Mughal Empire

At what age did Akbar became the emperor of the Mughal Empire?

At the age of 13, Akbar became the emperor of the Mughal Empire

What was known as zabt?

Each province was divided into revenue circles with its own schedule of revenue rates for individual crops. This revenue system was known as zabt.

What was jagir?

Mansabdars received their salaries as revenue assignments called jagirs.

Who started guerrilla warfare in the Deccan?

Marathas started guerrilla warfare.

Write a short note on architecture of Taj Mahal.

Shah Jahan adapted the river-front garden in the layout of the Taj Mahal, the grandest architectural accomplishment of his reign. Here the white marble mausoleum was placed on a terrace by the edge of the river and the garden was to its south. Shah Jahan develop this architectural form as a means to control the access that nobles had to the river.

What was the relationship between the mansabdar and the jagir?

Mansabdars received their salaries as revenue assignments called jagirs. Most mansabdars did not actually reside in or administer their jagirs. They only had rights to the revenue of their assignments which was collected for them by their servants while the mansabdars themselves served in some other part of the country.

What is pietra-dura?

Pietra-dura refers to coloured, hard stones placed in depressions carved into marble or sandstone creating beautiful, ornate patterns.

What were the main features of sulh-i kul? Or Write short notes on Akbar's religious policy.

Akbar introduced the idea of sulh-i kul or "universal peace". Its main features were: i. This idea of tolerance did not discriminate between people of different religions in his realm. ii. Instead it focused on a system of ethics - honesty, justice and peace - that was universally applicable.

What was the role of the zamindar in Mughal administration?

Zamindar in Mughal administration collected tax from peasants. They acted as intermediaries between peasants and the ruler. In some areas the zamindars exercised a great deal of power.

Write a short note on 'Babur'?

About Babur i. Babur, the first Mughal emperor (1526-1530), succeeded to the throne of Ferghana in 1494 when he was only 12 years old. ii. He was forced to leave his ancestral throne due to the invasion of another Mongol group, the Uzbegs. iii. After years of wandering he seized Kabul in 1504. In 1526 he defeated the Sultan of Delhi, Ibrahim Lodi, at Panipat and captured Delhi and Agra.

Who was the first Mughal emperor of India?

Babur was the first Mughal emperor (1526- 1530).

What are the elements of a Mughal chahar bagh garden?

Mughal chahar bagh garden consisted of four gardens. These gardens are placed within rectangular walled enclosures and divided into four quarters by artificial channels.

What do you mean by the term mansabdar? Or What do you know about Mansabdari System?

The term mansabdar refers to an individual who holds a mansab, meaning a position or rank. It was a grading system used by the Mughals to fix (1) rank, (2) salary and (3) military responsibilities.

Who defeated the Sultan of Delhi, Ibrahim Lodi and where?

Who defeated the Sultan of Delhi, Ibrahim Lodi and where?

Who was the author of Akbar Nama and Ain-Akbari?

Who was the author of Akbar Nama and Ain-Akbari?

Give a brief account of Akbar Nama and Ain-i Akbari.

Abul Fazl wrote a three-volume history of Akbar's reign, titled Akbar Nama. The first volume dealt with Akbar's ancestors and the second volume recorded the events of Akbar's reign. The third volume is the Ain-i Akbari. It deals with Akbar's administration, household, army, the revenues and the geography of his empire. It also provides rich details about the traditions and culture of the people living in India. The most interesting aspect about the Ain-i Akbari is its rich statistical details about things as diverse as crops, yields, prices, wages and revenues.

What power did the nobles exercise during Akbar reign?

Akbar's nobles commanded large armies and had access to large amounts of revenue. While they were loyal the empire functioned efficiently but by the end of the seventeenth century many nobles had built independent networks of their own. Their loyalties to the empire were weakened by their own self-interest.

Write a brief note on the Land Revenue System of Akbar.

Akbar's revenue minister, Todar Mal, carried out a careful survey of crop yields, prices and areas cultivated for a 10-year period, 1570- 1580. On the basis of this data, tax was fixed on each crop in cash. Each province was divided into revenue circles with its own schedule of revenue rates for individual crops. This revenue system was known as zabt. It was prevalent in those areas where Mughal administrators could survey the land and keep very careful accounts.

What kinds of structures were built between the 8th and 18th century?

Between the eighth and the eighteenth centuries kings and their officers built two kinds of structures: i. The first were forts, palaces, garden residences and tombs - safe, protected and grandiose places of rest in this world. ii. The second were structures meant for public activity including temples, mosques, tanks, wells, caravanserais and bazaars.

Write a note on the Mughal Empire in the seventeenth century and after?

Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century and After i. The administrative and military efficiency of the Mughal Empire led to great economic and commercial prosperity. International travellers described it as the fabled land of wealth. But these same visitors were also appalled at the state of poverty that existed side by side with the greatest opulence. ii. The Mughal emperors and their mansabdars spent a great deal of their income on salaries and goods. This expenditure benefited the artisans and peasantry who supplied them with goods and produce. But the scale of revenue collection left very little for investment in the hands of the primary producers - the peasant and the artisan. iii. The enormous wealth and resources commanded by the Mughal elite made them an extremely powerful group of people in the late seventeenth century. As the authority of the Mughal emperor slowly declined, his servants emerged as powerful centres of power in the regions. They constituted new dynasties and held command of provinces like Hyderabad and Awadh. Although they continued to recognise the Mughal emperor in Delhi as their master, by the eighteenth century the provinces of the empire had consolidated their independent political identities.

What was zat?

Rank and salary were determined by a numerical value called zat. The higher the zat, the more prestigious was the noble's position in court and the larger his salary.

Write a short note on Akbar's administrative policies?

The broad features of administration were laid down by Akbar and were elaborately discussed by Abul Fazl in his book, the Akbar Nama, in particular in its last volume, the Ain-i Akbari. Abul Fazl explained that the empire was divided into provinces called subas, governed by a subadar who carried out both political and military functions. Each province also had a financial officer or diwan. For the maintenance of peace and order in his province, the subadar was supported by other officers such as the military paymaster (bakhshi), the minister in charge of religious and charitable patronage (sadr), military commanders (faujdars) and the town police commander (kotwal). He was interested in the religion and social customs of different people. So, he followed the principle of governance called sulh-i kul or "universal peace". This idea of tolerance did not discriminate between people of different religions in his realm. Instead it focused on a system of ethics - honesty, justice and peace - that was universally applicable.

The term mansabdar refers to an individual who holds a mansab, meaning a position or rank. It was a grading system used by the Mughals to fix (1) rank, (2) salary and (3) military responsibilities.

The mansabdar's military responsibilities required him to maintain a specified number of sawar or cavalrymen. The mansabdar brought his cavalrymen for review, got them registered, their horses branded and then received money to pay them as salary.