Pre-Mughal Indian Rugs Shiraz Influence

There were rugs in India in the Pre-Mughal period. Pile rugs spread down the sea routes from Shiraz. Note the mitered corners. Jon Thompson argues rather compellingly in  Late Mamluk Carpets in The Arts of the Mamluks in Egypt and Syria: Evolution and Impact edited by Doris Behrens-Abouseif that these corners in this time period point to a Persian origin. While I don't accept all of Thompson's arguments I think on this he has a point. I feel this rug is either from Shiraz or the weavers were inspired by rugs from Shiraz.

‘Ashtapada’ silk carpet

Loosely spun floss silk

Cotton foundation and fringe

Two cord selvedge inner cord secured by wefts and outer cord attached by magenta silk. 

Warp: Cotton off white, Z10S51/dm, no depression.

Weft: Cotton, beige, originally orange, z singles 8 yarns used together, 2 sheds/weft break 28/dm

The ‘Ashtapada’ silk carpet, Deccan (?), India, first half 15th century. 1.63 x 3.71m Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar
From http://www.hali.com/news/in-depth-on-hali-com/

Ashtapada is an 8 by 8 board on which an Indian predecessor of chess is played. 

Decan is the anglcised version of Dakkhin which is the central plateau that dominates 8 states and most of Southern India. Did you ever notice the bizarre British compulsion to rename people and places that already have perfectly good names.