RBSE Class 7 Social Science Notes History Chapter 4 The Mughal Empire

These comprehensive RBSE Class 7 Social Science Notes History Chapter 4 The Mughal Empire will give a brief overview of all the concepts.

RBSE Class 7 Social Science Notes History Chapter 4 The Mughal Empire

→ From the latter half of the sixteenth century Mughals expanded their kingdom from Agra and Delhi, until in the seventeenth century they controlled nearly all of the subcontinent.

→ Who were the Mughals?
The Mughals were descendants of two great lineages of rulers. From their mother’s side they were descendants of Genghis Khan the Mongol ruler who ruled over parts of China and Central Asia. From their father’s side they were the successors of Timur, the ruler of Iran, Iraq and modern-day Turkey. The Mughals were proud of their Timurid ancestry.

→ Mughal Military Campaigns:

• Babur (1526-1530): The first Mughal Emperor Babur established control over Chanderi, Agra and Delhi after defeating Ibrahim Lodi—Sultan of Delhi in 1526 AD Rana Sanga in 1527 AD and Rajputs at Chanderi in 1528 AD.
• Humayun: In 1530 AD, Babur’s son Humayun became king. But Sher Khan defeated him at Chausa and Kanauj. These defeats forced him to flee to Iran. He recaptured Delhi in 1555 AD but died in 1556 AD.
• Akbar (1556-1605): After the death of Humayun, Akbar was 13 years old when he became emperor. Between 1556-1570, he launched the military campaigns against the Suris and other Afghans, against the neighbouring kingdoms of Malwa and Gondwana, and to suppress the revolt of the Uzbegs. In 1568, the Sisodia Capital' of Chittor and in 1959 Ranthambhor was seized.
• In 1570-1585, military compaigns were launched in Gujarat, Bihar, Bengal and Orissa (Odesha).
• In 1585-1605 campaigns were launched in north-west and merged Qandahar, Kashmir and Kabul into his kingdom. After this Berar, Khandesh and parts of Ahmadnagar were merged into his kingdom.

→ Jahangir (1605-1627): After the death of Akbar, his son Jahangir became emperor in 1605 AD. He continued military compaigns started by Akbar. The Sisodiya ruler of Mewar, Amar Singh, accepted Mughal service.

→ Shah Jahan (1627-1658): After the death of Jahangir, Shah Jahan became emperor in 1627 AD. Mughal campaigns continued in the Deccan. He captured Orchha and merged Ahmadnagar into his kingdom.

→ Aurangzeb (1658-1707):

• In 1658, son of Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb became emperor. He started campaigns in the north-west against the Yusufzai and the Sikhs and were temporarily successful.
• During this period the Rathor Rajputs of Marwar and Maratha Chieftain Shivaji campaigned against the Mughals.
• Aurangzeb also has to face the rebellion in north India of the Sikhs, Jats and Satnamis, in the north-east of the Ahoms and in the Deccan of the Marathas.

→ Mughal Traditions of Succession: The Mughals did not believe in the rule of . primogeniture, where the eldest son inherited his father’s estate. Instead they followed the Mughal and Timurid custom of coparcenary inheritance, or a division of the inheritance amongst all the sons.

→ Mughal Relations with Other Rulers:

• The Mughal rulers campaigned constantly against rulers who refused to accept their authority.
• As the Mughals became powerful many other rulers also joined them voluntarily.

→ The Sisodiya Rajputs of Mewar refused to accept Mughal authority for a long time. Once defeated, however, they were honourably treated by the Mughals, but Mughals insulted Shivaji when he came to accept their authority.

→ Mansabdars and Jagirdars:
Those who joined Mughal service were enrolled as mansabdars. It was a grading system used by the Mughals to fix

• rank
• salary and
• military responsibilities.

→ Zabt and Zamindars:
In most places, peasants paid taxes through the rural elites and village headmen. All these intermediaries are known as zainindars.

→ The system of receiving revenue was called zabt.

→ Akbar’s Policies:

• Akbar’s empire was divided into provinces called ‘subas’ governed by a ‘Subadar’. Subadar was supported by bakhshi, sadr, faujdars and kotwal etc.
• Religious discussions led Akbar to the idea of ‘sulh-i-kul’ or ‘universal peace.’ This was a policy of religious tolerance. This principle was followed by Jahangir and Shah Jahan.

→ The Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century and After:

• The administrative and military efficiency of the Mughal Empire led to great economic and commercial prosperity.
• Social inequalities were also visible during this period.
• The wealtheir peasantry and artisanal groups, the merchants and bankers profited in this economic world.
• The enormous wealth and resoures commanded by the Mughal elite made them an Extremely powerful group of people in the late seventeenth century. They constituted new dynasties like Hyderabad and Awadh.
• By the eighteenth century the provinces of the empire had consolidated then- independent political identities.