Tag: Mughal empire

Introduction

The Battle of Plassey was a crucial juncture in Indian history. On June 23, 1757, in Bengal, the foundation for Hindustan’s humiliation during a two-century period was laid. 150 years after their initial arrival as a trading company, the British were aiming to rule India. The worst part was that India’s leaders were so focused on their internal issues that they were unaware of any external threats. Due to the same mistake, the Delhi Sultanate was founded in India in the 12th century.

The country and the regular people paid the price for stupidity. India evolved from the “Golden Bird of the World” to the “Golden Cash cow of Britishers.” We shall learn about the same conflict here. 

Why did the war happen ?

Weakening of Mughal Empire- After Aurangzeb, a plethora of useless successors controlled the empire. This led to the rapid decline of the power of the Mughals. These rulers like Bahadur Shah I, Mohammad Shah, Farrukh Siyar, etc. were either busy safeguarding their throne or indulged in excessive pleasures. 

Rise of regional nawabs: Nobles and provincial governors of the Mughal Empire began slicing the empire in half. creating a foundation for regional dominions. In 1724, Hyderabad was the first to declare its independence, followed by Bengal and Awadh. Under Baji Rao I’s direction, the Marathas advanced rapidly. So, their desire to rule the entire subcontinent appeared to be a possibility. 

British abuse of commercial privileges: In 1717, the Mughal ruler Farukk Siyar granted the East India Company (EIC) free trading privileges, which came to be known as the “Magna Carta” of English trade. For just Rs 3,000 a year, they were effectively granted the permission to conduct unrestricted trade in Bengal. But by handing it to neighbourhood traders, they abused it.  

British militarization: Although the EIC initially pretended to be a business, it eventually revealed its true intentions. They wanted to be in charge of the area and the profitable trade with India. As a result, the development of Fort William in Calcutta was a clear indication. They also engaged in combat with other European states in an effort to take control of more land.

Black Hole Tragedy: Siraj-Ud-Daula, the nawab of Bengal, was enraged by the fortification of Fort William and the loss of revenue. On June 20, 1757, he attacked and captured 146 British soldiers. 123 of these soldiers died while being held in the cramped space. This was the start of the war.

The War

When Robert Clive learned of the Black Hole, he marched from Madras to Bengal. He had a tiny army, but a really clever idea. He became friends with Rai Durlabh, Jagat Seth, and Mir Jafar, the Bengal army’s supreme commander. The nawab, Siraj-d-Daula, on the other hand, made an alliance with the French. In order to drive the East India Company out of Bengal, Siraj and the French intended to conquer Fort William. The tragic Black Hole Tragedy occurred during their attempt to achieve their objective. Nevertheless, many historians question its veracity. 

Finally, on June 23, 1757, the conflict broke out. The battle took place in Bengal’s Palashi area. Siraj and Fench had over 50,000 warriors, but Clive had only 3000 men under his command. But the betrayal of Mir Jafar, Rai Durlabh, and Jagat Seth forced the Nawab of Bengal to submit. Siraj’s army had more over one-third of its soldiers abstain from combat. In the meantime, Clive attacked his rivals with a calculated and successful strike. The British won the battle, which was over in a single day. Siraj-Ud-Duala attempted to flee but was apprehended and killed by Miran, Mir Jafar’s son.

After the war

• As promised before the battle, Mir Jafar was anointed as the Nawab of Bengal. The British installed him as a puppet monarch. 
• A new power emerges: The British were now the only foreign power in India after successfully wooing the Europeans. They now posed a threat to the territories ruled by the Mughals, Marathas, Mysore, etc. 
• Diwani rights: When the British acquired the Diwani rights in Bengal, the EIC started exploiting the peasantry. . 
• Economic Colonisation: Following the battle of 1757, India was economically colonised. The East India Company asked Mir Jafar to write laws that supported their business and interests. It was difficult for other European powers to enter.
• The British substantially fortified Calcutta in order to entirely control the trade from its ports. To safeguard the Company’s assets, several troops were sent into action.
• Mir Jafar desired to be an independent leader rather than a puppet. This prompted him to revolt against the Company. 

Summary

The end of Indian dominance on the international scene began with the Battle of Plassey. After Bengal, the entire Indian subcontinent suffered the same fate. Only as an offshoot from the East India Company did the Mughals, Marathas, Wodeyars, and Sikhs exist. Following the Battle of Plassey, the Company ended up acknowledged as the only power during the Battle of Buxar in 1764. Along with Bengal and Awadh, they even routed the mighty Mughal army.   

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Who governed the Mughals at the time of the Plassey battle?

Ans. The Mughal emperor at the time of the Battle of Plassey was Alamgir II. From 1754 until 1759, he only held power for a short period of time. Because he was a poor administrator, he chose to ignore such a serious crisis.

Q2. Exactly who took part in the Battle of Buxar?

Ans. The East India India Company under the command of Major Hector Munro engaged Mir Kasim (the Nawab of Bengal), Shuja-ud-Daula (the Nawab of Awadh), and Shah Alam II (the Mughal emperor) in battle at Buxar.

Q3. The Treaty of Allahabad was signed when?

Ans. In 1765, the three defeated monarchs were asked to sign the humiliating Treaty of Allahabad as a result of their defeat in the Battle of Buxar.

Q4.Why did the Mughal empire lose power?

Ans. Some of the main factors contributing to the decline of Mughal dominance in India include ineffective leaders, religious policies, disloyal nobility, a disregard for science and wars of succession.

Q5. What year did the Battle of Wandiwash take place?

Ans. The English and French engaged in combat at the Battle of Wandiwash in 1760. It was a battle for dominance of the Indian subcontinent in the Third Carnatic War.

Introduction

Surat in Gujarat, along with Cambay (now Khambut) and later Ahmedabad, served as the center of western trade during the Mughal era. Surat was the entry point for trade with West Asia throughout the Gulf of Ormuz. Surat has sometimes been referred to as the entrance to Mecca due to the large number of pilgrim ships that left. There were several different castes in Surat. At some point in the seventeenth century, Surat was home to factories and warehouses built by the Portuguese, Dutch, and English. Retail and wholesale businesses existed in Surat. They offered cotton garments in these stores. It is important to note that markets for Surat textiles, which are known for their gold ace borders, include West Asia, Africa, and Europe. People arrived at the city from all over the world, and the kingdom supplied them with all of the amenities.

A gateway to the West, Surat

Surat was the hub of Western trade during the Mughal Empire. Surat is said to be the entry point for trade with West Asia over the Strait of Hormuz. It was a multiethnic metropolis where people of all castes and religions lived. In Surat throughout the 17th century, factories and warehouses were built by the Portuguese, Dutch, and English. In Surat, there were a lot of retail and wholesale establishments. These shops sold garments made of cotton. It is significant to note that Surat fabrics with Zari or Gold Ace borders were sold in West Asia, Africa, and Europe. People from all over the world flocked to the city, and the government gave them access to everything they needed. In Surat, the Mahajans or Kathiawad Seths ran a significant banking business. a far-off market like that of Cairo in Egypt.

What kind of trades were practiced in Surat? 

Surat was the hub of Western trade during the Mughal Empire. Surat is said to be the entry point for trade with West Asia over the Strait of Hormuz. It was a multiethnic metropolis where people of all castes and religions lived. In Surat throughout the 17th century, factories and warehouses were built by the Portuguese, Dutch, and English. In Surat, there were a lot of retail and wholesale establishments. These shops sold garments made of cotton. It is significant to note that Surat fabrics with Zari or Gold Ace borders were sold in West Asia, Africa, and Europe. People from all over the world flocked to the city, and the government gave them access to everything they needed. In Surat, the Mahajans or Kathiawad Seths ran a significant banking business. a far-off market like that of Cairo in Egypt.

Its main application was as a metal for coins. In addition, a number of everyday objects were made of copper. Prices for copper in Surat ranged from Rs. 18 to Rs. 22 per mound. The English company sent copper to specific Surat merchants in accordance with a contract.

Describe Surat during the time of Mughal empire

In the Middle Ages, Surat played a significant role as a port city for the Mughal Empire in India, especially in the 17th century. A nation’s seaport is always seen as important since it acts as the centre of its foreign trade. India’s Surat port was regarded at the time as an essential part of the nation’s economic machinery.

In the year 1514 CE, the Portuguese referred to Surat as one of the important cities for trading in various items. This gold mohur was produced at the Surat mint for the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan during the month of Azar. Surat was ruled by the Muslim family of the Mirzas. In order to seize Surat, Emperor Akbar laid siege to it in 1573. The Mirzas gave the Portuguese the place in return for their aid in the battle. After reaching Surat, the Portuguese soldiers made the decision not to confront the formidable imperial force and took a diplomatic stance in front of the Emperor.

The army of the Mughals took control of Surat. Under Akbar, Surat was a significant port city. It got revenue from customs and other dues totaling Rs. 4 lakhs each year. Given the importance of the port, the Emperor designated a Mutasaddi, or revenue.

What led to Surat’s decline?

In the 1750s, the merchants who dominated trade started to declare bankruptcy. Over the course of the 19th century, European businesses increasingly increased their dominance. At first, local courts made a number of concessions to European businesses. Due to their superior organization and access to more resources than their rivals, the businesses were able to monopolize commerce. Local traders were unable to compete with the bigger shipping corporations, which led to a sharp reduction in exports from the ports, which contributed to the decline of Surat and Hooghly. Trade financing through the credit system started to dwindle. In the final few years of the 17th century, trade in the port of Surat decreased from Rs 16 million to Rs 3 million.

New ports like Calcutta and Bombay arose as a result of the fall of the Hugley and the old port of Surat, and India’s colonial power increased. European ships and European businesses handled trade through the new ports of Bombay and Calcutta.

Summary

Different ethnic groups lived in Surat. The city was known for its diversity. The Portuguese, Dutch, and English all had workshops and warehouses in Surat during the 17th century. There were many retail and wholesale stores in Surat. These stores offered cotton clothing. It is important to note that Surat was a major textile market, with people from all over the world coming to the city.The state provided them with all the amenities they needed. The Kathiawad seths were the owners of huge banking institutions in Surat. The far-off markets of Cairo, Basra, Baghdad, and Antwerp all honoured the Surat hundis.

FAQs

1. Where exactly is Masulipatnam?

The town of Masulipatnam is situated on the Krishna River delta. The fishing sector in the town is well-known. The city was well-known for having robust trading links in the 17th century. Masulipatnam was under the hands of the Dutch and English East India Companies, although the Dutch were ultimately successful in establishing a fort.

2. Which Indian city has been referred to “The Diamond City”?

Surat is known as “The Silk City” or “The Diamond City,” and it is one of India’s cleanest cities. Another epithet for it is “The Green City.” Its present is the most vibrant, and its historical past is also the most varied.

3. Where was quicksilver imported from?

An other item that was brought into Surat was quicksilver. Both Europe and China provided the raw materials. There were considerable price fluctuations for the metal in the latter part of the 17th century. The price of quicksilver in 1650 was Rs125 per mound. The large price increase was brought on by China’s supply failing to meet demand. Even though Surat bought the majority of its lead from Europe, the market was closed. Only the local Governor was permitted to buy imports into Surat; all other traders were forbidden.

Introduction

Numerous independent and semi-independent regional powers emerged as a result of the Mughal Empire’s decline. The Jats were agricultural settlers who lived in the areas surrounding Delhi, Agra, and Mathura. They were outraged by Aurangzeb’s repressive policies and began to rebel against the empire. Under the leadership of Gokul, one of the Tilpat zamindars, these revolts began in 1669. After some initial challenges, they were successful in creating the new Jat state of Bharatpur, which was led by Churaman and Badan Singh. Under Surajmal, this Jat state of Bharatpur attained its pinnacle. He not only established a productive government but also greatly increased the size of this empire. This state covered the areas from the Ganges in the east to Chambal in the south. Subas Agra, Mathura, Meerut, and Aligarh were also added to the state.

Expansion of Jat power (1680-1707)

There were many leaders of the farmer community, who raised their voices against the oppressive systems of the Mughals. This peasant group has several leaders who spoke out against the Mughals’ repressive regime. Brij Raj of Sinsini was one such ruler during the seventeenth century who joined up his forces with the other Jat rebels to form an alliance against Mustafa Khan, the faujdar of Agra. He was instrumental in bringing together the people who wished to refuse to pay the taxes demanded by the Mughal government. Even though the local faujdar had earlier promised to assist in this case, he ultimately decided to commit suicide alongside other villagers rather than pay the money. The faujdar Multafta Khan was ultimately conquered by Brij Raj after calling for a major fight with the faujdar’s army.

Raja Ram, the son of Bhajja Singh, was another great representative of the Jat caste (Brother of Brij Raj). By engaging in looting and plundering within the Mughal territory, he issued a severe challenge to the Mughals. He created a true standing army out of the Jat communities after learning from the failure of Gokula’s uprising. He understood how crucial it is to have a well-equipped army to combat the well-equipped armies of the Mughals. And to accomplish this, he began forming alliances with the chieftains of other Jat clans. For security, he even began constructing forts in the deepest parts of the jungle and started practicing guerrilla warfare techniques.

The northern region of the Mughal empire began to deteriorate when Aurangzeb was occupied fighting Marathas in Deccan. Jats recognized a benefit in this. To weaken the emperor’s hold over the undefended Mughal lands close to Agra, they began launching incursions there. They even attempted to raid Akbar’s tomb in Sikandra. They ultimately ran upon Abul Fazal, the local faujdar, who had defended Akbar’s tomb and the Mughals from this Jat invasion.

In 1688, Raja Ram returned to Sikandra, and this time he was successful in looting from Akbar’s grave. Aurangzeb was so outraged by the Jats‘ behavior that he despatched his grandson Bidar Khan to put an end to the Jat rebels. The Rajputs of Chauhan and Shekewat were engaged in conflict during the time. Raja Ram sided with Shekhawat, whereas Bidhar Khan sided with Chauhan. Raja Ram was killed in this combat in 1688 by a Mughal musketeer.

Prosperous agriculturalists

In the northwest of the Indian subcontinent, the Jats were the largest community (India and Pakistan). This community was made up of Indian Hindus and Sikhs.

They started as sheep and cattle herders, but eventually switched to farming as their primary activity. Due to the development of the Indus valley civilization, when people began settling down along the Indus River, the Jats likely became farmers due to this reason. Additionally, the Indus River supplied a rich area and sufficient water for farming. They began to rule the region between the two significant Mughal states of Delhi and Agra in the 1680s. Under their rule, the two significant states of Panipat and Bhallabhgarh developed into significant commercial hubs. Over time, this landowners’ community rose to prominence in different regions like Punjab, UP, Delhi, and Haryana.

Surajmal and the kingdom Bharatpur emerged as a strong state

The Jat community’s ongoing uprising against the oppressive Mughal rules eventually resulted in the establishment of Bharatpur as an independent Jat state under the leadership of SurajMal. Under the direction of Sadat Khan, the Mughals attempted to siege Bharatpur.

And one of the outposts was successfully captured by the Mughals. However, as soon as Raja Surajmal learned of this, he attacked them and trapped the Mughal camp. Later, Sadat Khan reached a settlement and left Bharatpur. Raja Suramal offered Chaudhari Charan Das protection in 1792 from Murtaza Khan (the governor of Faridabad) and the royal Farman was issued by the Mughals. Even one of the Rohilla nawab told Safdar Jang, (the Mughal grand wazir), that this Jat could not be vanquished. The Mughals took this counsel to heart and took no more action against the Jat. Faridabad was granted to Surajmal as Chaudary Charan das’ jagir. This strengthened the bonds between the Mughals and Jat.

When Ghazi-ud-din ousted Safdar Jang as grand wazir, he decided to seek revenge on Surajmal, this flared tension between Jats and Mughals once more.

He besieged the fort in 1754 with the assistance of Maratha. For three months, this siege went on. A Jat rani Kishori Bai requested their assistance and hence the Marathas were forced to assist the Jats in their fight against the Mughals.

As a result of Ahmed Shah Abdali besieging the fort of Dig and demanding a tribute that Surajmal was unable to pay, Surajmal then had to battle with Afghans. After a while, Abdali lifted the siege and left the region, but he returned in 1760 to besiege another Koli fort (modern-day Aligarh). After that, Suraj Mal once more decided to conquer Agra Fort to reclaim his power in the Doab region, and he managed to accomplish so. Surajmal eventually lost his life during a battle with Rohillas under Najib-ud-daulah. However, upon Surajmal’s passing in 1763, the Jat state started to crumble.

Summary

Several kingdoms attempted to declare their independence from the Mughal rule as the Mughals fell apart. One of them was the Jats, who were displeased and outraged by Aurangzeb’s anti-Hindu actions. The Jat communities began to rebel against these rules in the second half of the 17th century. All of these uprisings opened the stage for Badan Singh to build the Jat state of Bharatpur. Raja Surajmal deserves all the credit for uniting these Jat rebels and turning Bharatpur into a Jat stronghold. The Jat kingdom, however, started to fall once the powerful commander Suraj Mal passed away since none of his successors could manage the country as effectively as he had.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What and when did the Gokula Rebellion happen?Ans: Gokula Singh, a Jat zamindar of Tilpat, served as the head of the Gokula uprising in 1669. By withholding the extra land tax, he questioned the Mughal government’s authority.

2. Which of Aurangzeb’s measures offended the Jats‘ religious beliefs?
Ans: The Jat group was most outraged by Aurangzeb’s anti-Hindu religious agenda. He implemented several actions, including jizyah imposition, temple destruction, conversion to Islam, and religious persecution. The Jats became disgruntled as a result of Aurangzeb’s these actions.

3. Who was Sadat khan?
Ans: As the governor of Awadh, Sadat Khan, also known as Nizam-ul-Mulk, served. Later, as he fought alongside the Mughal emperor in the Deccan campaign against the Marathas, Aurangzeb bestowed upon him the title of “Khan Bahadur.” He was very well-known as the creator of the Awadh principality,

Introduction

India displayed political division and factionalism around the start of the sixteenth century. The strong Delhi Sultanate was afflicted with many issues. Their power was only limited in the vicinity of Delhi. Bahmani, Vijayanagar, and Deccan kingdoms were split up into smaller pieces. This was a golden opportunity for the Central Asian kings, who had been waiting to invade India and increase their dominance in this region. Babur was one such invader from Central Asia who, after losing power over his paternal principality of Farghana, set out to conquer the Indian subcontinent. Babur was the man who established the Mughal dynasty in India. He was the descendant of Genghis Khan and Amir Timur and was responsible for establishing the Mughal empire in India.

The Mughal Empire

After defeating Ibrahim Lodi in the initial Battle of Panipat in 1526, Babur laid the foundation for the Mughal Empire. The majority of the Indian subcontinent was covered in this empire until 1707, after which it began to wane due to weaker Mughals who were incapable to extend it. The Mughal kings governed India for more than three hundred years. The Mughal Empire was the first to exploit gunpowder technology to establish its dominance in India, hence it was also known as the “Gunpowder Empire.”

One of the largest empires in medieval India, the Mughal empire had strongmen like Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shahjahan, and Aurangzeb.

Birth of the Mughal state

• The final Tughlaq monarch was vanquished by Babur in 1526, and he establishes the Mughal Empire.
• It was well maintained by his successors Akbar, Shahjahan, Jahangir, and Aurangzeb, who strengthened the empire by conquering challenges that stood in the way of its growth. To create a strong Mughal empire, they developed an effective administrative and bureaucratic structure.
• Akbar used a diplomatic strategy to gain the trust of his Hindu competitors as well as a policy of religious tolerance, which assisted him in establishing a sizable and powerful state.
• As a result of the Mughal era’s cultural advancement, advancement in architecture, and efficient administrative practices, emperors were able to consolidate their control over nearly the entirety of India, as well as portions of Afghanistan and Baluchistan.
• They developed a network of trade with other countries, hence bringing prosperity to India.

 Trade 

• During the Mughal era, an abundance of agricultural products drove the growth of a global commerce network.
• The Mughals encouraged trade both inside and outside their kingdom. They also offered international traders the necessary protection.
• Various reductions were made on the inland tax and customs fees.
• India used to export textiles made of silk, wool, and cotton back then, as well as spices, opium, and indigo.
• Horses, bullion, and opulent items like wine, corals, and perfumes were among the things they used to import for the royal family.

Bureaucracy and Division of the kingdom

• The Mughal government featured a centralized administration, with the King serving as the ultimate decision-maker.
• A group of ministers and officials, including Wazir, Mir Bakshi, Qazi, and Mir Saman, among others, aided him.
• The empire was further divided into 15 provinces called subas, each of which was governed by a subedar.
• These provinces were further subdivided into districts or sarkars and were governed by a faujdar.
• Furthermore, Parganas, which were managed by shiqdars, were used to split districts into smaller groups.
• Under the control of the Panchayats, muqaddams were in charge of all the villages in the parganas.
• The “Mansabdari” system was developed by the Mughals for effective military management. The Emperor hired, evaluated, and demoted the Mansabdars from their position as and when required.

Beginning the End of the Mughal empire

• Internal problems

By the conclusion of Aurangzeb’s reign, a lot of internal strife had already begun.

These tensions included a succession battle, problems administering a big empire, flaws in the Mansabdari system, an increase in the power of the nobles, and rebellions by Rajputs, Sikhs, Jats, and Satnamis.

• Fragments of the Mughal Empire

During the eighteenth century, the Mughal empire spread in northern and southern India, and hence managing them was difficult. Along with this, internal conflicts and persistent outside threats set the road for the empire’s decline.

The Mughal empire eventually broke up into two separate types of provincial states. The destabilization of the Mughal centralized political structure led to the rise of successor states like Bengal, Awadh, and Hyderabad.

The other was “new states,” which were founded by Mughal dynasty rebels such as the Maratha Confederacy, Jats, and Sikhs, who declared to be independent of Mughal dominion. The Mughal empire was divided into various pieces by the end of Aurangzeb’s rule.

• External rivals for power

By the second half of the eighteenth century, the weak Mughal kings after Aurangzeb were exploited by their foreign competitors. The Empire was utterly destroyed by foreign invaders like Ahmad Shah Abdali from Afghanistan and Nadir Shah from Iran.

The English East India Company (EEIC), which came for trading, was made aware of the Mughal Empire’s frailty. This gave them confidence that by controlling political matters, the British Empire may grow in India. Finally, the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, was expelled by the British in 1857, thereby ending the Mughal era.

 Summary

India displayed political division and factionalism around the start of the sixteenth century. Delhi Sultanate was afflicted with problems. The lack of a centralized government and ongoing internal strife offered Babur the chance to end the Delhi Sultanate and usher in the Mughal Empire. The empire was at its height under the early Mughals’ control, but after Aurangzeb, when his successors proved unable to maintain the empire, it began to decline. Additionally, ongoing external obstacles include many invasions from the northwest and the eventual rise to power of the English which shook the foundation of the Mughal empire.

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. Explain the Mansabdai system.
Ans: Mansab is the Arabic word for an office or rank. A mansabdar was a high-ranking officer. The Mansabdar was in charge of sustaining order and providing soldiers with instruction. The mansab, or rank, was assigned based on the significance and nature of the employment.

2. What was the Deccan policy of Aurangzeb? What effects did this policy have?
Ans: To subjugate the independent kingdoms in the south, Aurangzeb spent the last half of his reign in the Deccan.

His actions had the following results:

• Although he annexed Bijapur and Golconda, it was challenging for him to rule these kingdoms from Delhi.
• The state’s resources were depleted by his protracted conflict with the Marathas and his important time.
• During his absence in the north, various revolutions emerged.

3. What was the religious policy of Akbar?
Ans: Following is the religious policy of Akbar

• Akbar promoted religious tolerance, which was known as his Sulh-i-kul policy (universal peace).
• Jizyah (a tax on non-Muslims) and pilgrimage tax were eliminated by him.
• He constructed temples and even participated in Hindu holidays.
• Ibadat Khana was created by him for religious discourse.

Introduction

The Mughal Dynasty, which ruled India for over two centuries, was one of the most significant. The Mughals created a reliable system for tax collecting. The earnings from the sale of land were the main source of income. Akbar categorized territories and established prices for each category. To oversee the empire’s financial system, the office of the diwan was established. Several institutions, such as the Jagirdari system, the Mansabdari system, and the Zamindari system, were developed during the Mughal dynasty.

Zabt

• Akbar established a strategy of evaluating every agricultural plot through ongoing surveys to ascertain the typical production from every type of land.
• These evaluations concentrated on factors including flood and drought conditions, during these natural disasters, peasants received relief.
• The Zabt or Zabti system was a method of revenue collection based on such assessments. The dahsala system was further derived from the Zabti system.
• Todar Mal, Akbar’s revenue minister, supervised this land revenue system.
• Between the years 1570 and 1580, Todar Mal carried out a survey of the land, crop yields, and product prices.
• On the basis of his assessment, he set a tax amount on each crop.
• Cash was the favored form of payment in the zabti system.

Who were Zamindars?

• During the Mughal era, a class of people known as zamindars possessed special privileges in the countryside.
• Although they were dependent on agriculture, they did not work in it.
• Zamindars were members of the rural nobility who might be local chieftains or heads of villages. They were large landowners, and their property was known as milkiyats.
• These lands were entirely under their authority and they had hereditary rights for these places.
• The majority of zamindars belonged to the higher caste, including Rajputs and Brahmans.

Role of Zamindars

• The zamindars enjoyed their property rights in the countryside and were free to continue their ancient customs.
• The most important role of the Zamindars was to collect taxes on behalf of the state and they were compensated for their services provided.
• They often fought with the peasants for the collection of taxes and they resolve this using their military strength.

Consolidation of zamindari

• Zamindari’s stabilization took a long time. To purchase zamindari, people from lower castes had to go through a number of procedures.
• The Zamindari was auctioned by the state during the Mughal era, and it was a long and tedious procedure.
• Jats and Rajputs increased their dominance in northern India by colonizing fresh agricultural land and purchasing it from the government.
• These Zamindars established themselves, transported peasants to these new arable lands, and assisted them in farming by providing loans and other resources.
• They kept making more money through this approach, which eventually increased their authority.
• Numerous settlements were created as a result of the emergence of new Zamindars and cultivable land. The milkiyat’s goods were enjoyed by the zamindars, who also had the legal right to sell them.
• During this time, haats—marketplaces where zamindars and people flocked to buy and sell produce—became more prevalent in villages.
• Although the Zamindars’ activities are commonly regarded as exploitative, there is little evidence of this in the historical archives.

Summary

The complicated bureaucracy was created as a result of the merger of large empires. Numerous institutions, like Mansabdar, Jagridar, and Zamindars, were part of the Mughal Empire. Land revenue and taxes are the kingdom’s primary sources of income. During Akbar’s reign, the revenue of a specific land was based on the assessment and evaluation of that land, and depending on this assessment different tax amounts were taken from particular lands. This income assessment method was known as Zabt. The milkiyat, is the land that belonged to the rural elites known as the zamindars. The state employs zamindars to collect taxes on behalf of the state, while they enjoy the produces that are grown on their respective lands.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the batai system?
Ans: The batai system was a different method of collecting money. It was the earliest method of getting money from the peasants. In batai, the peasants were required to contribute the kingdom a specific portion of their harvest. The Zabti and batai systems were up for selection by the peasantry.

2. Explain the Dahsala system for tax collection.
Ans: Dahsala was a development of Zabt policy. Todar Mal, Akbar’s minister of revenue, came up with it. This strategy determined the total yield of any land over a period of ten years and then applied the average as a tax.

3. What distinguishes Zabt and Batai from one another?
Ans: Zabt, or land revenue, was paid in cash, but Batai, or revenue, was paid in agricultural output.

Introduction

The Mansabdari and Jagirdari systems did not start off suddenly. It is a practice that developed from the bureaucracy in medieval India. Emperors of the Delhi sultanate had captured the vast regions, and to govern those territories, they established a bureaucracy. In the past, emperors appointed their military leaders as governors, and occasionally they selected their well-trained slaves to lead those regions. High-ranking court officials were assigned designated areas to administer and were permitted to receive tax revenue as compensation. Akbar proposed the concept of Mansab and Jagir. The Mughal empire’s growth and fall were both significantly influenced by the mansabdari system. In the Mughal era, the bureaucracy systems mansabdari and jagirdari both existed.

The Mansabdars

• Mansab in the Mughal court denoted a position or rank. The Mansabdari system was developed under the Mughal court.
• People with a rank in the Mughal emperor’s service are known as mansabdars.
• In this system, the top officials were assigned specific grades and positions in the Mughal court.
• The Mughal court made nobles into mansabdars which included Muslims from India, Rajputs, Afghans, etc. also the Military and civilian authorities equally served as mansabdars.
• To determine a fixed position, military responsibilities, and salary, mansab ranks were assigned.
• The mansabdars were symbolized by a number called Zat, which set their wages and rank in the emperor’s court. The higher the Zat, the higher the mansabdar’s standing in the court.
• 29 mansabdars with a rank of 5000 or higher existed during the reign of Akbar.
• The number of soldiers, cavalrymen, and horses that a mansabdar was required to present to the king were also based on the numerical value of zat.
• Zat and Sawars demoted the Mansabdars. The Sawars represent the required number of cavalrymen and horses.
• The Mansabdars were required to register their cavalrymen and brand their horses.
• The position of mansabdar was transferred; and not hereditary.
• Both money and land were given to mansabdars as payment.
• They were regarded as elites.

Check out more videos in Social Science Class 7 , Lesson No. 4 to learn about the Mughal Empire. Study its history, Akbar’s progressive policies, and the factors leading to the dynasty’s decline. This lesson offers valuable insights into the fascinating history of the Mughals.

The Jagirdars

• Jagirdars were mansabdars who received payment in the form of a plot of land or Jagir.
• The iqtadari system of the former Delhi Sultanate inspired this custom of compensating the nobility with the land.
• It must be kept in mind that Jagirdars were distinct from Iqtadars in that they were only given the power to collect taxes from that jagir as their compensation rather than being given control of that territory.
• Jagirdar had a responsibility to pay his troops, and cavalrymen, and maintain the standard of the horses.
• Following a thorough evaluation, the king granted them a jagir so that the revenue received would equal their salary.
• The Jagirdars used to live opulent lives.
• The position of a Jagirdar was not hereditary and could be transferred.
• Jairdars and mansabdars didn’t live in the jagirs that were given.
• They had servants who were in charge of collecting money for the jagirdars.
• The imperial authorities monitored jagirdars to prevent them from using the peasants as a means of generating extra revenue and force on them to extra taxes.

Drawbacks of Jagirdars and Mansabdars system

There were some drawbacks in these systems such as-

• The mansabdari and jagirdari institutions functioned effectively under Akbar’s rule, and he appointed officials to maintain their control.
• Although there were more mansabdaars later in Aurangzeb’s reign, there were fewer jagirs available, therefore mansabdars had to wait a long time to obtain one.
• After receiving the jagir, they sought to maximise their income by taking advantage of the peasants and occasionally used Faujdar, a military commander, to collect taxes.
• The mansabdars, or nobles, amassed immense wealth in the seventeenth century, which expanded their influence.
• As the Mughal dynasty began to fall apart, they gradually established their own monarchy, claimed the land as their inherited jagir, and began to rule over those places. This was seen in the Awadh and Hyderabad provinces.
• They continued to regard the Mughal emperor as their superior but maintained their autonomy.

Summary

The Mughal government was highly developed and sophisticated. With several innovations, it had adapted the administrative procedures and framework of the preceding dynasties and developed its own king of bureaucracy. Akbar was the innovator of the Mughal administration. The bureaucracy ran smoothly and effectively during his reign. In order to create Mansabdars and Jagirdars, Akbar modified the earlier system of iqtadars. The Mansab was based on the rank and position a manasabdari held in the mughal court and the Jagirdars were mansabdars who received their daily wages in the form of jagir. Both of them received taxes from the allotted province but they never ruled them. These positions were transferable and not inherited, it contributed to both the growth and fall of the Mughal empire.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who were the Zamindars?

Ans: In the Mughal era there was a Zamidari system, and they were governed by the Zamindars.

• Zamindars were members of the rural elite who exercised administrative control over a region, whilst Jagirdars had no such authority.
• The Rajputs or another reigning family were the ancestors of the zamindars.
• The Jairdars were not always members of the previous aristocracy.
• Rural zamindars were small-scale landowners.
• Additionally, zamindars had forts and an army.
• Zamindars, as opposed to Jagirdars, had inherited control over tax collection.\
• While Jagirdars were stationed in the Mughal court, Zamindars often lived in their region.

2. What does Tajwiz mean?

Ans: Tajwiz was a formal request made by a Noble to the emperor for the names of candidates to be recommended for the position of mansabdar.

3. How many classes existed within the Mansabdars?

Ans: The three classes of masabdars were as follows:

• The first class was required to keep an equal number of sawars and jat.
• The second class was required to keep jat and a half or more than half of its sawars.
• The third class kept jat and  just over half or less of its sawars.

Introduction

The history of India and the Subcontinent under the Mughal Empire underwent significant upheaval in the 16th and 17th centuries. The strong Rajput kings of Northern India were gradually losing control over diverse regions. The Mughals, on the other hand, could not enlarge their empire across the entire nation. The most effective tactic for enlarging their empire was Akbar’s plan to form marriage ties with the Rajput’s. The Rajput’s were likewise prepared to strengthen the Mughal Empire for their own political gain. They freely gave their daughters in marriage to the Mughal emperors in exchange for money and respected positions in the Mughal empire.

Mughal alliances with the Rajput’s

• The Rajput’s were an important part of Akbar’s diplomatic plan to strengthen their grip over the nation. He had faith that Rajput’s would supply them with a dependable and powerful military.
• Rajput’s performed a variety of tasks under Emperor Akbar during the Mughal era.
• Rajput’s were given money and several significant posts in the government, including the office of Mansabdars, in recognition of their contributions to the defense and expansion of the Mughal empire.
• Emperor Akbar eliminated the Jizya Tax and the Pilgrimage Tax for the Hindus as the alliance grew over time.
• Through reconciliation strategies with Hindus, particularly with the Rajput’s Emperor Akbar gradually extended the Mughal Empire into Northern India and, to some extent in the Deccan region.

Akbar’s Marriage to Rajput Girls

• As a part of the New Diplomatic Strategy, a marriage alliance was created between the two ruling families, the Mughals and the Rajput’s. The Rajput’s decided to barter their daughters for political gain and monetary benefits.
• The first Rajput woman to marry the Mughal Emperor Akbar and gain access to the Mughal zenana was known as Jodha Bai in 1562. She was Raja Bihari Mal’s (Bharmal)daughter, the ruler of Amber.
• The Rajput’s gained a lot of benefits and influence by arranging for her marriage to the Mughal monarch.
• Raja Bhagwan Das, the brother of Akbar’s wife, rose to the rank of commander in the Mughal cavalry.
• Similar to this, Rao Kalyanmal of Bikaner wished to marry Emperor Akbar to his two nieces, Raj Kanwar and Bhanumati.
• Around the same period, Rajkumari Nathi Bai, the daughter of the ruler of Jaisalmer Hari Raj, was also going to marry Emperor Akbar. Akbar also gave his son Kunwar Sultan Singh a position of honor in the palace.

King Akbar was a great ruler and hence never objected to them following their own Hindu faith. He even provided his wives’ parents and other royal relatives with respectable jobs. All the wives were free to follow their Hindu rites and prayers just as they had in their paternal home. Also, Akbar never attempted to convert them to Islam.

Jahangir’s Marriage to Rajput Girls

Jahangir, Akbar’s successor, and son, also kept up his marriage ties to the Rajput. Prior to taking the throne, Jahangir wed Mani Bai, a Kachchwaha princess who was the daughter of Raja Bhagwant Das. Then, after ascending to the position of Emperor, he wed numerous Rajput women. Notably, the daughters of Jagat Singh Kachchawaha and Ram Chandra Bundela also married King Jahangir. The last union between the Rajput and the Mughals took place in 1715 when Indira Kanwar, the daughter of Marwar King Ajit Singh, married Emperor Farrukhsiyar.

List of marriage alliances between the Mughals and the Rajput

Here is a list of marriage alliances between the Mughals and the Rajput-

Summary

In Indian history, the Mughals were the most influential and powerful kings. The Mughals nearly completely expanded their Empire during the 16th and 17th centuries. The Turko Afghan Sultanate was taking control of the regions that the Rajput kings once ruled in North and North East India. The Turko Afghan sultanate was overthrown by the Mughals. The Mughals thus proved to be very powerful, But when Akbar assumed control, he understood the importance of having a reliable and powerful military. He then developed a fresh approach to diplomacy wherein he started making alliances with the Rajput by marrying their daughter. The first Rajput princess who married King Akbar was Jodhabai. These alliances helped in the growth of the Mughal empire and also gave various benefits to the Rajput who married their daughters to the Mughal King..

Frequently Askes Questions

1. Who were the Rajput?
Ans:  The Rajput were a military clan renowned for their valour and fidelity. The Sanskrit term “Raja Putra,” which implies a King’s son, served as the inspiration for the name “Rajput. From the sixth until the twelfth centuries, they controlled India.

2. Give a short explanation of the Mughals.
Ans:   The Timurid dynasty included the Mughals. The Turco Mongols of Central Asia were the ancestors of this dynasty. They took control of India in 1526, and by 1707 they had taken control of the whole subcontinent, which included modern-day India, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. They held power over India till the 1850s.

3. Who was Emperor Akbar?
Ans:  Emperor Akbar’s full name Abu’l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar was the son of emperor Humayun. He served as the third Mughal emperor from 1556 to 1605. He was known as “the great” emperor due to a number of his achievements such as-

• The expansion of the Mughal Empire across the Indian subcontinent.
• Tolerance towards various other religious beliefs.
• His administrative reform initiatives for the betterment of society.
• His progressive attitude to end tax discrimination against Muslims and Hindus.