Questions Answers Class 11 Chapter 15 History Maharashtra Board

India during Mughal period

Q.1 (A) Choose the correct alternative and write the complete sentences.

(1) Mughal Emperor Babur was born in ______ .
(a) Baluchistan (b) Kazakhstan
(c) Uzbekistan (d) Afghanistan

Answer: (c) Uzbekistan

(2) Mughal Emperor Humayun was defeated by ______.
(a) Ibrahim Lodi
(b) Shershah Sur (c) Babur
(d) Akbar

Answer: (b) Shershah Sur

(3) Akbarnama was written by ______ .
(a) Mohammad Qasim
(b) Abul Fazl (c) Mirza Hyder
(d) Badaun

Answer: (b) Abul Fazl

(B) Find the incorrect pair from set B and write the correct ones.

Answer: (1) Khafi Khan – Tarikh-i-Khafikhan

(C) Write the names.

(1) He defeated Ibrahim Lodi

Answer: Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi.

(2) She successfully resisted the attack of Akbar and saved the Nizamshahi kingdom

Answer: Chand Sultana (Chandbibi)

(C) Write the names.

(1) The Rajput rulers united against Babur.

Answer: After Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the Battle of Panipat and established Mughal rule in Delhi, the Rajput kings, under the leadership of Mewar King Rana Sangha, united to counter his growing power. This was because they perceived Babur’s rule as a threat to their independence and regional authority. Their unity culminated in the Battle of Khanwa, where Babur defeated them, showcasing his military prowess and strategic skills.

(2) Shershah Sur was well-known for his ideal administration.

Answer: Shershah Sur implemented significant administrative reforms during his brief rule. He unified scattered Afghan sardars in North India and introduced a systematic revenue system based on land measurement. His policies included fair tax collection, infrastructure development like highways, and measures to ensure efficient governance. These reforms brought stability and prosperity, earning him a reputation for ideal administration.

(3) Emperor Akbar strengthened the foundation of his rule in India.

Answer: Akbar transformed the Mughal kingdom into a vast empire through his intelligence, tolerance, and strategic policies. He expanded his rule from Kabul to Bengal and Kashmir to Varhad-Khandesh. To strengthen his rule, he adopted non-offensive policies, such as alliances with Rajput rulers through persuasion and marriage alliances, and implemented welfare-oriented revenue reforms. His inclusive approach and administrative innovations solidified Mughal authority in India.

(4) Mughal art declined during the period of Aurangzeb.

Answer: Aurangzeb’s staunch religious policies led to the withdrawal of royal patronage for arts like painting and music, which had flourished under Akbar, Jahangir, and Shahjahan. His ban on art forms forced artists to seek patronage elsewhere, such as in Rajasthan and the Himalayan regions, leading to the emergence of Rajasthani and Pahari styles. The lack of imperial support caused a decline in Mughal art during his reign.

Q.3 Write short notes.

(1) Mughal Art

Answer: Mughal art flourished during the reigns of Akbar, Jahangir, and Shahjahan, encompassing painting, architecture, and decorative arts. Mughal paintings, influenced by Persian styles, evolved into vibrant, realistic depictions of court life, hunting scenes, and nature, with miniature paintings in works like Baburnama. Architecture saw the development of the Indo-Islamic style, with iconic structures like the Taj Mahal, Buland Darwaza, and forts at Agra and Lahore, characterized by red stone, marble, domes, and arches. Ivory carving and garden design, such as Shalimar and Nishat gardens, also received royal patronage. However, art declined under Aurangzeb due to his restrictive policies.

(2) Mughal Literature

Answer: Mughal literature thrived in Persian, with significant contributions in historical, biographical, and poetic works. Babur’s autobiography, Baburnama, and Mirza Hyder’s Tarikh-i-Rashidi are notable texts. Akbar commissioned translations of Sanskrit works like Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Rajatarangini into Persian, with Abul Fazl authoring Akbarnama and Ain-i-Akbari. Dara Shukoh translated Upanishads into Persian. Local dialects also produced masterpieces like Tulsidas’ Ramacharitamanas, Surdas’ compositions, and Kabir’s dohas, reflecting the period’s literary diversity.

Q.4 Answer the following questions in detail.

(1) During the Mughal period what were the changes made in the revenue system?

Answer: Akbar introduced significant reforms to the revenue system, building on Shershah Sur’s framework. He implemented a systematic land survey to classify cultivable land into four types: fertile (supik), infertile (napik), irrigated (bagayat), and dry crop (jirayat). Individual land holdings were registered, and an average of the annual yield over the past ten years was calculated. One-third of this average was fixed as the tax rate, applicable for ten years, providing farmers with stability. Taxes were collected in cash or kind, and documents like Kabulayat and Patta were issued to formalize agreements. Farmers received loans for cultivation, repayable in installments, and concessions were granted during calamities like famines, floods, or epidemics. These welfare-oriented policies, guided by Todarmal’s insights, brought discipline and fairness to the Mughal revenue system, benefiting both the state and farmers.

(2) Elaborate the features of Mughal architecture.

Answer: Mughal architecture evolved from Persian influences into a distinctive Indo-Islamic style, blending strength, simplicity, and aesthetics. Early structures under Babur, like the Kabulbag mosque at Panipat and Jama Masjid at Sambhal, reflected Persian styles. Shershah Sur’s memorial at Sahastram and Purana Qila in Delhi marked the transition to Indo-Islamic architecture. Under Akbar, the city of Fatehpur Sikri was established, featuring landmarks like Buland Darwaza and Jama Masjid. He also built forts at Agra, Lahore, Allahabad, and Attock, using red stone and marble, with large domes and arches as prominent features. Shahjahan’s reign was the golden age of Mughal architecture, with masterpieces like the Taj Mahal, Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-Khaas, Jama Masjid, and Moti Masjid in the Red Fort, showcasing intricate marble work and symmetry. Mughal emperors were also nature enthusiasts, creating expansive gardens like Shalimar Baug in Lahore and Nishat Garden in Kashmir. The use of red sandstone, white marble, large courtyards, and ornamental designs defined Mughal architecture, which began to decline after Shahjahan’s reign.