Question 1

What were the main features of Sulh-i Kul?

Accepted Answer

The idea of Sulh-i Kul was introduced by Akbar, the Great. Sulh-i Kul meant universal peace. Its main features are given below :The idea of Sul-i Kul was based on the idea of tolerance which did not discriminate between the people of different religions in Akbar's realm.It focused on a system of ethics-honesty, justice, peace. These values were universally applicable.

Question 2

Match the following:1. Subedara. a revenue farmer2. Faujdarb. a high noble3. Ijaradarc. provincial governor4. Misld. Maratha peasant warriors5. Chauthe. a Mughal military commander6. Kunbisf. a band of Sikh warior7. Umarag. tax levied by the Marathas

Accepted Answer

1. Subedar- Provincial governor2. Faujdar- Mughal military commander3. Ijaradar- A revenue farmer4. Misl- A band of Sikh warrior5. Chauth- Tax levied by the Marathas6. Kunbis- Maratha peasant warriors7. Umara- A high noble

Question 3

Who were mansabdars? What were their responsibilities?

Accepted Answer

The Mughals recruited diverse bodies of people in order to run the empire smoothly. Those who joined Mughal service were enrolled as mansabdars.The term mansabdar referred to an individual holding a mansab, meaning a position or rank. It was a grading system used by the Mughals to fix rank, salary and military responsibilities.The mansabdars were assigned to military responsibilities. For this, they maintained a specified number of sawar or cavalrymen. The mansabdar brought his cavalrymen for review, got them registered, their horses branded and then received money to pay them as salary.

Question 4

Why did the Mughals emphasised their Timurid and not their Mongol descent?

Accepted Answer

The Mughals were descendants of two great lineages of rulers. From their mother's side, they were descendants of Genghis Khan, ruler of the Mongol tribes. From their father's side, they were the successors of Timur, the ruler of Iran, Iraq and modern-day Turkey.However, the Mughals did not like to be called Mongol because Mongol's especially Genghis Khan's memory was associated with the massacre of innumerable people. It was also linked with the Uzbeks, their Mongol competitors. On the other hand, the Mughals were proud of their Timurid ancestry, because it had achieved a good name in history.

Question 5

Abul Fazl, Akbar’s friend, and counsellor helped him frame the idea of ____________ so that he could govern a society composed of many religions, cultures and castes.

Accepted Answer

Abul Fazl helped Akbar in framing a vision of governance around this idea of sulh-i kul. This principle of governance was followed by Jahangir and Shah Jahan as well.

Question 6

Akbar's concept of Sulh-i-kul (or Qul) means _____.

Accepted Answer

Akbar's concept of Sulh-i-kul (or Qul) means harmony and peace to all. Sulh-i kul is an Arabic term literally meaning “peace with all,” “universal peace,” or “absolute peace,” drawn from a Sufi mystic principle. As applied by the third Mughal Emperor of India, Akbar (who reigned 1556-1605), it described a peaceful and harmonious relationship among different religions. Akbar the Great, was the third Mughal emperor, who reigned from 1556 to 1605. Akbar succeeded his father, Humayun, under a regent, Bairam Khan, who helped the young emperor to expand Mughal domains in India.

Question 7

The five Deccan Sultanate were Berar, Khandesh, Ahmadnagar, _____ and ______.

Accepted Answer

The five Deccan Sultanate were Berar, Khandesh, Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, and Golconda.

Question 8

If zat determined a mansabdar's rank and salary, sawar indicated his _______

Accepted Answer

The zat and sawar were parameters of defining a mansabdar’s “level”. Before this system was introduced, there was a single parameter the count of horses that a mansabdar maintained during Akbar’s times and therefore (possibly) the subsidy that he received in exchange for that. Mansabdars didn’t often maintain the required troops or horses, and this new, fairly elaborate system was used to classify mansabdars.The zat was a rank conferred by the king on the mansabdar, whereas the sawar was a count of horsemen that were to be maintained.

Question 9

How were the debates with religious scholars important in the formation of Akbar's ideas on governance?

Accepted Answer

Akbar's interaction with people of different faiths made him realise that religious scholar who emphasised ritual and dogma were often bigots. Their teachings created divisions and disharmony amongst his subject. This finally led Akbar to the idea of Sulh-i Kul or universal peace. He inferred that the idea of tolerance was of utmost importance because it did not discriminate between people of different religions in his realm. Instead, it focused on a system of ethics i.e. honesty, justice, peace. These were the virtues universally applicable. Finally Akbar, with the help of Abul Fazl, formed a vision of governance around the idea of sulh-i kul.

Question 10

MansabMarwarMongolGovernorSisodiya RajputUzbegRathor RajputMewarNur JahanRankSubadarJahangir

Accepted Answer

Mansab  - RankMongol  - UzbegSisodiya Rajput  - MewarRathor Rajput  - MarwarNur Jahan  - JahangirSubadar  - Governor