King

• Society in Mughal times was organised on a feudal basis and the head of the social system was the king. He enjoyed an unparalleled status. He was the ultimate authority in everything. Wasteful expenditure was nobles. There was room for a Persian, a Turanian, an Afghan, a Musalmaan. The king did everything in his power for his kiths and kins. They were given allowances and stipends from the royal exchequer.

Nobles

• The Mughal Nobles monopolised most of the jobs in the country. They enjoyed the goodwill and patronage of the king. Most of the nobles lived a life of extravagance. They maintained large establishments and most of their income was wasted on them. They were required to give costly presents to the king on various occasions.

Society

• The middle class was heterogeneous in composition. It included the wealthy merchants, professional men and petty Mansabdars. The lower classes comprised of the cultivators, artisans, small traders, shop-keepers, household servants, slaves, etc. Most of them were condemned to live a hard and unattractive life. Their clothings were scanty. They did not use woollen clothes at all. Very few of them could afford to use shoes. Their lives were simple and their belongings were limited.
• Sati was common among the Hindus. Child marriage was also prevalent. Both the Hindus and Muslims spent a lot of money on ornaments. The use of liquor, opium, etc., was common and no effective check was put on them. There was no scheme of popular education for the people.
• Pilgrimages were popular among the Hindus in spite of the difficulties of the means of communication and transport in Mughal India. The Hindus believed in the purity of the water of the Ganges. They believed that a dip in the Ganges was sure to purify them of all their sins. The pilgrimage to Mecca was an annual event of great importace in Mughal India. As early as the 15th century, Nicolo Conti and other travellers notices very large Indian built vessels on the west coast which were maintained solely for Haj purposes. Akbar showed considerable interest in the pilgrimage to Mecca and was prepared to give all kinds of assistance to the pilgrims. In 1575, he issued a general order that anyone who wished to go on Haj Pilgrimage would be paid from the royal treasury.

Foreign Trade

• There was a great increase in the Foreign Trade of the country. Akbar and Jahangir took great interest in the foreign sea-borne trade, although they took no steps to strengthen their navy in order to establish Mughal supremacy on the sea. Akbar himself took part in foreign trade and was anxious to make profits out of it. In the time of Akbar, the important outlets for foreign seaborne trade were the ports of Cambay and Surat, Bengal (particularly Satgaon), the Coromondal Coast, the Malabar Coast and the Indus.

Previous Year Questions – 12

Ques.1: Who were ‘Jagirdars’ during the reign of Akbar?

(a) Large estate owners

(b) Officials of state who were given ‘jagir’ in place of cash pay

(c) Revenue collectors

(d) Autonomous rulers under Akbar

Ans: (b)

• Jagir was a piece of land which was given to the Mansabdars as salary. There were other mansabdars who were paid through cash. The Jagirdars during the Mughal period were the all the assignees of the jagirs. The Jagirdar was a feudal class who collected taxes as a form of revenue.
• After the death of the Jagirdar, the land was seized by the Mughals. The Mughal officers who received land grants (jaigir) were known as jagirdars.There sole duty was that of revenue collection.The mansabdars who were paid in the form of cash was known as ‘Naqdi’ and those who were paid through land were called Jagirdars.
• Jagirdars were typically appointed as officials of the state and were responsible for administering the assigned lands. They collected revenue from the jagir lands and managed the local administration under the authority of the Mughal Empire. The jagirdars played a crucial role in maintaining law and order, collecting taxes, and supporting the imperial administration.

Ques.2: What was not the most important feature of land revenue system of Akbar?

(a) Collection of land revenue in kind or cash

(b) Collection of land revenue based on accurate measurement of land

(c) Collection of land revenue directly at the central treasury

(d) Fixation of taxes

Ans: (c)

• The option that was not the most important feature of Akbar’s land revenue system is (c) collection of land revenue directly at the central treasury.

Akbar’s land revenue system, known as the “Zabt” system, implemented several significant features to ensure efficient and effective revenue collection

Certainly, here’s more information about each of the options:

(a) Collection of land revenue in kind or cash:

• One of the significant features of Akbar’s land revenue system was the flexibility in collecting revenue either in the form of agricultural produce (in-kind) or cash, depending on the local conditions and preferences of the farmers.

(b) Collection of land revenue based on accurate measurement of land:

• Akbar’s administration introduced a system of accurate measurement of land known as the “Zabt” system. Land was surveyed and assessed to determine its potential yield, and revenue was fixed based on this assessment.

(c) Collection of land revenue directly at the central treasury:

• This option is not the most important feature of Akbar’s land revenue system. Akbar’s revenue collection system involved intermediaries and local officials who collected revenue at the regional and district levels. The collected revenue was then consolidated and sent to the central treasury.

(d) Fixation of taxes:

• Akbar’s government aimed to establish a fair and fixed tax structure to reduce the burden on peasants. Taxes were determined based on the productivity of the land, and once fixed, they were not subject to arbitrary changes.
• So, the correct answer is (c), as the direct collection of land revenue at the central treasury was not the most important feature of Akbar’s revenue system; instead, it was collected through intermediaries at the regional and local levels.

Ques.4: Which Mughal ruler introduced the Mansabdari system in India?

(a) Akbar (b) Humayun

(c) Shahjahan (d) Babar

Ans: (a)

• Akbar the Great, the third Mughal emperor who reigned from 1556 to 1605, is credited with introducing the Mansabdari system. The Mansabdari system was a hierarchical system of ranking and administration that formed the backbone of the Mughal military and civil administration.
• Under the Mansabdari system, every officer in the Mughal administration was assigned a rank called “mansab,” which determined their position, salary, and military responsibilities. The ranks ranged from “mansabdar” or officer to high-ranking “amir” or noble.
• Akbar’s Mansabdari system incorporated elements of both military and civil administration. It ensured loyalty to the emperor and provided a flexible system for managing the vast Mughal Empire. The system also allowed for the efficient mobilization of troops and the integration of diverse groups into the Mughal administration.

Ques.5: The court language of Mughals was

(a) Urdu (b) Arabic

(c) Persian (d) Turkish

Ans: (c)

• The Persians were one of the major ethnic groups that followed the invasion of the Indian subcontinent and Afghanistan with the ethnic Turko-Mongol ruling elite of the Mughal Empire. During the Mughal Empire, many ethnic Persian technocrats, bureaucrats, merchants, scientists, architects, teachers, poets, artists, theologians and Sufis migrated and settled in various parts of the Indian subcontinent.
• The Mughal emperor Humayun was defeated by Sher Shah Suri in 1540 and marched with 40 men and his wife and fled to the powerful Safavid Empire in Iran. Shah Tahmasp welcomed the Mughal, and considered him a royal visitor. Here Humayun went sightseeing and was surprised to see Persian artwork, military power and architecture, he saw most of it: the work of Timur Sultan Hussein Bakrah and his ancestor, Princess Gauhar Shad, thus the work of his relatives Was able to be praised. And ancestors at first. He was introduced to the small Persian writers and Kamaldeen Behzad, two of his disciples in the court of Humayun. Humayun was surprised at his work and asked if they would work for him if he were to gain sovereignty of India and they agreed.
• Shah Tahmas provided financial support and a large choice of cavalry to recapture his empire. The nobles and soldiers of Persia included Humayun in the reconstruction of South Asia.
• The tendency of the Turkish Turani nobility to fade away from the political scene and the Persian nobles improved their position. 1545–1555 AD. Many of the Persians who served Humayun during the period were appointed to important central offices, such as the Diwan, the Wazir, and the Mir-Saman (in charge of the Imperial Palace).
• Most of the Persians migrated to South Asia to try and attain high positions in the Mughal Empire. Many belonged to Sunni Persians who felt discriminated against in the Shia Safavid Empire and most Sunnis migrated to the Mughal Empire. There were also rebels and nobles who lost royal favor and migrated to the Mughal Empire. The Mughals also preferred to appoint foreign Muslim officials who had little local interest or were thus loyal to the Mughal emperor.
• The most important Shia kingdom in South Asia was established by Persian originals in Khurasan with Persia around 1722 AD, Faizabad whose capital and Sadat Ali Khan as its first Nawab. Awadh or Awadh is also known as Awadh in various British historical texts.
• Evidence of Persian historical influence can be seen in its influence on the languages of the Indian subcontinent. In many of these areas, a certain influence has been seen by the Persian not only in literature but also in everyday speech. Balschi (an Iranic language), Pashto (another Iranic language), and Urdu made a strong impact on Persian, but also a relatively strong influence on Indian languages such as Punjabi, Sindhi, Bengali, and Gujarati. In other languages such as Hindi, Odia, Marathi and Rajasthani, there are significant amounts of loan words from Persian.
• The official status of Persian was replaced with English in 1835 by the British East India Company. After 1843, Hindustani and English gradually replaced Persian in the Indian subcontinent, as the British subcontinent dominated the British.

Ques.6: Mansabdari system was introduced by

(a) Akbar (b) Jahangir

(c) Sher Shah (d) Balban

Ans: (a)

• The Mansabdari system was a system of ranking and administration developed during the reign of Emperor Akbar (1556-1605) in the Mughal Empire. Akbar implemented this system to effectively organize and control the nobility and the military.

• Under the Mansabdari system, every official in the Mughal administration, including military commanders, civil administrators, and courtiers, was assigned a rank or “mansab.” The rank determined the official’s salary, military responsibilities, and the number of troops they were expected to maintain. The mansabdar (holder of a mansab) was required to provide military service to the empire and maintain a specified number of cavalrymen and infantrymen.While the Mansabdari system was initially introduced by Akbar, it continued to be used by subsequent Mughal emperors, including Jahangir and Shah Jahan, with some modifications.

Ques.7: During the Mughal period, under the Zabti system, land revenue was assessed and was required to be paid

(a) In cash or kind (b) Only in cash

(c) Only in kind (d) By the zamindar on behalf of the peasants

Ans: (a)

• The Zabti system, also known as the Dahshala system, was a land revenue assessment and collection system implemented by the Mughal administration. According to this system, the land revenue was assessed based on the measurement of cultivated land and the estimated yield of crops.
• Under the Zabti system, peasants were given the flexibility to pay their land revenue in either cash or kind. Cash payments were usually preferred by the Mughal administration, as it provided a standardized means of revenue collection and facilitated trade and commerce. However, in cases where cash was not readily available, peasants were allowed to make payments in the form of agricultural produce or goods.
• The assessment of land revenue under the Zabti system was carried out by revenue officials known as “Amins” or “Qanungos.” They would measure the land, record the estimated yield, and calculate the corresponding revenue that was due from the peasants. The peasants themselves were responsible for making the payment directly to the Mughal treasury or its representatives.

Ques.7: Among the following Mughal rulers who was the founder of Mansabdari System?

(a) Akbar (b) Jahangir

(c) Shahjahan (d) Aurangzeb

Ans: (a)

• The Mansabdari system introduced by Akbar was an administrative unit which was given to a particular individual serving in the Mughal administration. Every civil and military officer was given a Mansab, which determined their salaries and allowances. These Mansabdars were given different ranks according to their positions. Those Mansabdars whose rank was one thousand or below were called Amir, while those above 1,000 were called Amir-al Kabir. Some great Amirs whose ranks were above 5,000 were also given the title of Amir-al Umara (Amir of Amirs).
• It was a system where nobles were granted a jagir, or revenue assignment, for services rendered by them, with the direct control of these nobles in the hands of the king. The higher the Mansab means the higher the position is. During the early reign of Akbar, the lowest grade was ten and the highest was 5,000 which was later raised to 7,000. Higher Mansabs were given to princes and Rajput rulers mainly. Nobles like Raja Man Singh, Birbal, Todarmal were given very high Mansabs because of their important positions in the administration system of Akbar.

Ques.8: The Mansabdari System introduced by Akbar was borrowed from the system followed in

(a) Afghanistan (b) Turkey

(c) Mongolia (d) Persia

Ans: (c)

• Answer Mansab in Persian means a place or position. Akbar introduced the Mughal mansabdari system. Akbar had borrowed this mansabdari system from Mongolia. Every official in the Mughal empire, high or low, had a rank or a mansab. Their status, duties, pay and importance were graded accordingly.All mansabdars had to maintain a military contingent for which they were paid in cash. During Akbar’s time the officials bearing a decimal rank of 500 were ranked as noble.
• The highest rank was 7000/7000 which was awarded to the officials. The emperor has the power to appoint, promote, and dismiss the mansabdars. Each rank was further divided into two- Zat and Sawar.
• Zat rank meant the personal status and salary due to him, and sawar rank meant the number of cavalrymen.

Ques.9: In medieval India, Mansabdari system was introduced minaly for

(a) Making recruitment to the army

(b) Facilitating revenue collection

(c) Ensuring religious harmony

(d) Effecting clean administration

Ans: (d)

• The Mansabdari System was introduced by Mughal Emperor Akbar in the late 16th century. It was a unique administrative system that aimed to create a centralized and efficient administration in the Mughal Empire. Purpose of Mansabdari System: The purpose of the Mansabdari System was to ensure clean administration in the Mughal Empire. It aimed to create a clear hierarchy of officials and ensure that they were selected based on their merit and loyalty to the empire. The system also aimed to create a system of checks and balances to prevent corruption and ensure that officials were accountable for their actions. Key features of Mansabdari System: • Ranking System: The Mansabdari System introduced a ranking system that classified officials based on their military and administrative capabilities. The ranking system ranged from 10 to 10,000, and officials were given a rank or mansab based on their capabilities. • Dual Responsibility: The Mansabdars (officials) were given dual responsibilities, i.e., military and administrative. They were required to maintain a certain number of soldiers and were responsible for collecting revenue from their assigned territories. • Salary Payment: The officials were paid in cash and land grants. The cash salary was known as ‘tuyul’ and was paid directly to the official. The land grants were known as ‘jagir’ and were given to the official as a reward for their service. • Promotion and Demotion: The Mansabdars were promoted or demoted based on their performance. The promotion was based on their loyalty, military prowess, and administrative capabilities. Conclusion: The Mansabdari System was a unique administrative system that aimed to create a centralized and efficient administration in the Mughal Empire. It was designed to ensure clean administration and ensure that officials were selected based on their merit and loyalty to the empire. The system created a clear hierarchy of officials and ensured that they were accountable for their actions.

Ques.10: With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size?

(a) Paragana- Sarkar – Suba

(b) Sarkar – Paragana – Suba

(c) Suba – Sarkar – Paragana

(d) Paragana – Suba – Sarkar

Ans: (a)

In medieval India, the administrative system was divided into several levels of governance. The correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size is: 1. Paragana 2. Sarkar 3. Suba

• Paragana: – The paragana was the smallest administrative division in medieval India. – It was equivalent to a taluka or tehsil in modern times. – The paragana was governed by a headman or a patwari who was responsible for maintaining law and order, collecting revenue, and reporting to the higher authorities.
• Sarkar: – The sarkar was the next level of administrative division in medieval India. – It was equivalent to a district or a revenue division in modern times. – The sarkar was governed by a sarkar-i-ghazi or a governor who was appointed by the emperor. – The governor was responsible for maintaining law and order, collecting revenue, and reporting to the higher authorities.
• Suba: – The suba was the largest administrative division in medieval India. – It was equivalent to a province or a state in modern times. – The suba was governed by a subedar or a viceroy who was appointed by the emperor. – The viceroy was responsible for maintaining law and order, collecting revenue, and reporting to the higher authorities. Conclusion: Thus, the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size in medieval India was paragana, sarkar, and suba.