Mughal Empire — Set 5

Correct Answer: A. Surat

• First **English factory** in the Mughal Empire was at **Surat** in **1613** — with Jahangir's permission. • It was established following Sir Thomas Roe's successful diplomatic mission at Jahangir's court. • **Surat** was the major **western coast trading port** and gateway to Mecca for pilgrims. • 💡 Calcutta = later EIC base (**1690**); Bombay = Portuguese gift to British (**1661**); Madras = Fort St. George (**1644**) — Surat was FIRST.

Correct Answer: D. Akbar

• **EIC formed in London on 31 December 1600** — when **Akbar** was the Mughal Emperor (ruled 1556–1605). • **Queen Elizabeth I** granted the Royal Charter to the Company; first voyage to India in 1608. • EIC's representatives (Hawkins, Roe) only arrived in India during **Jahangir's** reign (after Akbar died). • 💡 Shah Jahan/Aurangzeb/Jahangir were all later rulers — in **1600** when charter was granted, Akbar was emperor.

Correct Answer: C. Babur

• **Babur** is buried in **Kabul, Afghanistan** — in the **Bagh-e-Babur** (Babur's Garden) as per his last wish. • He was initially buried in **Agra** (1530), but his remains were later shifted to Kabul as he wished. • Only Mughal emperor buried **outside India** — he loved Kabul's cool climate and flowing streams. • 💡 Aurangzeb = buried in Khuldabad (Aurangabad, India); Shah Jahan = Taj Mahal, Agra; Jahangir = Lahore — Babur alone is in Kabul.

Correct Answer: A. Sher Shah Suri

• **Battle of Chausa (1539)** — **Sher Shah Suri** defeated **Humayun** decisively near Buxar. • Humayun barely escaped by crossing the **Ganges** on an inflated water-skin (aided by a water-carrier Nizam). • This victory made Sher Shah powerful enough to take the **title of Sultan** and challenge Delhi. • 💡 Bahadur Shah of Gujarat = different war (defeated earlier by Humayun); Rana Sanga/Mahmud Lodi = much earlier conflicts.

Correct Answer: C. Shah Jahan

• **'Padshahnama'** (Book of the Emperor) is the official chronicle of **Shah Jahan's reign**. • Written by **Abdul Hamid Lahori** — a key source for history and architecture of Shah Jahan's era. • Illustrated with magnificent **Mughal miniature paintings**; housed partly in Windsor Castle, UK. • 💡 Aurangzeb = Alamgirnama; Akbar = Akbarnama (by Abul Fazl); Jahangir = Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri (self-written) — Padshahnama = Shah Jahan.

Correct Answer: A. Aurangzeb

• **Aurangzeb** reimposed **Jizya** on non-Muslims in **1679** — reversing Akbar's abolition of 1564. • Jizya = tax on non-Muslims in exchange for protection; **women, children, poor, disabled** were exempt. • This caused widespread discontent and Rajput rebellions, weakening the Mughal Empire. • 💡 Shah Jahan = did not reimpose Jizya; Jahangir = continued Akbar's tolerance; Bahadur Shah I = eventually abolished it after Aurangzeb.

Correct Answer: C. Military

• **'Mir Bakshi'** = head of the **Military department** in Mughal administration (not finance or religion). • Responsible for **recruitment, payment of salaries**, and maintaining military records. • Also headed **intelligence and information** networks (espionage) across the empire. • 💡 Religious Affairs = Sadr-us-Sudur; Finance = Diwan/Wazir; Royal Household = Mir Saman — Mir Bakshi = military only.

Correct Answer: C. Sher Shah Suri

• **Sher Shah Suri** rebuilt and extended the **Grand Trunk Road (Sadak-e-Azam)** — ~2,400 km long. • It connected **Sonargaon (Bengal)** in the east to **Peshawar (northwest)** — backbone of the empire. • He planted shady trees and built **1,700 sarais (rest houses)** with wells along the route. • 💡 Akbar = improved it further; Jahangir/Aurangzeb = did not build GT Road; original route existed since Mauryan times.

Correct Answer: B. Akbar

• **Akbar** was historically **illiterate** (could not read or write) — a remarkable exception for a great ruler. • He had a massive **library of 24,000 volumes** and had books read to him aloud daily. • Despite illiteracy, he was a great **patron of art, learning, architecture**, and debated complex theology. • 💡 Jahangir = wrote Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri himself; Babur = wrote Baburnama; Shah Jahan = educated — only Akbar was illiterate.

Correct Answer: B. War of Succession among Shah Jahan's sons

• **Battle of Samugarh (May 1658)** was the decisive battle of the **war of succession** among Shah Jahan's sons. • **Aurangzeb + Murad** defeated **Dara Shikoh** near Agra — sealing Aurangzeb's path to the throne. • After this, Aurangzeb imprisoned Shah Jahan (**1658**) and had Dara Shikoh executed in **1659**. • 💡 Mughal-Maratha War = later; Mughal-Sikh War = different era; Mughal-Rajput War = different conflict — Samugarh was succession war.