Why did the Mughals emphasise their Timurid and not their Mongol descent?
The Mughals were descendants of two great lineages of rulers. From their mother's side they were descendants of Genghis Khan, ruler of the Mongol tribes. From their father's side they were the successors of Timur, the ruler of Iran, Iraq and modern-day Turkey. However, the Mughals did not like to be called Mongol because Mongol's especially Genghis Khan's, memory was associated with massacre of innumerable people. It was also linked with the Uzbegs, their Mongol competitors. On the other hand, the Mughals were proud of their Timurid ancestry, because it achieved good name in the history.
Why was it a difficult task for rulers of the Middle Ages to rule the Indian subcontinent?
Why was it important for the Mughals to recruit mansabdars from diverse backgrounds and not just Turanis and Iranis
Like the Mughal Empire, India today is also made up of many social and cultural units. Does this pose a challenge to national integration?
What qualities of the Mughals enabled them to extend their influence over many kings and chieftains? [V. Imp.]
How were the debates with religious scholars important in the formation of Akbar's ideas on governance?
Peasants were vital for 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?
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.
Match the following:
mansab – Marwar
Mongol – governor
Sisodiya Rajput – Uzbeg
Rathor Rajput – Mewar
Nur Jahan – rank
subadar – Jahangir
What do you know about the Mughal relations with other rulers especially the Rajputs? [Imp.]
Why did the peasantry suffer a lot during the last years of Aurangzeb's reign? [V. Imp.]
Fill in the blanks:
(a) The capital of Mirza Hakim, Akbar's half-bro: her, was …………………
(b) The five Deccan Sultanate were Berar, Khandesh, Ahmadnagar,
(c) If zat determined a mansabdar's rank and salary, sewar indicated his………………………
(d) Abul Faze, Akbar's friend and counsellor, helped him frame the idea of …………. so that he could govern a society composed of many religions, cultures and castes.
Contrast the Mughals to their predecessors. [V. Imp.]
Or
How were the Mughals greater than their predecessors?
Divide Akbar's reign into three periods and give details about them.
Or
Mention the major campaigns and events of Akbar's reign.
Awangzeb, did not follow the Mughals' policy and insulted Shivaji when he came to accept Mughal authority. What was the consequence of this insult? [Imp.]