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Kings And Chronicles : The Mughal Courts
Identify the distinctive features of the imperial household of the Mughal Empire.
The distictive features of the imperial household of the Mughal Empire are:
(i)The Mughal household consisted of the emperor’s wives and concubines , his near and distant relatives and female servants and slaves.
(ii)Polygamy was practiced widely.
(iii)Distinction was maintained between begams and aghas. The concubines occupied the lowest position in the hierarchy of females intimately related to royalty.
(iv)The lineage based family structure was not entirely static. Motherhood played important roles in elevating status.
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Assess the role played by women of the imperial household in the Mughal Empire.
What were the concerns that shaped Mughal policies and attitudes towards regions outside the subcontinent?
Discuss the major features of Mughal provincial administration. How did the centre control the provinces?
Discuss, with examples, the distinctive features of Mughal chronicles.
To what extent do you think the visual material presented in this chapter corresponds with Abu’l Fazl’s description of the taswir (Source 1)?
What were the distinctive features of the Mughal nobility? How was their relationship with the emperor shaped?
Identify the elements that went into the making of the Mughal ideal of kingship.
Find out more about any one Mughal chronicle. Prepare a report describing the author, and the language, style and content of the text. Describe at
least two visuals used to illustrate the chronicle of your choice, focusing on the symbols used to indicate the power of the emperor.
Prepare a report comparing the present-day system of government with the Mughal court and administration, focusing on ideals of rulership, court rituals, and means of recruitment into the imperial service, highlighting the similarities and differences that you notice.
Why did Akbar abolish the pilgrimage tax? Give two reasons.
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