This chapter tells about new powers in India from 1707 to 1761. It starts with the Mughal Empire getting weak after Aurangzeb. Then it shows how Rajputs, Sikhs, Marathas, and Jats made their own states. The British also grew strong in the east by 1765. It explains how these changes happened fast in the eighteenth century.
1. Introduction to the Mughals
- Expansion:
- From the late 1500s, they grew their kingdom from Agra and Delhi.
- By the 1600s, they controlled almost all of India.
- Legacy:
- They set up ways to govern and manage that lasted after their rule.
- Red Fort Today:
- The Red Fort in Delhi was the Mughal emperors’ home.
- Now, India’s Prime Minister speaks from there on Independence Day.
2. Who Were the Mughals?
- Family Roots:
- The Mughals came from two famous ruler families.
- From their mother’s side, they were linked to Genghis Khan.
- Genghis Khan ruled parts of China and Central Asia till 1227.
- From their father’s side, they were successors of Timur.
- Timur ruled Iran, Iraq, and modern Turkey till 1404.
- Disliking Mongol Name:
- Mughals didn’t like being called Mughal or Mongol.
- Genghis Khan was remembered for killing many people.
- His name was also tied to the Uzbegs, their rivals.
- Proud of Timur:
- They were proud to come from Timur’s family.
- Timur had captured Delhi in 1398, a big achievement.
3. Mughal Military Campaigns
- Babur’s Start:
- Babur became the first Mughal emperor from 1526 to 1530.
- He got the throne of Ferghana in 1494 at age 12.
- Losing Ferghana:
- The Uzbegs, another Mongol group, forced him out.
- He had to wander for years after losing his throne.
- Taking Kabul:
- In 1504, Babur captured Kabul after many struggles.
- This gave him a new base to plan his next moves.
- Victory at Panipat:
- In 1526, he beat Ibrahim Lodi, the Delhi Sultan, at Panipat.
- This win let him take over Delhi and Agra.
- New Weapons:
- Babur used cannons well in the battle of Panipat.
- Cannons were new and strong in the 1500s warfare.
4. Mughal Traditions of Succession
- No Primogeniture:
- Mughals didn’t follow primogeniture, where the eldest son gets everything.
- This was different from many other kingdoms.
- Coparcenary Inheritance:
- They shared inheritance among all sons, a Timurid custom.
- Each son got a part of the father’s lands and wealth.
5. Mughal Relations with Other Rulers
- Fighting Opponents:
- Mughal rulers kept fighting kings who didn’t accept their rule.
- They wanted everyone to bow to their authority.
- Voluntary Allies:
- As Mughals grew strong, many rulers joined them willingly.
- This made their empire even bigger.
- Rajput Example:
- Many Rajputs married their daughters to Mughal emperors.
- They got high posts in return for this alliance.
- Rajput Marriages:
- Jahangir’s mother was a Kachhwaha princess from Amber (Jaipur).
- Shah Jahan’s mother was a Rathor princess from Marwar (Jodhpur).
- Sisodiya Resistance:
- The Sisodiya Rajputs of Mewar didn’t accept Mughal rule for long.
- After losing, Mughals treated them well and gave back their lands.
- Balancing Act:
- Mughals defeated enemies but didn’t shame them too much.
- This balance helped them control many kings and chiefs.
6. Mansabdars and Jagirdars
- Who Were Mansabdars:
- Mansabdars were people who joined Mughal service with a rank.
- They came from groups like Turks, Iranians, Rajputs, and Marathas.
- Mansab Meaning:
- Mansab means a position or rank in the Mughal system.
- It decided their rank, salary, and army duties.
- Zat and Sawar:
- Zat was a number that set a noble’s rank and salary.
- Higher zat meant a better position and more money.
- Sawar showed how many cavalrymen they had to keep.
- Mansabdars brought these horsemen for checking and payment.
- Jagirs:
- Mansabdars got jagirs, lands that gave them revenue as salary.
- These were like iqtas but different from earlier systems.
- Not Living in Jagirs:
- Most mansabdars didn’t live in or run their jagirs.
- Servants collected the money while they worked elsewhere.
- Akbar’s Time:
- In Akbar’s reign, jagir revenue matched mansabdar salaries well.
- This kept things fair and balanced.
- Aurangzeb’s Time:
- By Aurangzeb’s reign, jagir revenue was often less than salaries.
- Too many mansabdars meant fewer jagirs to give out.
- Problems:
- Waiting for jagirs took time, so many grabbed extra revenue.
- Aurangzeb couldn’t stop this, and peasants suffered.
7. Zabt and Zamindars
- Main Income:
- Taxes from peasants were the biggest income for Mughal rulers.
- This came from what farmers grew on their land.
- Zamindars’ Role:
- Peasants paid taxes through village headmen or chieftains.
- Mughals called all these middlemen zamindars.
- Zabt System:
- Akbar’s minister Todar Mal surveyed crops from 1570 to 1580.
- He checked yields, prices, and land areas for 10 years.
- Taxes were fixed in cash for each crop based on this.
- Each province had revenue circles with its own tax rates.
- Where Zabt Worked:
- Zabt was used where Mughals could survey land well.
- It didn’t work in places like Gujarat and Bengal.
- Zamindar Power:
- Some zamindars had a lot of power in their areas.
- If Mughal officers were unfair, zamindars could rebel.
- Peasant Revolts:
- Sometimes zamindars and peasants of the same caste teamed up.
- These revolts shook the Mughal Empire in the late 1600s.
8. Akbar Nama and Ain-i Akbari
- Akbar’s History:
- Akbar asked his friend Abul Fazl to write about his reign.
- Abul Fazl made a three-volume book called Akbar Nama.
- Volume Details:
- The first volume talks about Akbar’s ancestors.
- The second volume covers events during Akbar’s rule.
- The third volume, Ain-i Akbari, is about his administration.
- Ain-i Akbari:
- It tells about Akbar’s household, army, and empire’s geography.
- It also has details on India’s traditions and culture.
- Statistics:
- Ain-i Akbari gives numbers on crops, yields, and prices.
- It includes wages and revenue too, very useful facts.
9. Nur Jahan’s Influence
- Marriage:
- Mehrunnisa married Jahangir in 1611.
- She got the title Nur Jahan after that.
- Loyalty:
- Nur Jahan was very loyal and helpful to Jahangir.
- She supported him in many ways as queen.
- Coins:
- Jahangir made silver coins with his name on one side.
- The other side said “struck in the name of Nur Jahan.”
- Farman:
- Nur Jahan’s order, called a farman, had her special seals.
- One seal called her “Sublime Majesty Nur Jahan Padshah Begum.”
10. Sulh-i Kul
- Jahangir’s Words:
- Jahangir said Akbar’s sulh-i kul meant peace for all.
- It welcomed people of all religions and beliefs.
- No Intolerance:
- Akbar didn’t allow intolerance in his empire.
- Sunnis, Shias, Christians, and Jews prayed together.
- Universal Peace:
- Sulh-i kul was about “universal peace” for everyone.
- Akbar followed this idea all his life.
11. The Mughal Empire in the 17th Century and After
- Prosperity:
- The Mughal Empire was very efficient in administration and army.
- This led to lots of economic and trade growth.
- Travellers’ Views:
- Foreign visitors called it a land of great wealth.
- But they also saw big poverty next to riches.
- Income Gap:
- In Shah Jahan’s 20th year, only 445 top mansabdars existed.
- Out of 8,000, they got 61.5% of the empire’s revenue.
- Spending:
- Emperors and mansabdars spent on salaries and goods.
- This helped artisans and peasants who made things.
- Poor Producers:
- Tax collection left little money for peasants and artisans.
- The poorest lived hand to mouth with no extra to invest.
- Wealthy Groups:
- Richer peasants, artisans, merchants, and bankers made profits.
- They did well in this economic system.
- Power Shift:
- By the late 1600s, Mughal power weakened.
- Their servants became strong rulers in regions.
- New Dynasties:
- Places like Hyderabad and Awadh got new leaders.
- They still called the Mughal emperor their master.
- 18th Century:
- By the 1700s, these provinces were independent.
- They had their own political identities.
12. Questions and Answers
12.1 Let’s Recall
- Matching:
- Mansab means rank.
- Mongol relates to Uzbeg.
- Sisodiya Rajput comes from Mewar.
- Rathor Rajput is from Marwar.
- Nur Jahan was Jahangir’s wife.
- Fill in the Blanks:
- (a) The five Deccan Sultanates were Berar, Khandesh, Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, and Golconda.
- (b) If zat set a mansabdar’s rank and salary, sawar showed his number of cavalrymen.
- © Abul Fazl helped Akbar frame sulh-i kul to rule a diverse society.
- Central Provinces:
- The central provinces were Agra, Delhi, and nearby areas.
- These were the heart of Mughal control.
- Mansabdar and Jagir:
- A mansabdar got a jagir as his salary source.
- He didn’t live there but took its revenue.
12.2 Let’s Understand
- Zamindar’s Role:
- Zamindars collected taxes from peasants for the Mughals.
- They were village headmen or powerful chieftains.
- Debates with Scholars:
- Akbar talked with religious scholars of many faiths.
- This shaped his sulh-i kul idea for fair governance.
- Timurid Emphasis:
- Mughals liked their Timurid link because of Timur’s Delhi win.
- They avoided Mongol ties due to Genghis Khan’s bad name.
12.3 Let’s Discuss
- Land Revenue Importance:
- Land taxes were the main income for the Mughal Empire.
- Without it, they couldn’t pay soldiers or run the kingdom.
- Diverse Mansabdars:
- Recruiting Rajputs and others made the empire stronger.
- It wasn’t just Turks and Iranians, which built more support.
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