Test: Economic And Social Life Under Mughals - UPSC MCQ

Babur, Ralph Fitch, and De Laet were among the many European traders who came to India and left various accounts. They recorded their observations about the socio-economic conditions of the Mughal Empire.

Rice, millets, and pulses formed the staple diet of the masses, with fish being popular in Bengal and coastal regions and meat in the south. Chapatis were popular in the north, while ghee and oil were much cheaper.

Indian cultivators were open to adopting new crops such as tobacco, maize, silk, tusser cultivation, potato, and red chillies. However, there were no new agricultural techniques introduced during this time.

The ruling class during the Mughal Empire consisted of the nobility, landed gentry, and zamindars. They held various privileges and responsibilities, such as high salaries, patronage to artisans and craftsmen, and maintaining a large train of servants and attendants.

Under Akbar, the proportion of Hindus in the Mughal nobility was 16%, with the largest group being the Rajputs, especially the Kacchwahas.

The Marathas, a new section of Hindus, started gaining importance during Jahangir's reign. They continued to rise in prominence during the reigns of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb.

The Mughal nobility had many privileges, such as high salaries, patronage to artisans and craftsmen, and establishing marketplaces. However, they did not have land ownership rights.

The middle strata did not form a distinct class, and their interests were diverse. They included small mansabdars, petty shopkeepers, master craftsmen, professionals, and a large class of petty officials in the administrative machinery.

Trade and commerce expanded during the 17th century due to several factors, including political integration, easier communications, a uniform tax regime, and high purity silver rupees.

Important trade centers during the Mughal Empire included Bengal, the Coromandel Coast, Gujarat, Burhanpur, Agra, and Lahore. The Maldives was not a significant trade center during this time.

Gujarati merchants, including Hindus, Jains, and Muslim Bohras, were the dominant trading community in Gujarat.

The Dutch established themselves in India after the decline of the Portuguese power. They obtained a farman from the ruler of Golconda and set up a base in Masulipatnam.

Indian traders were able to maintain their position in Asian trade because they had a deep understanding of both the domestic and international markets and were willing to work at a lower profit than European traders.

The growth of foreign trade during the Mughal Empire led to several consequences, including the growth of the Indian economy, the penetration of the money economy into village life, and Europeans searching for alternatives to exporting gold and silver to India.

A hundi was a letter of credit used during the Mughal Empire. Shroffs specialized in dealing with hundis, and their use contributed to the growth of the financial system.