1. Match the following:
mansab – rank
Mongol – Uzbeg
Sisodiya Rajput – Mewar
Rathor Rajput – Marwar
Nur Jahan – Jahangir
subadar – governor
2. Fill in the blanks:
(a) The capital of Mirza Hakim, Akbar’s half-brother, was Kabul.
(b) The five Deccan Sultanates were Berar, Khandesh, Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, and Golconda.
(c) If zat determined a mansabdar’s rank and salary, sawar indicated his military responsibilities.
(d) Abul Fazl, Akbar’s friend and counsellor, helped him frame the idea of sulh-i-kul so that he could govern a society composed of many religions, cultures, and castes.
3. What were the central provinces under the control of the Mughals?
The central provinces under Mughal control included Delhi, Agra, Lahore, Panipat, Mathura, Amber, Ajmer, Fatehpur Sikri, Chittor, Ranthambhore, and Allahabad.
4. What was the relationship between the mansabdar and the jagir?
Mansabdars were officers who received jagirs (revenue assignments) as their salary. They did not administer the jagirs themselves but relied on servants to collect the revenue.
5. What was the role of the zamindar in Mughal administration?
Zamindars were local leaders who collected taxes from peasants and passed them on to the Mughal rulers. They played an intermediary role between the peasants and the empire and sometimes led rebellions when they felt exploited.
6. How were the debates with religious scholars important in the formation of Akbar’s ideas on governance?
Akbar’s debates with scholars from different faiths helped him realize the importance of tolerance and led to the creation of the policy of Sulh-i Kul (universal peace), which promoted religious harmony.
7. Why did the Mughals emphasise their Timurid and not their Mongol descent?
The Mughals highlighted their Timurid ancestry due to its positive historical achievements, while distancing themselves from their Mongol roots associated with destruction, particularly linked to Genghis Khan and the Uzbegs.
8. How important was the income from land revenue to the stability of the Mughal Empire?
Land revenue was crucial for the Mughal Empire as it funded the military, administration, and the extension of the empire, making it the backbone of the economy.
9. Why was it important for the Mughals to recruit mansabdars from diverse backgrounds and not just Turanis and Iranis?
The Mughal Empire spanned many regions, so recruiting mansabdars from diverse groups (such as Indian Muslims, Rajputs, and Afghans) helped in building loyalty and ensuring smoother administration.
10. Like the Mughal Empire, India today is also made up of many social and cultural units. Does this pose a challenge to national integration?
No, India’s unified government, constitution, and shared national identity ensure integration despite its diversity.
11. Peasants were vital for the economy of the Mughal Empire. Do you think that they are as important today? Has the gap in the income between the rich and the poor in India changed a great deal from the period of the Mughals?
Peasants remain important today as they produce food and pay taxes. The income gap between rich and poor has widened significantly since the Mughal era due to modern economic developments.
12. The Mughal Empire left its impact on the different regions of the subcontinent in a variety of ways. Find out if it had any impact in the city, village, or region in which you live.
In many regions, Mughal architecture (such as forts and mosques), art, and culture have had a lasting influence. Urdu language and Mughal cuisine also form part of the cultural heritage left by the empire.