Background (13th and 14th centuries)
Bengal was gradually absorbed into the Delhi Sultanate during the 1200s. It began with Bakhtiyar's conquest of Gauda between 1202 and … See more

The Bengal Sultanate was an absolute monarchy, and took influence from Persianate traditions. Its revenue system was maintained in the Bengali language throughout the course of its history. The government employed both Muslims and Hindus, promoting … See more

The Bengal Sultanate had robust foreign relations. Records show that the Bengal Sultanate exchanged embassies with states in China, Europe, Africa, Central Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia. Diplomatic allies helped Bengal to fend off invasions from … See more

Literature and painting
Muslim poets were writing in the Bengali language by the 15th century. By the turn of the 16th century, a vernacular literature based on concepts of See more

The Sultans had a well-organised army, including cavalry, artillery, infantry and war elephants; and a navy. Due to the riverine geography and climate, it was not feasible to use cavalry throughout the year in Bengal. The cavalry was probably the weakest … See more

The economy of the Bengal Sultanate inherited earlier aspects of the Delhi Sultanate, including mint towns, a salaried bureaucracy and the jagirdar system of land ownership. The … See more

The Bengali language was the most spoken language while Persian was an administrative and commercial language. Men wore white shirts, cotton fabrics of various colors, … See more