jagir of Sasaram in Bihar.
- Got the title “Sher Khan” after killing a tiger (given by his patron, the Afghan ruler of south Bihar).
- Captured the fort of Rohtasgarh in Bihar (1538), then defeated Humayun at Chausa (1539) and Kannauj (1540).
Check yourself
What was Sher Shah’s original name?
Farid.
How did Sher Shah get the title Sher Khan?
By killing a tiger.
Administration
- The empire was divided into sarkars and parganas, with separate officers for law and order and for revenue.
- Land was measured and revenue fixed at about one-third of the produce. Each peasant received a patta (title deed) and signed a qabuliyat (deed of acceptance).
- The fiscal administration of Akbar and Todar Mal was based on the methods of Sher Shah — Todar Mal had served under him.
- Coinage: the silver rupiya and the copper dam — the basis of later Mughal currency.
Check yourself
Which silver coin did Sher Shah introduce?
The rupiya (with the copper dam).
What were patta and qabuliyat?
The title deed given to the peasant, and the deed of acceptance he signed.
Whose revenue system was based on Sher Shah’s methods?
Akbar’s and Todar Mal’s.
What share of the produce did Sher Shah take as revenue?
About one-third.
Roads and sarais
- A robust highway system:
- repaired and extended the Grand Trunk Road, from Sonargaon in Bengal to Peshawar
- other roads linked Agra with Burhanpur, Jodhpur and Chittor, and Lahore with Multan
- highways had many sarais, which also served as postal (dak) stations
Check yourself
Which road did Sher Shah repair and extend?
The Grand Trunk Road, from Sonargaon to Peshawar.
Buildings
- Built the Purana Qila in Delhi.
- Built his own mausoleum at Sasaram, set in an artificial lake.
Check yourself
Where is Sher Shah’s tomb?
Sasaram, Bihar — in an artificial lake.
Which fort in Delhi did Sher Shah build?
The Purana Qila.
Death and successors
- Killed in 1545 at Kalinjar, by an accidental gunpowder explosion during the siege (the mindmap says “gunshot”).
- Islam Shah (1545–53), his son, kept the empire together; after him the Surs split, and Humayun returned in 1555.
- Malik Muhammad Jayasi completed Padmavat (1540) in this period.
Check yourself
How and where did Sher Shah die?
In a gunpowder explosion at Kalinjar, in 1545.
Source check
- Where the mindmap differs from standard textbooks. Use the standard version in the exam.
Mindmap says: Sher Shah killed by a gunshot in 1545
Standard texts: Standard accounts: killed by an accidental explosion of gunpowder while besieging Kalinjar.
Standard texts: Standard accounts: killed by an accidental explosion of gunpowder while besieging Kalinjar.
All 15 chapters of Medieval History notes
- Arab conquest of Sindh8 sections
- Mahmud of Ghazni7 sections
- Muhammad Ghori9 sections
- Mamluk (Slave) dynasty10 sections
- Khalji dynasty13 sections
- Tughlaq dynasty7 sections
- Sayyid dynasty4 sections
- Lodi dynasty5 sections
- Bahmani kingdom10 sections
- Vijayanagara empire11 sections
- Karnata dynasty5 sections
- Oinwar dynasty5 sections
- Mughal empire15 sections
- Sur dynasty7 sections
- Marathas7 sections