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Kings And Chronicles : The Mughal Courts
“The nobility was recruited consciously by the Mughal rulers from diverse ethnic and religious groups.” Justify.
(i) The nobility was recruited from diverse ethnic and religious groups.
(ii) Nobility was composite one comprising Iranis, Afghans, Rajputs, Shaikhzdas, Deccanis on the basis of their service loyalty to the king.
(iii) This ensured that no faction was large enough to challenge the authority of the state.
(iv) The officer corps of the Mughals was described as a bouquet of flowers (guldasta) held together by loyalty to the emperor.
(v) People from many races (Arabs, Iranians, Turks, Tajiks, Kurds, Tatars, Russians, Abyssinians, people from Egypt, Syria, Iraq,Arabia, Iran, Khurasan, Turan) –have sought refuge in the imperial court.
(vi) Two ruling groups of Indian origin entered the imperial service- Rajputs and the Indian Muslims.
(vii) Examples- Raja Todar Mal, who belonged to the Khatri caste was Akbar’s finance minister.
(viii) Iranians gained high offices under Jahangir, whose politically influential queen, Nur Jahan (was an Iranian).
(ix) Aurangzeb appointed Rajputs to high positions, and under him the Marathas accounted for a sizeable number within the body of officers.
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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.
Mention the significance of Sijda in the Mughal court.
What was the form of greeting an ambassador was expected to offer while being presented before the Mughal emperor?
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