About Mughals
- The Mughal Empire's Significance:
- The Mughals established an enduring empire in the late 16th century, controlling most of the Indian subcontinent by the 17th century. Their administrative structures and governance ideas left a lasting political legacy.
- Mughal Lineage:
- Descended from Genghis Khan and Timur, the Mughals preferred their Timurid heritage over their Mongol association due to Genghis Khan's notorious history.
- Babur's Ascension:
- Babur, the first Mughal emperor, ascended the throne of Ferghana at 12 but was displaced by Uzbegs. He later captured Kabul and, after his victory at Panipat in 1526, seized Delhi and Agra.
- Mughal Succession Traditions:
- Rejecting primogeniture, the Mughals practiced coparcenary inheritance, dividing the father's estate among all sons. This system's fairness compared to primogeniture can be debated.
- Mughal-Rajput Relations:
- While the Mughals subdued defiant rulers, many, including the Rajputs, voluntarily joined them for prestige and power. However, certain Rajput groups, like the Sisodiyas of Mewar, resisted Mughal dominance but were eventually defeated and integrated honorably into the empire.
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Different Types of Rulers
- Mansabdars and Jagirdars: 1.1. Diverse Recruitment:
- The Mughals recruited from various ethnic and social groups, extending beyond Turkish nobles to include Iranians, Indian Muslims, Afghans, Rajputs, and others, who were enrolled as mansabdars. 1.2. Mansab System:
- Mansabdars held positions determined by a grading system, indicating their rank, salary, and military responsibilities, known as "mansab." The higher the numerical value of "zat," the more prestigious the position. 1.3. Jagirs:
- Mansabdars received salaries through revenue assignments called jagirs, similar to iqtas. However, most didn’t reside in or directly govern their jagirs. Over time, due to various factors, there was a shortage of jagirs, leading to increased exploitation of the peasantry.
- Zabt and Zamindars: 2.1. Taxation System:
- The primary income for Mughal rulers was a tax on peasants' produce, usually collected through local intermediaries or zamindars. 2.2. Zabt System:
- Akbar’s minister, Todar Mal, implemented a tax system based on a careful survey of crop yields and prices, known as zabt, which was not possible in all regions. 2.3. Zamindar Power and Rebellion:
- In many areas, zamindars were powerful and could rebel against Mughal authority, often forming alliances with peasants, challenging the empire’s stability.
- The Mughal Empire's Later Period: 3.1. Economic Disparity:
- Despite its wealth, there were glaring economic inequalities within the Mughal Empire. A small fraction of high-ranking mansabdars received the majority of the empire's revenues. 3.2. Limited Investment in Production:
- Heavy taxation left little for the peasants and artisans to invest in improving productivity, benefiting mainly the wealthier classes and creating a stark economic divide. 3.3. Emergence of Regional Powers:
- As the central Mughal authority weakened, regional rulers and former Mughal servants became new power centers, forming dynasties and consolidating political identities independent of the Mughal emperor by the 18th century.
Additional Concepts
- Mughal Warfare and Alliances: 1.1. Military Technology:
- Cannons became crucial in warfare from the sixteenth century, with effective use by Babur in the Battle of Panipat. 1.2. Mughal-Rajput Relations:
- Marriages between Mughals and Rajputs were strategic, fostering alliances; prominent examples include Jahangir and Shah Jahan's mothers.
- Mansabdari System Expansion: 2.1. Zat Ranking:
- A higher zat indicated greater prestige and a higher salary. The significant increase in high-ranking mansabdars during Aurangzeb’s reign implied increased state expenditure.
- Historical Records: 3.1. Akbar Nama and Ain-i Akbari:
- Commissioned by Akbar and written by Abul Fazl, these volumes offer detailed accounts of Akbar's reign, administration, and cultural aspects of the empire, remarkable for their rich statistical details.
- Influential Women in Mughal Court: 4.1. Nur Jahan:
- Married to Jahangir, Nur Jahan wielded significant influence, evidenced by her farman and coins minted in her name.
- Policy of Religious Tolerance: 5.1. Sulh-i kul:
- Initiated by Akbar, this policy of universal peace promoted religious tolerance, allowing followers of different religions to coexist and pray peacefully.
Keywords Definitions:
- Mughal: Refers to the dynasty of Mongol origin that ruled large parts of India from the 16th to the 19th century.
- Mansab: A rank, especially in the administrative system of the Mughal empire, determining the holder's status, salary, and military responsibilities.
- Jagir: A type of feudal land grant in South Asia, especially during the Mughal period; the land granted was called a jagir, and the holder, a jagirdar.
- Zat: In the Mughal administrative system, it referred to the personal rank of a mansabdar, determining his salary and status.
- Sawar: Refers to the cavalrymen that each mansabdar was required to maintain as part of his military responsibilities.
- Sulh-i kul: A policy initiated by Akbar meaning "universal peace," it implied tolerance for all religions and sects.
- Primogeniture: A system where the eldest child (usually the eldest son) inherits the parent's entire or largest portion of the estate.
- Coparcenary: A system of inheritance in which property is divided equally among all the heirs.
- Zabt: A system of land revenue collection used in Mughal India, involving detailed surveys and fixed cash levies.
- Zamindar: A landowner, especially one who leases his land to tenant farmers and collects revenues from them; often held administrative and judicial powers.