MUGHAL EMPIRE QUESTIONS

Q1. The name of residence of Mughal Emperors in Delhi was 

A. The Red Fort
B. The Old Fort.
C. The Siri Fort
D.  None of these

Q2. Genghis Khan was a ruler of this tribe:

A. Turkish
B. Mongols
C. Huns
D. None of these

Q3. Which Mughal Emperor was defeated by Sher Shah Suri?

A. Babur
B. Humayun
C. Akbar
D. Jahangir

Q4. What is the ruling period of Jahangir?

A. 1526-1530 AD
B.  1530-1556 AD
C. 1556-1605 AD
D. 1605-1627 AD

Q5. Which Sikh Guru’s Martyrdom took place during Jahangir’s reign?

A. Guru Nanak Devji
B. Guru Gobind Singhji
C. Guru Arjun Devji
D. Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji

Q7. Rathor Rajput was related to

A. Marwar
B. Mewar
C. Amber
D. Ranthambore

The salary of the Mansabdars was called

A. Mansab
B. Jat
C. Jagir
D. Zabt

The literal meaning of Sulh-i kul is

A. Peace
B. Religion
C. Universal peace
D. Inheritance

What was the approximate number of mansabdars in Shah Jahan’s reign?

A. 6000
B. 4000
C.  8000
D. 10,000

The first war of Panipat was fought between ….?

A. Humayun and Ibraham Lodi
B. Akbar and Ibraham
C. Babur and ibrahim
D. Lodi Sher Khan and Ibraham Lodi

The war fought between Babur and Rana Sangha is called the …..?

A. Khanwa war
B. Panipat war
C. Chausa war
D. Kannauj war

Who was the mother of Shah jahan?

A. Mewar Princess
B. Rajput princess
C. Bijapur princess
D. Rathore princess

Who wrote the Akbar nama ?

A. Abul Faizi
B. Abul Fazal
C. Todar mal
D. None

The interesting aspect about Ain i Akbari is …..?

A. Its pictorial details
B. Its ancestral details
C. Its administrative details
D. Its rich statistical details

What was Mansab system?

Answer: Mansab system was a grading system used by the Mughal rulers to fix the rank or salary of a Mansabdar, who were basically their military commanders

Why was it a difficult task for rulers of the Middle Ages to rule the Indian subcontinent? 
Answer:  It was because people of diverse backgrounds and cultures lived here.

Who was Genghis Khan?
Answer: He was the ruler of the Mongol tribes, China and Central Asia.

Who was Babur?
Answer: He was the first Mughal emperor and reigned from 1526 to 1530

Name the battlefield where Ibrahim Lodi was defeated by Babur?

Answer: Panipat.

To whom did Babur defeat at Chanderi? [V- Imp.]
Answer: Babur defeated the Rajputs at Chanderi

What do you mean by the rule of primogeniture?  [V. Imp.]
Answer: Under the rule of primogeniture the eldest son inherited his father’s estate.

What was Timurid custom of coparcenary inheritance? [Imp.]
Answer: It was a division of the inheritance amongst all the sons.

What qualities of the Mughals enabled them to extend their influence over many kings and chieftains? [V. Imp.]
Answer: The careful balance between defeating but not humiliating their opponents enabled the Mughals to extend their influence over many kings and chieftains.

What does the term mansabdar refer to?
Answer: The term mansabdar refers to an individual who holds a mansab, te. a position or rank.

What was zat?
Answer: Mansabdar’s rank and salary were determined by a numerical value called zat The higher the zat, the mpre prestigious was the noble’s position in the court.

 What was jagir?
Answer: Mansabdars received their salaries as revenue assignments known as jagirs.

What was zabt?
Answer: It was the revenue collected on the basis of .schedule of revenue rates for individuals crops.

Write short notes on Akbar’s religious policy.

Answer: Akbar’s liberal religious views and his marriage with the Rajput princess influenced his religious outlook. He used to hold talks with the leaders of various religions. He also built a building called Ibadat Khana at Agra to hold discussions with the religious leaders. Views were exchanged freely. He also introduced the policy of sulh-i kul. This idea of tolerance focused on honesty, justice, and peace that were universally applicable.Akbar found that all religions taught similar ideology. Thus he incorporated the principles of all the religions to found a new faith which he named Din-i-Illahi.’Din-i-Illahi’ did not attract many converts and it perished with the death of Akbar.

Write short notes on the religious policies of the Akbar.

Answer: Akbar’s religious policy:

He followed a liberal religious policy. Full religious freedom was allowed not only to the Hindus but also to the people of other religious faith. Also, He built a building called ‘Ibadat Khana’ where he held discussions with the religious leaders.

Which principle of inheritance did Mughal’s follow? How was it different from the principle that other communities follow?

Answer: The other communities followed the tradition of Primogeniture under which eldest son inherited all his parent’s property and the right to rule, but Mughal’s followed the principle of Timurid custom of coparcenary whereby there was a joint heir to an undivided property.

How were the Mughals greater than their predecessors?

Answer:  Unlike their predecessors, the Mughals created a huge empire and accomplished what had hitherto seemed possible for only short periods of time. From the latter half of the 16th century they expanded their kingdom from Agra and Delhi until in the 17th century they controlled nearly all the subcontinent. They imposed structures of administrations and ideas of governance that outlasted their rule, leaving a political legacy that succeeding rulers of the subcontinent could not overlook.

How did Babur become the ruler of Delhi?

Answer: Babur succeeded to the throne of Ferghana in 1494 when he was only 12 years old. However, he had to leave his ancestral throne due to the invasion of the uzbegs, a Mongol group. Babur wandered for several years. Then in the year 1504 he seized Kabul. In 1526 he defeated the Sultan of Delhi, Ibrahim Lodi, at the battle of Panipat. Thus, he captured Delhi where he laid the foundation of the Mughal Empire. He became the first Mughal emperor and ruled from 1526 to 1530.

Who were Mansabdars?

Answer: The term ‘mansabdar’ refers to an individual who holds a mansab, meaning a ‘position or rank’. It was a grading system used by the Mughals to fix the rank, salary and military responsibilities. Rank and salary were determined by a numerical value called ‘zat’. The higher the ‘zat’, the more prestigious was the noble’s position in court and was larger his salary. ‘Mansabdars’ received their salaries as revenue assignments called ‘jagirs’ which were somewhat like iqtas.

What were the main features of Sulh-i Kul? [Imp.] 

The idea of Sulh-i Kul was introduced by Akbar, the Great. Sulh-i Kul meant universal peace. Its main features are given below :

• The idea of Sul-i Kul was based on the idea of tolerance which did not discriminate between the people of different religions in Akbar’s realm.
• It focused on a system of ethics—honesty, justice, peace. These values were universally applicable.

Describe the Mansabdari or the Jagirdari system of Mughal India.

Answer: Turkish Nobles, Indian Muslims, Afghans and Rajputs joined the Mughal services as mansabdars. Amansabdar refers to an individual who holds a mansab, meaning a rank or a position used by the Mughals to fix rank, salary and military responsibility of the individual. His military responsibility required him to maintain a specified number of sawar or cavalrymen. His salary was determined by the numerical value ofzat. The higher the numerical value of zat, the higher was his salary and position in court.Mansabdars received their salaries as revenue assignments called Jagirs. They did not actually reside in their Jagirs but appointed servants to collect revenues from the people. They even got paid on the quality of horses that they maintained.

Give an account of Todar Mai’s revenue system?

Answer:  Todar Mai was Akbar’s revenue minister. He carried out a careful survey of crop yields, prices and areas cultivated for a 10-year period, 1570-1580. On the basis of this data, tax was fixed on each crop in cash.

Each province was divided into revenue circles with its own schedule of revenue rates for individual crops. This revenue system came to be known as zabt. This system was prevalent in those areas where Mughal administrators could survey the land and keep careful accounts.

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

Answer: Abul Fazl, one of Akbar’s close friends and courtiers, wrote a three-volume history of the reign of Akbar. It was titled as Akbar Nama. The first volume dealt with Akbar’s ancestors and the second volume recorded the events of Akbar’s reign. Ain-i Akbari is the third volume. It deals with Akbar’s administration, household, army, the revenues and the geography of his empire. The book also provides details about the traditions and cultures of the people living in India. The most interesting aspect about Ain-i Akbari is its rich statistical details about things as diverse as crops, yields, prices, wages and revenues.

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

The influence and power of the Mughals were at the height during the 17th century.

 The effect of their administrative and military efficiency brought great economic and commercial prosperity in the Empire. 

They had huge treasure of wealth. 

They led highly luxurious life. But the common mass had to face the curse of poverty.

 The Mughal emperors and their mansabdars spend a great deal of their income on salaries and goods. 

The poorest among them led a very miserable life. It was not possible for them to invest in additional resources like tools and supplies in order to increase productivity. 

However, the wealthier peasantry and artisanal groups, the merchants and bankers profited in this economic world.

The Mughal elites exercised a great deal of power in the late 17th century. With the decline of the Mughal power and influence, many nobles became independent. 

They constituted new dynasties and held command of provinces, such as Hyderabad and Awadh.