CBSE Class 7 Social Science: The Mughal Empire NCERT Solutions

The correct matches are:

• mansab - rank
• Mongol - Uzbeg
• Sisodiya Rajput - Mewar
• Rathor Rajput - Marwar
• Nur Jahan - Jahangir
• subadar - governor

This exercise helps in associating key terms and historical figures/groups with their relevant contexts within the Mughal Empire.

1. The capital of Mirza Hakim, Akbar's half-brother, was Kabul.
2. The five Deccan Sultanates were Berar, Khandesh, Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, and Golconda.
3. If 'zat' determined a mansabdar's rank and salary, 'sewar' indicated his number of horses maintained. This reflected the military strength expected of the mansabdar.
4. Abul Fazl, Akbar's friend and counsellor, helped him frame the idea of Sulh-i-Kul (universal peace) so that he could govern a society composed of many religions, cultures and castes.

The central provinces under the control of the Mughals included a vast territory encompassing major cities and strategic locations. These were: Panipat, Lahore, Delhi, Agra, Mathura, Amber, Ajmer, Fatehpur Sikri, Chittor, Ranthambhore, and Allahabad.

Mansabdars were officials who joined the Mughal service and received their salaries in the form of revenue assignments from land, which was known as a 'jagir'. However, the mansabdars did not actually live in or administer their jagir. Instead, they only held the right to collect the revenue from their assigned jagir. This revenue was collected by their servants, while the mansabdars themselves were usually posted to serve in different parts of the empire, away from their jagirs.

Zamindars were powerful local chieftains who held significant influence and power in their regions. They were appointed by the Mughal rulers and played a crucial role as intermediaries. Their primary function was to collect taxes from the peasants and then submit these collected revenues to the Mughal emperor. In some areas, zamindars became exceptionally powerful. When subjected to exploitation by Mughal administrators, they sometimes led rebellions, often gaining support from the peasants against Mughal authority.

Akbar's interactions with scholars from various religious backgrounds were pivotal in shaping his governance philosophy. These debates revealed to him that many religious scholars, focused on rituals and dogma, were often bigoted and created divisions among his subjects. This realization led Akbar to embrace the concept of 'Sulh-i-Kul', or universal peace. He understood that tolerance was paramount, as it treated all subjects equally, irrespective of their religion. Akbar believed that focusing on universally applicable ethical virtues like honesty, justice, and peace was the key to governing a diverse realm. With the assistance of Abul Fazl, he formulated his vision of governance around this principle of tolerance and ethical conduct.

The Mughals were descendants of two prominent ruling lineages: from their mother's side, they were related to Genghis Khan, the ruler of the Mongol tribes, and from their father's side, they were successors of Timur, who ruled over Iran, Iraq, and modern-day Turkey. However, the Mughals generally avoided being called 'Mongol' because the memory of Genghis Khan was associated with widespread massacres and brutality. This association also linked them with the Uzbegs, who were their rivals. In contrast, the Mughals took pride in their Timurid ancestry, as Timur's lineage had earned a good reputation in history for its achievements and governance.

Land revenue was absolutely crucial and formed the backbone of the Mughal Empire. Without this income, the empire could not function. The emperor could not pay the salaries of his soldiers, nor could he undertake any welfare activities for his subjects. The administrative expenses were vast, and only the income from land revenue could meet these expenditures. Therefore, land revenue was vital for strengthening and sustaining the empire.

As the Mughal Empire expanded and encompassed different regions of India, it became essential for the Mughals to recruit officials from diverse backgrounds. This policy helped in making the diverse populations of the empire feel more comfortable and represented within the administration. Consequently, besides officials from Turan (Central Asia) and Iran, the Mughals began recruiting mansabdars from Indian Muslims, Afghans, Rajputs, Marathas, and various other groups, fostering a more inclusive administrative structure.

No, the diversity of social and cultural units in India today does not pose a challenge to national integration. India is characterized by 'unity in diversity,' where people from different regions, cultures, castes, and creeds coexist harmoniously. While social conflicts may occasionally arise, they are generally resolved amicably. Furthermore, during times of external threat, all Indians unite with a strong sense of patriotism, as exemplified by events like the Kargil war, where the collective goal was to defend the nation.