The Mughal Empire MCQs for UPPSC (UP) Exam

The main cause for the war of succession among the four sons of Shahjahan was because of a tradition that Mughals did not follow any definite law of succession, which means that there is nothing particular about having an elder son on the throne.
Answer is option A.

In 1607, William Hawkins commanded the ship “Hector” for East India Company on a voyage to Surat and Aden loaded with letters & presents from King of England James I. He arrived in Surat in August 1608, but the road ahead was not a cakewalk .

As soon as
Hector sailed in, it was captured by the Portuguese. William Hawkins was told that all the ports belong to the “King of Portugal” and none ought to come here without his license. But, he was later let leave and receive a pass for his journey to Agra. He was helped by the Viceroy of the Burhanpur midway and after much labor, toil and many dangers; he was able to reach Agra on April 16, 1609.

Akbar who was contemporary of queen Elizabeth-I was little known in England, but when Hawkins arrived, there was a different personality sitting on the throne who was not at all known in England.

But Captain Hawkins was received by this new emperor Jahangir with all Indian hospitality and warmth. His letter was read in the court with the help of a Portuguese Jesuit. Then he was taken to the private audience chamber and they had a conversation for some 3 hours.

Hawkins was well versed in Turkish and Jahangir and some of his ministers also knew Turkish, the native tongue of Babur. So the discussions took place in Turkish.

Hawkins was able to acquire a footing in the court of Jahangir and in due course of time he got so intimacy with the “talented drunkard” emperor that no Europeans had ever afterwards.

Jahangir called him “English Khan“. This English Khan was able to persuade the emperor to grant a commission for an English factory at Surat but under the Pressure of the Portuguese Viceroy, the grant was withdrawn. Hawkins lived in the court of Mughal emperor till 1611, tried to reverse the orders, but the Portuguese influence over the King was impregnable. He returned in disgust on November 2, 1611. He died a couple of years later.

Shah Jahan's Central Asian Policy and its failure

Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor, had a keen interest in Central Asia, which was a region of great strategic importance. He wanted to establish Mughal control over this region and expand his empire's boundaries. To achieve this, he formulated a Central Asian policy, but unfortunately, it turned out to be a failure.

Loss of Qandhar

One of the significant setbacks that Shah Jahan faced was the loss of Qandhar to the Mughals once and for all. Qandhar was a strategically located city that connected Central Asia to India. Shah Jahan had sent his armies to capture it, but after several unsuccessful attempts, the city was lost to the Mughals permanently.

Evacuation of Balkh

Another failure of Shah Jahan's Central Asian policy was the evacuation of Balkh in 1647. Shah Jahan had sent his son, Aurangzeb, to capture Balkh, but due to the harsh winter and lack of provisions, the Mughal army had to evacuate the city. This was a significant setback for the Mughals as they had invested a lot of resources in capturing the city.

Wastage of resources

Shah Jahan's Central Asian policy was also a failure because a lot of money had been spent on military campaigns and building alliances with Central Asian rulers. This expenditure drained the Mughal treasury, and the empire faced financial problems.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Shah Jahan's Central Asian policy was a failure because of the loss of Qandhar, evacuation of Balkh, and wastage of resources. These setbacks weakened the Mughal empire and had long-term consequences on its stability.

Murder of Abul Fazl

Abul Fazl was the official historian of Akbar, the Mughal emperor. He was murdered in 1602 at the instigation of Prince Salim, who later became Emperor Jahangir. The murder was carried out by Bir Singh Bundela, a nobleman in the Mughal court.

Bir Singh Bundela

Bir Singh Bundela was a powerful noble in the Mughal court. He was the governor of Orissa and was known for his military skills. He was also a close associate of Prince Salim, who had promised him the governorship of Bengal.

Instigation by Prince Salim

Prince Salim was unhappy with Abul Fazl because he had criticized him in his book, Akbarnama. Salim felt that Abul Fazl was biased towards Akbar and had ignored his contributions to the Mughal empire. He also felt that Abul Fazl was trying to undermine his position in the court.

Prince Salim, therefore, instigated Bir Singh Bundela to murder Abul Fazl. He promised him the governorship of Bengal in return for carrying out the task. Bir Singh Bundela agreed to the plan and attacked Abul Fazl while he was travelling to meet Akbar.

Aftermath

The murder of Abul Fazl was a major setback for Akbar and his court. Abul Fazl was a trusted advisor of Akbar and his death was a loss to the Mughal empire. Prince Salim later regretted his decision and tried to make amends by honoring Abul Fazl's memory. However, the incident had already caused a rift between him and Akbar, which would have far-reaching consequences in the future.

Muhtasibs were special officers appointed by Aurangzeb to ensure that the Muslims lived their lives according to the Quranic law. The following points explain the role of Muhtasibs in detail:

Role of Muhtasibs:

1. Enforcing Quranic Law: The primary role of the Muhtasibs was to ensure that the Muslims led their lives according to the Quranic law. They were responsible for enforcing the Islamic code of conduct and ensuring that the Muslims followed the religious practices prescribed by the Quran.

2. Monitoring Markets: Another important function of the Muhtasibs was to monitor the markets and ensure that the traders followed ethical practices. They were responsible for ensuring that the traders did not cheat their customers and that the weights and measures used in trade were accurate.

3. Collection of Zakat and Ushr: The Muhtasibs were responsible for collecting Zakat and Ushr, which were Islamic taxes levied on Muslims. They ensured that these taxes were collected and utilized for the benefit of the poor and needy.

4. Checking Pilgrimage Tax: The Muhtasibs also checked the payment of pilgrimage tax by the Hindus. This tax was levied on the non-Muslims who visited Muslim holy places. The Muhtasibs ensured that this tax was collected and utilized for the upkeep of the holy places.

5. Restricting Non-Muslims: The Muhtasibs were also responsible for ensuring that the non-Muslims did not carry arms. This was done to prevent any uprising against the Muslim rulers.

In conclusion, Muhtasibs played an important role in enforcing the Islamic code of conduct and ensuring that the Muslims led their lives according to the Quranic law. They also monitored the markets, collected Zakat and Ushr, checked the payment of pilgrimage tax, and restricted the non-Muslims from carrying arms.

Akbar had great respect for the Rajputs.He realised that with their support, he could consolidate his empire. Tobacco in India is introduced by Portuguese during the reign of Akbar.

The correct answer is option 'B' i.e. "It was a Hindu practice."

Explanation:

Jharokha Darshan was a practice in which the common people could come to the ruler with their problems and grievances. This practice was prevalent in the Mughal era, where people could approach the emperor in the palace through the jharokha or window.

Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal Emperor, abolished this practice during his reign. The reason behind this was that Aurangzeb was a devout Muslim and believed that such practices were against Islamic principles. He considered the practice to be a Hindu tradition that had crept into the Mughal court.

Aurangzeb's decision to abolish Jharokha Darshan was also influenced by the fact that the practice had become too popular under the reign of his brother, Dara Shikoh. Dara Shikoh was known for his liberal views and was a patron of the arts and culture. He had popularized the practice of Jharokha Darshan, which had become a burden on the emperor's time and resources.

Aurangzeb saw the practice as a threat to his authority and prestige. He believed that he should be approached only through formal channels and not through informal practices like Jharokha Darshan. He also believed that the practice gave too much power to the common people and undermined the authority of the emperor.

In conclusion, Aurangzeb abolished the practice of Jharokha Darshan because he considered it to be a Hindu tradition that was against Islamic principles. He also saw it as a threat to his authority and prestige as the emperor of the Mughal Empire.

Introduction:
Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal emperor of India, ruled from 1658 to 1707. He made several policy changes during his reign, including the discontinuation of inscribing the Kalima (Islamic declaration of faith) on the coins.

Reasons for discontinuing the practice:

1. Dishonoring the Kalima:
The primary reason for discontinuing the practice of inscribing the Kalima on the coin was the concern that it would be dishonored by coming under the feet of the people. The Kalima holds immense religious significance for Muslims, and stepping on it would be considered disrespectful. Aurangzeb, being a devout and orthodox ruler, wanted to avoid any potential disrespect to the Kalima.

2. Borrowed Practice:
Another reason for discontinuing the practice was that it was borrowed from the Turks. Aurangzeb aimed to establish a more indigenous and Islamic administration, free from any external influences. By discontinuing the practice, he sought to distance himself from the Turkish influence on the Mughal Empire.

3. Smooth Functioning of Escheat System:
The escheat system refers to the process of transferring the property of a deceased person to the state when there are no legal heirs or beneficiaries. Some sources suggest that the practice of inscribing the Kalima on the coin hampered the smooth functioning of the escheat system. It is believed that the religious inscription on the coins created complications in determining the rightful ownership of the assets.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, Aurangzeb discontinued the practice of inscribing the Kalima on the coin primarily because it would have been dishonored by coming under the feet of the people. Additionally, he aimed to establish a more indigenous and Islamic administration, free from external influences. The discontinuation of the practice also potentially contributed to the smooth functioning of the escheat system.

Promulgation of Din-i-ilahi in 1582
Abolition of Jaziya in 1579
conquest of Gujrat in 1573

Aurangzeb, the sixth emperor, re-introduced and levied jizya on non-Muslims in 2nd April ​1679. His goal was to promote Islam and weaken the Hindu religion.