Medieval India
Later Mughal Empire and Its Administration
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- Later Mughal Empire And Its Administration
- Introduction - Indian History
- Historical Sources (Literary & Archaeological Source)
- Human Evolution Pre-Historic Period
- The Stone Age/Lithic Age 30,00,000 BC to 1,000 BC
- 7 Highlights of India's Prehistoric Ages
- Origin & Culture of Aryans in Vedic India
- Mahajanapada Period (600 BC- 325 BC)
- Religious Movements (600 BC - 400 BC) – Jainism, Buddhism
- Maurya Period (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Post-Maurya/Pre-Gupta Period (185BC-319 AD)
- The Sangam Period (1st-3rd Century AD)
- The Gupta Period (319 AD - 540 AD)
- The Post-Gupta Period/Vardhana Dynasty (550 AD - 647 AD)
- Early Medieval Period: Rajputs to Cholas Overview
- History of Delhi Sultanate
- Vijayanagar Empire (1336-1565 AD)
- Religious Movements in 15th -16th Centuries
- Timeline of Mughal Period (1526-1857)
- Maratha State (1674-1720) and Maratha Confederacy (1720-1818)
- The Advent of the Europeans From (1498-1763)
- Expansion of British Power in India
- India’s Exploitation by the British Rule
- Socio-Religious Movements in 19th-20th Centuries
- Lower Caste/Caste Movements and Organisations
- Moderate Phase (1885-1905) - Indian National Congress
- Extremist Phase (1905-1917)
- The Gandhian Era: 1869–1948
- Miscellaneous - Indian History
- Brahmanic (Hindu) Texts
- Buddhist Texts and Jain Texts
- Historical and Semi-Historical Texts
- Biographical Texts - Indigenous Sources
- Greek Writers - Foreign Sources
- Chinese and Tibetan Writers
- Arabian & Arabic Writers
- Origin & Development of Indian Archaeology
- Inscriptions of Archaeological Sources
- Mauryan Inscriptions
- Post-Mauryan Inscriptions
- Gupta and Later Inscriptions in India
- South Indian Inscriptions
- Mesolithic Age in India (9,000 BC - 4,000 BC)
- Neolithic Age (7,000 BC - 1,000 BC)
- Neolithic Sites in India
- Chalco-Lithic Age (3,500 BC - 1,000 BC)
- Iron Age (1,000 BC–500 BC)
- Iron Using Cultures - Iron Age
- Harappan / Indus Civilization (2500 BC - 1750 BC)
- Vedic Culture (1500 BC – 600 BC)
- Rig Vedic/Early Vedic Period (1500 BC - 1000 BC)
- Later Vedic Period (1000 BC - 600 BC)
- Haryanka Dynasty (544 BC – 412 BC)
- Religious Movements of Jainism (600 BC - 400 BC)
- Religious Movements of Buddhism (600 BC - 400 BC)
- Maurya Period Sources (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Origin of the Maurya Dynasty (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Mauryan Administration & Art (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Gupta Administration: Society, Economy & Culture
- The Khilji Dynasty : 1290-1320 AD
- The Tughlaq Dynasty: 1320-1414 AD
- The Sayyed and Lodhi Dynasty
- Rise of Babur & Humayun in Mughal Period
- Sher Shah Suri Empire (1540–55): Second Afghan Empire
- The Mughal Empire Under Akbar (1556–1605)
- Jahangir to Aurangzeb (1605–1707)
- Mughal Culture & Architecture Explained
- Rise of Maratha Power (1674–1720): Shivaji to Shahu
- Maratha Confederacy (1720–1818)
Later Mughal Empire and Its Administration
Later Mughals
Bahadur Shah I (1707–1712)
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Original Name: Muazzam
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Title: Alam I
Jahandar Shah (1712–1713)
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Ascended the throne with the help of Zulfikar Khan
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Abolished Jaziya
Farrukh Siyar (1713–1719)
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Ascended the throne with the help of
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Sayyid brothers: Abdulla Khan and Hussain Khan
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Muhammad Shah (1719–1748)
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In 1738–39, Nadir Shah raided India
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Took away the Thakht-i-Taus (the Peacock Throne) and the Kohinoor diamond
Ahmed Shah (1748–1754)
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Ahmad Shah Abdali (General of Nadir Shah) marched towards Delhi
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Mughals ceded Punjab and Multan
Alamgir II (1754–1759)
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Ahmad Shah occupied Delhi
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Later, Delhi was plundered by the Marathas
Shah Alam II (1759–1806)
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Nazib Khan became very powerful in Delhi
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Shah Alam II could not enter Delhi for 12 years
Akbar II (1806–1837)
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Became a pensioner of the East India Company
Bahadur Shah II (1837–1857)
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Last Mughal Emperor
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Made its premiere during the 1857 revolt
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Deported to Rangoon (Burma, now Myanmar) in 1858
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Died in 1862
Mughal Administration
The Mughal Empire was divided into:
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Subas (provinces)
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Subas were further subdivided into:
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Sarkar
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Parganj
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Gram
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Other territorial units included:
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Khalisa – Royal land
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Jagirs – Autonomous Rajyas
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Inams – Gifted lands (mainly wastelands)
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There were:
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15 Subas during Akbar's reign
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Increased to 20 Subas under Aurangzeb’s reign
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Administrative Unit |
Incharge |
Suba (i.e. Province) |
Sipahsalar/Subedar/Nizam—The Head Executive Diwan-In-Charge of the revenue department |
Sarkar (i.e., District) |
Fauzdar-Administrative Hea,d Amal/ Amalguzar-Revenue collection |
Pargana (i.e. Taluka) |
Siqdar-Administrative Head Amin, Qanungo-Revenue officials |
Gram (I.,e. Village) |
Muqaddam-Headman, Patwari-Accountant |
Mansabdari System under Akbar
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Akbar introduced the Mansabdari system.
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The term Mansab indicates the rank of its holder.
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Mansabdari was both a civil and military system.
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Almost the entire nobility, bureaucracy, and military held Mansabs.
Structure of Mansab
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The Mughal Mansab had a dual nature:
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Zat – Denoted personal rank and pay status
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Sawar – Number of horsemen a Mansabdar had to maintain
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Types of Mansabdars
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3 categories:
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Mansabdars
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Amirs
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Amir-i-Umda
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According to the payment mode, they were of 2 types:
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Naqdi – Paid through cash
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Jagirdar – Paid through Jagirs (land grants)
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Further Developments
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Jahangir added the Duaspah-Sihaspah system:
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One’s Sawar rank could be raised without increasing the Zat rank
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Shah Jahan introduced the Jama-Dami or Mahana Zagir system (Monthly Scale)
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These changes ultimately led to:
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Jagirdari and agrarian crises
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A major cause of the Mughal decline
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Revenue Collection Methods
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Several revenue systems were in practice:
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Kankut – Based on estimates
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Rai – Based on yield per unit area
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Zabti – Based on crop yields
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Dahsala Bandobast or Zabti:
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A standard method of tax collection
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Rates of crops were set after a 10-year assessment
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Todar Mai pioneered this system
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Jagirdari System
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Jagirdari: Assignment of land proportionate to a Jagirdar’s salary
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Every Mansabdar was entitled to a Jagir if not paid in cash
Land Grants for Religious/Favored Individuals
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Madad-i-Maash, Suyurghal, and Inam:
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These were land grants given to people of religious assignment or royal favor
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Final Thoughts
The Later Mughals marked a period of decline in the Mughal Empire, with weak rulers and constant foreign invasions. From Bahadur Shah I to Bahadur Shah II, the dynasty saw internal strife, external threats, and reduced authority.
Administrative systems like Subas and the Mansabdari system were once efficient but later led to crises due to corruption and mismanagement. Reforms by rulers like Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan eventually became outdated.
Revenue systems like Zabti and Jagirdari faced challenges over time. Overall, this period reflects how strong foundations can weaken if not adapted to changing times.
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