PART2 CH9 Kings And Chronicles (Important Question Answer)

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II

CH9 KINGS AND CHRONICLES THE MUGHAL COURTS

[C.16TH TO 17TH CENTURIES]

IMPORTANT QUESTION ANSWER

Q1. Clarify the word meaning of Kornish? 

Ans. Kornish was a form of ceremonial salutation in which the Courtier placed the palm of his right hand against his forehead and bent his head, It suggested that the subject placed his head the seat of the senses and the mind into the hand of humility; presenting it to the royal assembly. 

Q2. Name the dynasty which ruled India during 1526 to 1707. Who was the founder of this dynasty? Ans. Mughal dynasty and founder of this dynasty was Babur.

Q3. What is meant by the term Kitabkhana? 

Ans. The literal translation of the term Kitabkhana is library. It was a scriptorium that is a place where the emperors collection of manuscripts were kept and manuscripts were produced. 

Q4. Manuscripts involved a number of people performing a variety of tasks. Give some such people engaged in the task. 

Ans. Manuscripts involved a number of people performing a variety of tasks. Among them were paper marker, calligrapher, gliders, painters, bookbinders. 

Q5. Babur’s memories were return in which language?

Ans. Babur’s memories Tuzuk-i-Babari were originally written in Turkish. They were translated in Persian as Babur Nama.

Q6. Explain the meaning of the term “Jihad” or Holy war or Crusade. 

Ans. Most of the Muslim Sultans or rulers encouraged their soldiers to fight the Kafirs in the name of religion. This religious war known as jihad holy war or crusade Babur, too had declared his battle against Rana Sanga (or Mewar) a jihad. 

Q7. Discuss the major features of Mughal provincial administration. How did the centre control the provinces? 

Ans. Major features of Mughal provincial administration: 

i. Subadar: The division of function established at the centre was replicated in the provinces 

ii. (Subas) where the ministers had their corresponding subordinates (diwan, bakhshi and sadr). 

iii. The head of the provincial administration was the governor (subadar) who reported directly to the emperor. 

iv. Faujdars: The sarkars, into which each suba was divided, often overlapped with the jurisdiction of faujdars (commandants) who were reployed with contingents of heavy cavalry and musketeers in districts. The local administration was looked after at the level of the pargana (sub-district) by three semi – hereditary officers, the qaungo (keeper of revenue records), the chaudhuri (in charge of revenue collection) and the qazi. 

v. A large support of staff of different categories such as clerk, accountants messengers etc: Each department of administration maintained a large support staff of clerks, accountants, auditors, messengers, and other functionaries who were technically qualified officials, functioning in accordance with standardized rules and procedures, and generating copious written orders and records. Persian was made the language of administration throughout, but local languages were used for village accounts. 

II. The control of the provinces of the centre: The Mughal chronicles usually portrayed the emperor and his court as controlling the entire administrative apparatus and down to the village level. Yet as you have seen this could hardly have been a process free of tension. The relationship between local landed magnates, the zamindars, and the representatives of the Mughal emperor was sometimes marked by conflicts over authority and a share of the resources. The zamindars often succeeded in mobilizing peasant support against the state.

Q8. Assess the role played by women of the imperial household in the Mughal Empire. 

Ans. The role played by the women of the imperial household in the Mughal Empire 

(i). In the Mughal household a distinction was maintained between wives who came from royal families (Begams) and other wives(aghas) who were not of noble birth. 

(ii). Apart from wives numerous male and female slaves populated the Mughal household: The tasks they performed varied from the most mundane to those requiring skill tact and intelligence. 

(iii). After NurJahan Mughal queens and princesses began to control significant financial resources. Shahjahana’s daughter Jahanara and Roshanara enjoyed an annual income often equal to the high imperial mansabdars. Jahanara in addition received revenues from the port city of Surat, which was a lucrative centre of overseas trade.

Q9. Write a short note on Badshah Nama. 

Ans. Badshah Nama Chronicle of a king based on the history of Shahjahan’s reign is an Important chronicle among official histories. Abdul Hamid Lahori, a pupil of Abul Fazal is known as its aurthor. It is modelled of 10 lunar years each. Lahori wrote the first and second daftars comprising of first two decades of Shahjahan’s reign (1627-1647) But due to infirmities of age he was unable to write the 3rd volume. Volume of the 3rd decade of the emperor’s rule was chronicle by historian waris. In 1944 the first time painting of Badshah Nama were exhibited in New Delhi, London and Washington.