History

The Mughal Empire

Question:

Write a short note on Akbar's administrativepolicies.

Answer:

Akbar's administrative policies were mentioned in Abul Fazl's book the Akbar Nama, particularly in its third and last volume, the Ain-i Akbari In the book Abul Fazl explained that the empire was divided into provinces known as Subas, governed by a Subadar. The Subadar 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 several officers, for example

  • The military paymaster also known as BakhshL
  • The minister in charge of religious and charitable patronage or
  • Military commanders called Faigdars, and
  • The town police commander called Akbar's nobles commanded huge armies and had access to large amounts of revenue.

Akbar wanted to govern his empire peacefully. Hence he gave utmost importance to the idea of tolerance because it did not discriminate between people of different religions in his realm. He held religions discussions with the Ulama, Brahmanas, Jesuit priests who were Roman Catholics and Zoroastrians and came to the conclusion that the idea of sulh-i kul or ‘universal peace' would work effectively. This idea focused on a system of ethics, honesty, justice and peace. These values were universally accepted. Thus, Akbar's administrative policies were based on considerate ideas.

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The Mughal Empire

Q 1.

Who was the regent of Akbar?

Q 2.

Who was Genghis Khan?

Q 3.

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

Q 4.

What was zabt?

Q 5.

Why was it a difficult task for rulers of the Middle Ages to rule the Indian subcontinent?

Q 6.

How important was the income from land revenue to the stability of the Mughal Empire?

Q 7.

Who was victorious in the conflict over succession amongst Shah Jahan's sons?

Q 8.

With whom did Akbar hold discussion on religion?

Q 9.

Name the battlefield where Ibrahim Lodi was defeated by Babur?

Q 10.

What was jagir?

Q 11.

What was Timurid custom of coparcenary inheritance?

Q 12.

What was the role of the zamindar in Mughal administration?

Q 13.

Who fought guerrilla warfare?

Q 14.

What does the term mansabdar refer to?

Q 15.

Give an account of Todar Mai's revenue system?

Q 16.

What was zat?

Q 17.

What were the relationships between the mansabdar and the jagir?

Q 18.

What forced Hwnayun to flee to Iran?

Q 19.

Give an account of Akbar Nama and Ain-i Akbari.

Q 20.

Like the Mughal Empire, India today is also made up of many social and cultural units. Does this pose a challenge to national integration?

Q 21.

Why was it important for the Mughals to recruit mansabdars from diverse backgrounds and not just Turanis and Iranis

Q 22.

What power did the nobles exercise during Akbar's reign?

Q 23.

When did Mehrunnisa receive the title of Nur Jahan?

Q 24.

Why did the Mughals emphasise their Timurid and not their Mongol descent?

Q 25.

What qualities of the Mughals enabled them to extend their influence over many kings and chieftains? [V. Imp.]

Q 26.

To whom did Babur defeat at Chanderi?[V- Imp.]

Q 27.

How were the debates with religious scholars important in the formation of Akbar's ideas on governance?

Q 28.

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?

Q 29.

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.

Q 30.

What were the central provinces under the control of the Mughals?

Q 31.

How is Prince Khurram better known as in the Indian History?

Q 32.

What do you mean by the rule of primogeniture?

Q 33.

Who was Babur?

Q 34.

Match the following:
mansab                         –  Marwar
Mongol                         –  governor
Sisodiya Rajput         –  Uzbeg
Rathor Rajput           –  Mewar
Nur Jahan                   –  rank
subadar                       –  Jahangir

Q 35.

What do you know about the Mughal relations with other rulers especially the Rajputs? [Imp.]

Q 36.

How did Babur become the ruler of Delhi?

Q 37.

Why did the peasantry suffer a lot during the last years of Aurangzeb's reign? [V. Imp.]

Q 38.

Write a short note on Akbar's administrativepolicies.

Q 39.

Write in brief about the Mughal Empire in the 17th century and afterwards.[Imp.]

Q 40.

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.

Q 41.

Contrast the Mughals to their predecessors. [V. Imp.]
Or
How were the Mughals greater than their predecessors?

Q 42.

Divide Akbar's reign into three periods and give details about them.
Or
Mention the major campaigns and events of Akbar's reign.

Q 43.

What were the main features of Sulh-i Kul?

Q 44.

Who were mansabdars? What were their responsibilities?

Q 45.

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.]