Who wrote "Tabagat-i Nasiri", a general history of Muslim dynasties up to 1280?

The correct answer is Minhaj-al-Siraj.

Key Points

• Minhaj-al-Siraj was a 13th-century Persian historian and scholar.
• He is best known for authoring "Tabagat-i Nasiri", a general history of Muslim dynasties up to 1280 CE.
• The book was written in Persian and is an important source for understanding the history of Islamic rule in India.
• Minhaj-al-Siraj served as the chief Qazi of Delhi under Sultan Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud of the Slave Dynasty.
• His work provides detailed accounts of the Ghurid dynasty, the Delhi Sultanate, and other prominent Islamic rulers of the time.

Additional Information

• Tabagat-i Nasiri:
  • The title "Tabagat" refers to the classification or categorization of events and rulers into generations or dynasties.
  • The book is divided into 23 sections, each focusing on different dynasties, regions, and rulers.
• Historical Context:
  • The work is critical for understanding the political, social, and cultural dynamics of medieval India during Islamic rule.
  • It also provides details about the Mongol invasions and their impact on the Indian subcontinent.
• Persian Historiography:
  • Persian was the official language of administration and historiography during the Delhi Sultanate.
  • Minhaj-al-Siraj's work is an example of how Persian chroniclers documented history in a systematic and detailed manner.
• Legacy:
  • Tabagat-i Nasiri remains a key primary source for historians studying the Slave Dynasty and early Islamic rulers in India.
  • It has also been referenced extensively in later historical works on medieval India.