In medieval India, why was the Mansabdari system introduced?a)For rev...
The correct answer is Facilitating recruitment to the army.
Important Point - The Mansabdari system was introduced by Akbar for military administration and for the territorial command to sustain the parts of the army.
- The Mansabdari system was taken from the system followed in Mongolia.
- The Mughal officers, whether Hindus or Muslims, were given territorial commands in return for their military service.
- They had to bring in some fixed number of men-at-arms, horses, and elephants to the field and were rated as per the numbers,
- which were known as Zats.
- Mansabdars of 10, 20, 100, and 1000 and so on.
- 'zat' shows the number of the troops which a mansabdar was expected to maintain, while 'sawar' indicates the actual number of horses under the command of a mansabdar.
- Mansingh and Mirza Aziz Koka were the only Mansabdar of 7000 zats, and Bhagwan Das with 5000 zats enjoyed the privileged position in the Mansabdari system of Akbar.
In medieval India, why was the Mansabdari system introduced?a)For rev...
The Mansabdari system was introduced in medieval India during the Mughal period. It was a system of ranking and administration that aimed to facilitate the recruitment and organization of the Mughal army. The system played a crucial role in the establishment and maintenance of the Mughal Empire.
The Mansabdari System for Army Recruitment:
The primary purpose of introducing the Mansabdari system was to facilitate the recruitment of soldiers into the Mughal army. Under this system, every officer or noble was assigned a rank or Mansab, which determined their military and administrative responsibilities. The Mansabdar, or officer, was expected to maintain a specified number of soldiers and horses according to their rank. The higher the rank, the more soldiers and horses the Mansabdar was required to maintain.
The Mansabdari System for Organization:
The Mansabdari system provided a structured framework for organizing the Mughal army. Each Mansabdar was responsible for maintaining and equipping their own soldiers, which helped in decentralizing the military power. This system allowed the Mughal emperors to have a large and well-organized army that could be mobilized quickly when needed.
The Mansabdari System for Loyalty:
Another important aspect of the Mansabdari system was its role in ensuring the loyalty of the Mansabdars towards the Mughal emperor. The Mansabdars were appointed by the emperor himself and were given their ranks based on their loyalty and service. This created a sense of obligation and dependence on the emperor, as the Mansabdars knew that their rank and position could be revoked if they failed to demonstrate loyalty.
The Mansabdari System for Revenue:
While revenue collection was not the primary purpose of the Mansabdari system, it did play a role in generating income for the empire. The Mansabdars were allotted jagirs, which were revenue assignments from which they derived their income. However, it is important to note that revenue collection was not the main objective of the system.
In conclusion, the Mansabdari system was introduced in medieval India primarily to facilitate the recruitment and organization of the Mughal army. It provided a structured framework for maintaining a large and well-organized military force and ensured the loyalty of the Mansabdars towards the emperor. While revenue collection was a secondary aspect of the system, it was not the main reason for its introduction.