I. Keywords:
1. Mansabdar: The people who joined the Mughal administration and were given the ranks.
2. Jagirdar: The officials directly appointed and controlled by the emperor, to administer the revenue segments called jagir.
3. Zabt: The revenue system introduced by Todarmal the revenue minister of Akbar. It was a fixed on basis of the area of cultivation, yield and the value of the produce.
4. Elite: Something considered as more important.
5. Zamindar: Landlords
6. Sulh-i-kul: the ideology developed by Akbar for better administration.
II. Improve your learning:
1. What was the relationship between the mansabdar and his Jagir ?
A.
1.Mansabdar was an individual who joined Mughal service as a 'Rank holder'.
2.He was directly under the control of the emperor.
3.He had to do like guarding his palace, governing a province, conquering a new kingdom or suppressing a rebellion.
4.Mansabdars received their salaries as revenue assignments called 'Jagirs'.
5.But most of the mansabdars did not reside in their Jagir.
2.What was the role of the zamindar in Mughal administration ?
A.
1.Zamindars were either village headman or the local chieftain.
3.The Mughals used one term "Zamindars ' - to describe all the intermediaries, who collect taxes.
4.In some areas the zamindars exercised a great deal of power.
5.The exploitation by Mughal administrators could drive them to rebellion.
6.They often acted as representatives of the local people in dealing with the Mughal Officials.
3.How were the debates with religious scholars important in the formation governance ?
A.
1.Akbar was interested in religion and social customs of different people.
2.So he started discussion with various religious scholars.
3.He felt that there are both good and bad elements in all religions.
4.They could be separated only with tolerance and reason.
5.So, he thought and decided that an emperor should work hard for the welfare of people.
4.Why did the Mughals allow the earlier rulers to continue in their old kingdoms as before
A.
1.The Mughal rulers campaigned constantly against rulers who refused to ac cept their authority.
2.Once defeated, however, they were given their lands back as assignments.
3.This was done to relieve the emperor from the burden of administration and controlling law and order .
4.The native rulers would be responsible for the administration and safety of the people.
5.Why was the policy of Sulh - i Kul important for the Mughals to control their vast empire ?
A.
1.There were many religious people in the vast kingdom of Mughals. i.e. Muslims, Brahmanas, Jesuits and Zorastrians.
2.Akbar wanted to bring together people of diverse faiths.
3.This eventually led Akbar to the idea of Sulh-i- Kul or universal peace to control their vast empire.
4.This idea of tolerance did not discriminate between the people of different religions in his realm.
6.Read the First para under the title "Zabt and Zamindars" of page 139 and comment.
Zabt and Zamindars : The main source of income available to Mughal rulers was tax on the produce of the peasantry. Akbar's revenue minister, Todar Mal, carried out a careful survey of crop yields, prices and areas cultivated for a ten - year period , 1570-1580 AD . On the basis of this data, tax was fixed in cash for each crop. 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. This was not possible in provinces such as Gujarat and Bengal.
A.
Zabt:
1.Revenue collected on the basis of schedule of revenue rates for industrial crops is known as zabt.
2.It was prevalent in those areas where Mughal administrator's could survey the land and keep very careful accounts.
3.This was not possible in provinces like Gujarat and Bengal.
Zamindars:
1.Zamindar sawar all intermediaries weather local headman of the village or powerful chieftains.
2.In some areas the zamindars exercised a great deal of power.
3.The exploitation by Mughal administrators could drive them to rebellion.
4.Some times zamindars and peasants of the same caste allied in rebellion against Mughal authority.
7.Collect and fill in the table with particular of Mughal emperors.
A.
1.Babur (1526-1530AD):
i) Babur established Mughal rule in India.
ii) He introduced cannons and guns in Indian warfare.
2.Humayun (1530-1556 A.D):
i) Sher Khan defeated Humayun forcing him to flee to Iran.
ii) In Iran Humayun received help from Safavid Shah.
iii) He recaptured Delhi in 1555. but he died in an fire accident the following year.
3.Akbar (1556 to 1605 A.D):
i) Akbar was 13 years old when he became emperor.
ii) He rapidly conquered Bengal, Central India, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
iii) He introduced a new revenue system through his minister todarmal.
iv) He introduced a new religion 'Din- e -lahi'.
4.Jahangir (1605 -1627 A.D):
i) Jahangir continued the campaigns started by Akbar.
ii) He was became a puppet in the hands of his queen.
5.Shah Jahan (1627- 1658 A.D):
i) Shah Jahan constructed a number of monuments among the Taj Mahal is a very famous one.
ii) He was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb.
6.Aurangzeb (1658 -1707 A.D):
i) Aurangzeb faced large number of revolts.
ii) In his period Marathas established independent Kingdom.
iii) He did not show any religious tolerance. The downfall of the Mughals started from here.
III.Short and Additional Answers:
1.What was the difference between the mansabdar and zamindars?
A.
Mansabdars:
1.A mansabdar is one who joined Mughal service.
2.They were also known as 'Rank holders'.
3.They were directly under the control of emperor.
Zamindars:
1.Zamindars were the intermediataries.
2.They were either the local headman or the powerful chieftains.
3.They existed on a hereditary basis.
2.Who was under the greater control of the emperor ?
A.
The Mansabdar was under the great control of the emperor.
3.Compare the position of the Nayaka and a Manasabdar ?
A.
Nayakas:
1.The Nayakas were in Vijayanagara kingdom.
2.They could become powerful enough So they to question the authority of the ruler.
3.They did not reside in or administer their Jagir.
Manasabdar:
1.The mansabdars were in Mughal empire
2.They were regularly transferred,So couldn't become powerful.
3.They resided in jagirs or administer their Jagir
4.How did the Mughals manage the Rajputs ?
A.
1.Some Rajputs married their daughter to Mughal families and received high positions .
2.Some Rajputs, like Sisodiya Rajputs of Chittor refused to accept the Mughal authority.
3.They defeated and gave their old kingdom to rule.
4.Even the Rajputs, who joined the Mughal were enrolled as Manasabdars.
5.Who helped Akbar in framing the vision of governance?
A.
Abdul Fazal helped Akbar in framing the vision of governance.
6.What was the Akbar's vision of governance ?
A.
The emperor would work for the welfare of all subjects irrespective of their religion.
7.Who followed the principle of governance ?
A.
Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan followed the principle of governance.
8.What was the basis for the principle of governance?
A.
'Sulh - i - kul' (universal peace) is the basis for the principle of governance.
9.How do you think the Mughals were able to build a system where the emperor's will was supreme?
A.
1.We have seen that the nayakas in Vijayanagara empire could become independent and powerful eno to challenge the emperor.
2.The Mughals prevented this by constantly transferring the manasabdars one place.
3.The Mughals developed a political system in which the mansabdars would not act independe but only as per the wishes of the emperor. Manasabdarship was not hereditary.
4.The emperor should decide whether or not to appoint a as a manasabdar.
5.The manasabdar brought his cavalry men for review, got them registered their hc must be branded and then received money to pay them as salary.
10.Describe the religious policy of Akbar.
A.
1.Akbar was interested in the religion and social customs of different people.
2.He wanted to bring together people of diverse faiths.
3.He started discussions on religion with the scholars of all religions.
4.This eventually led Akbar to the idea of sulh - i - kul or "universal peace".
5.His idea of tolerance did not discriminate among people of different religions in his realm.
6.With the help of Abul Fazl Akbar framed a vision of governance. i.e., the emperor would work for the welfare of all subjects irrespective of their religion or social status and not for the welfare of just one community.
7.Akbar believed that by having friendly relations with the native kings of all religions and with the cooperation from the people of all religions Mughal kingdom could last long.
So this policy of Sulh- i - kul helped him a lot.
Match the following :
1.Mansab ( ) A) Marwar
2.Zamindar ( ) B) Revenue Assignment
3.Sisodiya Rajput ( ) C) Hereditary chiefs
4.Rathor Rajput ( ) D) Sulh - i kul
5.Akbar ( ) E) Mewar
6.Jagirdar ( ) F)Rank
