Mughal Empire — Set 10

Correct Answer: B. Raja Jai Singh

• **Treaty of Purandar (1665)** — signed between **Shivaji** and **Raja Jai Singh I** of Amber. • Jai Singh represented **Aurangzeb**; Shivaji surrendered **23 of 35 forts** to the Mughals. • Shivaji agreed to appear at Aurangzeb's court in **Agra (1666)**, where he was placed under house arrest. • 💡 Afzal Khan = killed by Shivaji (**1659**); Aurangzeb = ordered the treaty but not physically present; Shaista Khan = attacked by Shivaji — Jai Singh signed Treaty of Purandar.

Correct Answer: C. Jahangir

• **Jahangir** was the first Mughal Emperor to issue a **Firman (royal decree)** to the British. • First granted to **Captain William Hawkins (1608–11)**, later confirmed for **Thomas Roe (1615)**. • This Firman allowed the **East India Company** to set up its **first factory at Surat** in 1613. • 💡 Aurangzeb = later revoked trade privileges (Child's War **1686**); Akbar = never issued formal British Firman; Shah Jahan = successor — Jahangir issued the first Firman.

Correct Answer: A. Persian style

• **Mughal painting** was originally influenced by the **Persian style** — Humayun brought this tradition. • **Humayun** brought artists **Mir Sayyid Ali** and **Abdus Samad** from Safavid Persia to India. • Over time, Persian style blended with **Indian (Rajput) style** under Akbar to form unique Mughal art. • 💡 European style = influenced Mughal portraiture under Jahangir; Rajput style = merged with Mughal, not origin; Chinese style = no direct Mughal influence — Persian style was the original foundation.

Correct Answer: C. Raja Todar Mal

• **Raja Todar Mal** began his career as a revenue officer under **Sher Shah Suri** before serving Akbar. • He learned expert revenue administration under Sher Shah's system — which he later refined for Akbar. • Under Akbar, he became the **Finance Minister** and introduced the landmark **Dahsala system (1580)**. • 💡 Bairam Khan = Akbar's regent/military; Birbal = Akbar's wit advisor; Malik Ambar = Deccan minister — Todar Mal was the revenue minister under BOTH Sher Shah and Akbar.

Correct Answer: D. Akbar and Aurangzeb

• **Both Akbar and Aurangzeb** had the **longest Mughal reigns** — approximately **49 years each**. • **Akbar** ruled **1556–1605** (49 years); **Aurangzeb** ruled **1658–1707** (49 years). • This is a frequently asked. • 💡 Jahangir = 22 years (**1605**–27); Shah Jahan = 30 years (**1628**–58); Humayun = effectively 26 years — only Akbar and Aurangzeb both ruled ~49 years.

Correct Answer: A. Nur Jahan

• **Humayun's Tomb** in Delhi was built by his widow **Hamida Banu Begum** (called Haji Begum). • Completed in **1572**; first **garden-tomb (charbagh style)** on the Indian subcontinent. • Designed by **Mirak Mirza Ghiyas** (Persian architect); served as the architectural precursor to the Taj Mahal. • 💡 Nur Jahan = built Itimad-ud-Daulah's tomb; Mumtaz Mahal = buried IN Taj Mahal; Gulbadan Begum = wrote Humayun-nama, didn't build tomb.

Correct Answer: C. Sher Shah Suri

• **'Patta'** (title deed) and **'Qabuliyat'** (deed of agreement) were introduced by **Sher Shah Suri**. • Patta = document given to peasant stating their **rights over land**; Qabuliyat = peasant's signed agreement. • This bilateral system **reduced corruption** and clearly defined liabilities — protected farmers from exploitation. • 💡 Muhammad bin Tughlaq = token currency; Akbar = Zabti/Dahsala system; Alauddin Khilji = market reforms — only Sher Shah introduced Patta-Qabuliyat system.

Correct Answer: B. Shah Jahan

• **Shah Jahan** is called **'Prince of Builders'** or **'Engineer King'** — architecture was his greatest passion. • He built **Taj Mahal** (Agra), **Red Fort** (Delhi), **Jama Masjid** (Delhi), **Shalimar Gardens** (Lahore). • His reign is the **Golden Age of Mughal Architecture** — dominated by white marble and pietra dura. • 💡 Jahangir = painting zenith; Babur = introduced Charbagh gardens; Akbar = red sandstone era — Shah Jahan alone earned 'Prince of Builders' title.

Correct Answer: A. Shah Jahan

• **Shah Jahan** shifted the Mughal capital from **Agra to Delhi** in **1638**. • He built a new walled city called **Shahjahanabad** (today's Old Delhi / Purani Dilli). • The **Red Fort** was the imperial palace; **Jama Masjid** was the main mosque — both built by Shah Jahan. • 💡 Jahangir = kept capital at Agra/Lahore; Akbar = built Fatehpur Sikri then Agra; Aurangzeb = no capital shift — only Shah Jahan moved capital to Delhi.

Correct Answer: B. Babur

• **Babur** won the **First Battle of Panipat (April 21, 1526)** — defeated **Ibrahim Lodi** of Delhi Sultanate. • Babur used **field artillery (cannons)** for the first time in Indian warfare — a decisive advantage. • This battle marked the **foundation of the Mughal Empire** and the end of the Delhi Sultanate. • 💡 Ibrahim Lodi = lost and died on the battlefield; Sher Shah Suri = not yet born as a ruler; Rana Sanga = fought Babur separately at Khanwa **1527** — Babur won First Panipat.