Innovations and Key Words

• What does the term "Mughal" derive from?

  It is the Persian word for Mongol.
• What was the role of the harem in the Mughal court?

  It was reserved for the emperor’s wives and concubines.
• What is the Jizya?

  It was a poll tax imposed on non-Muslims.
• Who reinstated the Jizya after it was abolished by Akbar?

  Aurangzeb reinstated it in 1679.
• What was the East India Company?

  It was the British trading company that set up a trading post at Surat in 1612.
• What characterized Mughal warfare?

  Mughal warfare involved soldiers on horseback, war elephants, and the use of gunpowder.
• What military innovation did Babur introduce?

  He introduced the matchlock musket and cannon.
• How did Mughal architecture differ from British architecture in India?

  Mughal architecture was a mix of Hindu and Islamic styles, while British architecture was Western style.
• What was the impact of the Mughal Empire on art and literature?

  It saw a growth of beautiful art, including decorated handwritten books and miniatures.
• When did the Mughal Empire begin to decline?

  After 1707
• What happened to the last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar?

  He was accused of aiding rebels and banished from India in 1857.
• What was the outcome of British rule in India after the Mughal Empire?

  The British became the next rulers of India from 1858.
• What are the key innovations of the Mughal Empire in military, art, and religion?

  • Military: Use of gunpowder, matchlock musket, and cavalry tactics.
  • Art & Architecture: Miniature paintings, a mix of Hindu and Islamic styles.
  • Religion: Religious tolerance under Akbar, reinstatement of Jizya by Aurangzeb.
• What were the strengths and weaknesses of the Mughal Empire's governance?

  Strengths:

  • Strong administration and tax systems under Akbar.
  • Inclusion of Hindus in high positions.

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Decline after Aurangzeb's reign due to religious intolerance and heavy taxation.
  • Difficulty in governing a vast empire.
• What is Jharoka?

  A special window at which Mughal emperors showed themselves to their people.
• What is Hindustan?


  Name given to the northen part of India
• What was the Factory?


  A compound set up European traders including warehouses and residence.
• A Sati/Suttee


  A practice found chiefly among Hindus in South Asia, in which a widow sacrificed herself on her deceased husband's funeral pyre