Chapter 165: Concerns of Central India

Border Region of Ahmednagar Sultanate and Bidar Sultanate, Near Purna River Valley, Dusk of March 23, 1557

Central India in this era was a patchwork of sultanates that emerged from the decline of the Bahmani Sultanate. Originally part of the Tughlaq Dynasty until 1347, the region later fragmented into various sultanates, including Ahmednagar, Bijapur, Berar, Golconda, and Bidar.

Despite their fractured political ties, these sultanates retained their trade links and resolved internal disputes due to their shared cultural roots. They served as a formidable barrier against incursions from the north and south, except in their protracted conflicts with the Gajapati Kingdom, which sought dominance over the region. However, the arrival of the Dutch began to disrupt their activities.