Previous years questions and answers - Mughal dynasty

Q1. Two points to prove Babur as nature lover.

Ans.
i. He laid a number of gardens and planted fruit trees in Kabul and India
to beautify his realms.
ii. In his autobiography Baburnama, he mentioned the details of flora
and fauna of India.
Q2. Enlist two difficulties faced by Humayun when he ascended the throne
Ans:
i. Humayun was sorrounded by strong enemies outside as well as
within his empire when he ascended the throne.
ii. Bahadur Shah, the ruler of Gujrat threatened to Occupy Delhi, the
Afgans under Sher Shah were also united against him.
iii. His own brothers who were jealous of his power, plotted to
overthrow him.
Q3. Mention any two ways by which Sher Shah supported the peasants in
times of emergency.
Ans:
i. Peasants were not required to pay their taxes during times of flood or
draught.
ii. Peasants were given soft loans to tide them over difficult times.
iii. Soldiers were given strict instructions not to destroy standing crops
during military campaigns.
Q4. During the reign of Sher Shah, Hindus were given high posts in the
government and the army.’ Give two examples to prove this statement.
Ans:
i. Sher Shah Suri's revenue minister Raja Todar Mal was a hindu.
ii. His general Brahmajit Gaur was a hindu.
Q5. Todar Mal’s Bundobust is a mirror of Akbar’s thoughtful demeanour -
justify with 2 points
(Demeanour means a person's outward behaviour—the way they act, speak,
and express themselves.)

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 Previous years questions and answers - Mughal dynasty

Ans.
i. Raja Todar Mal, Akbar's revenue minister, introduced a land revenue
system which came to be known as 'Todar Mal's Bandobast'. Under
the new system, land was properly measured. In the past, it used to
be measured with a rope. However, the rope shrunk when it was dry
and stretched when it was wet.
Q6. State any four ways by which Akbar maintained diplomatic relations with
the Rajputs.
Ans:
i. Rajput chiefs who accepted Akbar's sovereignty were given high
posts in his administration.
ii. Rajputs were allowed to rule their kingdoms without interference in
internal matters.
iii. Akbar established matrimonial alliances with powerful Rajput
families.
iv. Among the Rajputs those who opposed Akbar, had to face the
Mughal army in the battle and the defeated rulers were treated
mercilessly.
Q7. Why did Akbar extend a friendly hand towards the Uzbek rulers of
Central Asia and the Ottoman and Persian Sultans
Ans. Akbar extend a friendly hand towards the Uzbek rulers of Central Asia to
ensure the safety of his frontiers.
Akbar maintained good relations with the Ottoman Sultan and the rulers of
Persia to ensure the safety of Hajj pilgrims to Mecca. Due to the friendly
relations trade with Central Asia and Turkey flourished.

Q8. Cite four judicial reforms undertaken by Akbar.

Ans. Reforms were introduced in the judicial system for the first time in
Akbar’s reign.
i. The emperor was the highest authority of law. He alone reserved the
right to award capital punishment.
ii. Hindu customs were referred to in cases concerning the Hindu
subjects and Muslim customs concerning the Muslim subjects.
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 Previous years questions and answers - Mughal dynasty

iii. He discouraged child marriage and fixed the minimum marriageable

age at 14 years for girls and 16 years for boys.
iv. Widow marriage was encouraged.

Q9. Mention any two principles promoted by Akbar’s Din-i-Ilahi

Ans.
The secular outlook of Akbar resulted in the creation of a new faith called the
Din-i-Ilahi which means divine monotheism. The principles of Din-i-Ilahi were:
i. It preached the unity of God and did not insist on priests, temples, holy
books or rituals;
ii. The faith worshipped the Sun, fire and light.
iii. Followers were encouraged to abstain from non-vegetarian food in the
month of their birth every year;
iv. Followers had to take an oath promising to do good to all.
Q10. Recall the first challenge faced by Jahangir. Explain how did he embroil
into a conflict with the Sikhs as a result of this challenge.
Ans. Jahangir faced his first challenge in 1606CE when his son Khusrau revolted
against him. Jahangir crushed the rebellion and Khuhrau was blinded as a
punishment.
Khusrau had been given shelter by the Sikh Guru Arjun Dev. Guru Arjun Dev
was fined for that and later he was executed. This incident of killing Guru Arjun
Dev embittered the Sikhs. This is how Jahangir embroiled into a conflict with
the Sikhs as a result of this challenge.
Q11. ‘Sir Thomas Roe’s visit to the court of Jahangir proved to be a turning
point for the British.’ Justify the statement with two relevant points.
Ans: Sir Thomas Roe was granted permission to set up a trading port in Surat
by Jahangir. With time, these trading rights resulted in the British establishing
their rule over the country. Further, Roe, with his clever skills, was successful in
keeping out the Portuguese from the Mughal Emperor to establish factories at
Surat. These incidents were the turning points for the British in India.
Q12. Estimate Jahangir as a tolerant ruler (2 POINTS)
Ans: Like his father, Jahangir was a tolerant ruler. Following activities of
Jahangir proves it.
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 Previous years questions and answers - Mughal dynasty

i. In spite of being a staunch Sunni, he did not impose the Muslim faith on
his subjects;
ii. Jahangir held discourses with the Hindu saints and Christian
missionaries.

Q13. How far was Shah Jahan responsible for the downfall of the Mughal
Empire? 2 PTS
Ans: The downfall of Mughal Empire started during the period of Shah Jahan.
Following are the reasons for the start of downfall of Mughal Empire during
the period of Shah Jahan.
i. He constructed many monuments during his reign spending huge
amount of money while the people perished in the frequent famines
occurred during his reign.
ii. His intolerant religious policies caused discontent in the empire.
iii. Shah Jahan’s southern campaigns were expensive and remained a
trouble for the Mughal Empire. The political turmoil in the Deccan
region persisted. His campaigns on Balk and Badakshan in Central
Asia ended in failure. He was unable to recapture Kandahar.
Q14. What policy did Shah Jahan follow towards the European powers? (two
points)
Ans: The policies Shah Jahan followed towards the European powers were:
i. At the beginning the relationship the Portuguese were cordial but
when they stopped paying the customs duty, he sent armies to take
the Portuguese trading post at Hugli.
ii. Relations with the British trader was good during his period.

Q15. ‘Aurangzeb was a religious bigot.’ Justify the statement with two
relevant points.

Ans. The word bigot means a person a person who is obstinately

or unreasonably attached to a belief, opinion, or faction. Aurangzeb was a
religious bigot, the following facts justify this:

i. He ruled strictly by the Muslim law. A Sunni Muslim, his aim was to
convert non-believers to the Muslim faith (His chief aim was to
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 Previous years questions and answers - Mughal dynasty

convert Dar-ul-harb i.e. the country of Kafirs or infidels to Dar-ul-

Islam which means country of Islam.)
ii. His policies towards non-Muslims were oppressive and intolerant. He
re-imposed the jizya and the pilgrimage tax on Hindus.