Evaluating the Doab Crisis under Muhammad bin Tughlaq's Reign: Excessive Taxation or Climatic Adversities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66871/ihj.v1i1.011الكلمات المفتاحية:
Delhi Sultanate, Muhammad bin Tughlaq, Doab crisis, Misinterpretation, Excessive taxation, Ecological strain.الملخص
The Doab crisis and agrarian rebellion under the reign of Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq have generally been characterized as a result of excessive taxes and administrative irrationality. This study seeks to determine the real cause of the Doab crisis. Was it due to excessive taxation, or did environmental problems play a major role in worsening the situation? Based on contemporary chronicles, subsequent historiography, and environmental history methodologies, this study challenges the conventional historical narrative by arguing that the crisis was driven by ecological strain and climatic fluctuations, including the potential failure of the monsoon and drought, rather than by economic mismanagement and state policies. By doing this, the study aims to offer a more balanced view of how the government's policies, the farming community, and the environment interact in medieval India. The goal is to move beyond simple explanations, gain a more nuanced understanding of what happened during that time, and challenge the persistent misinterpretations of Muhammad ibn Tughlaq's reign, particularly the tendency in traditional history to portray him as an insane and failing ruler.
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