The Mughal Empire Exercise Solutions | KalviGavani

(a) Babur and Rana Sanga (b) Babur and Ibrahim Lodi (c) Humayun and Sher Shah (d) Akbar and Hemu

(a) Babur (b) Humayun (c) Akbar (d) Aurangzeb

(a) 1556 (b) 1575 (c) 1582 (d) 1605

(a) Badauni (b) Abul Fazl (c) Ferishta (d) Al-Biruni

(a) Akbar (b) Jahangir (c) Shah Jahan (d) Aurangzeb

(a) Panipat (b) Khanwa (c) Chausa (d) Haldighati

(a) Sher Shah (b) Akbar (c) Jahangir (d) Shah Jahan

(a) Holy war (b) Universal peace (c) Divine faith (d) Military conquest

False. Babur ruled for only four years (1526-1530). He died in 1530 and was succeeded by his son Humayun. Though his reign was short, he laid the foundation of the Mughal Empire and recorded his experiences in his autobiography, the Baburnama.

False. Humayun's reign was marked by instability. He was defeated by Sher Shah Suri at Chausa (1539) and Kanauj (1540), forcing him into 15 years of exile in Persia. He regained the throne only in 1555 and died in 1556 after falling down the stairs of his library.

True. Akbar abolished the jizya (tax on non-Muslims) in 1564 and the pilgrim tax on Hindu pilgrimages, as part of his policy of Sulh-i-Kul (universal peace) and religious tolerance.

False. The Mansabdari system was introduced by Akbar. It was a military and administrative grading system where officers held ranks (mansabs) with numerical values (zat and sawar) determining their status and obligations. Aurangzeb actually weakened the system.

True. Shah Jahan's reign (1628-1658) is considered the golden age of Mughal architecture. He built the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort at Delhi, the Jama Masjid, and the city of Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi). His buildings are noted for their grandeur, symmetry, and use of white marble.

False. Din-i-Ilahi, Akbar's syncretic faith, was not widely adopted. It had very few followers — mainly some of Akbar's close courtiers. It was more of an ethical code for the elite than a mass religion. It did not survive long after Akbar's death.

True. The Zabt system, systematised by Raja Todar Mal under Akbar, involved measuring land, classifying it by fertility, and fixing revenue at one-third of the average produce, payable in cash. It was the standard revenue system in Mughal territories.

The First Battle of Panipat (1526) was significant because it marked the founding of the Mughal Empire in India. Babur, using superior military tactics including gunpowder and artillery, defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last Delhi Sultan. This battle demonstrated the effectiveness of firearms in Indian warfare and opened the door for Mughal rule over the next three centuries.

The Mansabdari system was Akbar's military and administrative ranking system. Every officer (mansabdar) held a rank (mansab) with two numerical values: zat (personal rank determining status and salary) and sawar (number of cavalrymen they had to maintain). Mansabdars were paid through jagirs (land assignments) rather than cash. The system integrated nobles from different backgrounds into a unified imperial service.

Din-i-Ilahi (Faith of God) was a syncretic religion promulgated by Akbar in 1582. It combined elements of Islam, Hinduism, Zoroastrianianism, and Christianity. It emphasized rationalism, tolerance, and ethical living. It was not a mass movement and had few followers, mainly from Akbar's court. It did not survive long after Akbar's death but symbolised his commitment to religious harmony.

Sher Shah Suri (1540-1545), though he ruled briefly, introduced significant administrative reforms. He built the Grand Trunk Road from Bengal to Punjab, established an efficient spy system, reformed the currency system (introducing the rupiya), and improved the postal system. His land revenue reforms were later adopted by Akbar. He also built many sarais (rest houses) for travellers and maintained a strong, well-disciplined army.

Humayun lost his kingdom due to several factors: his own neglect of state affairs in favour of pleasure, the ambition of his brothers who divided the family territories, and the military strength and administrative ability of Sher Shah Suri. Humayun was defeated at the Battles of Chausa (1539) and Kanauj (1540), forcing him into 15 years of exile in Persia before regaining the throne in 1555.

Akbar's administrative system was one of the most well-organised in medieval Indian history. His reforms touched every aspect of governance:

Central Administration:

• The emperor was the supreme authority, assisted by four ministers: Wazir (finance), Mir Bakshi (military), Mir Saman (royal household), and Sadr (religious and charitable endowments).
• Akbar established the Mansabdari system to organise the military and civil services. Every mansabdar held a rank with zat (personal status) and sawar (cavalry obligation).
• Mansabdars were paid through jagirs (land revenue assignments) rather than cash.

Provincial Administration:

• The empire was divided into 15 subas (provinces), each governed by a Subahdar.
• Each suba was further divided into sarkars, parganas, and villages.
• Local administration was managed by officials like the amil (revenue collector), qazi (judge), and kotwal (police chief).

Revenue Reforms:

• Raja Todar Mal systematised the Zabt system: land was measured and classified by fertility.
• Revenue was fixed at one-third of the average produce, payable in cash.
• In areas where Zabt was not feasible, the batai (crop-sharing) system was used.
• Akbar also introduced the dahsala system (ten-year average) for more stable revenue.

Military Reforms:

• The Mansabdari system ensured a well-organised army with defined obligations.
• Akbar introduced the dagh (branding) system to prevent fraudulent musters.
• He used firearms and artillery effectively and maintained a large standing army.

Religious and Social Policies:

• Akbar followed Sulh-i-Kul (universal peace), abolishing the jizya and pilgrim taxes.
• He promoted interfaith dialogue at the Ibadat Khana (House of Worship).
• He established the Din-i-Ilahi (1582) as an ethical code emphasising tolerance.

The Mughals were great patrons of art and architecture, creating a distinctive style that blended Indian, Persian, and Islamic elements:

Architecture under Babur:

• Babur introduced the charbagh (four-part garden) style to India.
• He built mosques at Panipat and Sambhal and laid out gardens at Agra and Kabul.

Architecture under Akbar:

• Fatehpur Sikri (1569-1585) was Akbar's new capital, blending Hindu and Islamic styles.
• The Buland Darwaza (Gate of Magnificence) at Fatehpur Sikri is 54 metres high.
• Other buildings at Fatehpur Sikri include the Diwan-i-Khas, Panch Mahal, and Jodha Bai's Palace.
• Akbar also built the Agra Fort and the Humayun's Tomb (commissioned by his mother).

Architecture under Jahangir:

• Jahangir was more interested in painting than architecture.
• He built the beautiful Shalimar Bagh garden in Kashmir and the tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah (the first Mughal building with pietra dura work) at Agra.

Architecture under Shah Jahan:

• The Taj Mahal (1632-1653) is the pinnacle of Mughal architecture, built as a mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal.
• The Red Fort at Delhi and the Jama Masjid are major achievements.
• Shah Jahan built the city of Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) with its grand avenues.

Painting:

• Akbar established a royal karkhana (workshop) for painting.
• Mughal painting blended Persian style with Indian themes, creating a distinctive miniature tradition.
• Jahangir was a great patron of painting, and the Mughal style reached its peak under him.

Literature:

• The Akbarnama and Ain-i-Akbari by Abul Fazl are masterpieces of Mughal historiography.
• Babur's autobiography, the Baburnama (Chagatai Turkic), is a unique literary and historical document.
• Abul Fazl also translated the Mahabharata into Persian (Razmnama).
• Dara Shukoh, Shah Jahan's son, translated the Upanishads into Persian.

The Mughal Empire's decline was a gradual process with multiple interconnected causes:

Aurangzeb's Policies:

• His religious intolerance, including the reimposition of jizya (1679) and destruction of temples, alienated Hindus who had been integrated under Akbar.
• His prolonged Deccan wars (1682-1707) drained the treasury and kept the army away from the capital for decades.
• The execution of Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur turned the Sikh community against the Mughals.

Deccan Wars:

• Aurangzeb spent 25 years fighting in the Deccan against the Marathas, Bijapur, and Golkonda.
• The Marathas under Shivaji and later the Peshwas used guerrilla tactics that the Mughal army could not counter effectively.
• The vast Deccan campaigns exhausted the empire's resources without providing lasting gains.

Administrative Weakness:

• The Mansabdari system decayed as mansabdars became hereditary and undisciplined.
• The Jagirdari system became corrupt — jagirdars exploited peasants while failing to maintain military obligations.
• Provincial governors (subahdars) became increasingly independent.

Succession Disputes:

• The Mughal tradition of open succession (no primogeniture) led to costly wars of succession after each emperor's death.
• The War of Succession among Aurangzeb's sons further weakened the empire.

Rise of Regional Powers:

• The Marathas, Sikhs, Jats, and Rajputs asserted independence.
• The Nawabs of Bengal, Awadh, and Hyderabad became virtually independent.
• The Nizam-ul-Mulk established an independent Hyderabad.

Economic Factors:

• Continuous wars drained the treasury.
• The Jagirdari crisis (shortage of jagirs for new mansabdars) led to factionalism and rebellion.
• Peasant revolts and banditry disrupted agricultural production.

Foreign Invasions:

• Nadir Shah's invasion (1739) and the sack of Delhi exposed Mughal military weakness.
• Ahmad Shah Abdal's repeated invasions further weakened the empire.

The cumulative effect of these factors reduced the once-mighty Mughal Empire to a nominal authority by the mid-18th century.