Class 7 History Chapter 4: The Mughal Empire

• Ruling a large and diverse territory in the Indian Subcontinent was a difficult task during the Middle Ages.
• The Mughal dynasty, unlike its predecessors, successfully built an extensive empire.
• By the 17th century, the Mughals controlled nearly all of the subcontinent, expanding from Agra to Delhi in the late 16th century.
• The Mughals implemented new administrative structures and governing ideas, which persisted even after their rule ended.
• Class 7 History Chapter 4, "The Mughal Empire," thoroughly explains these ideas.
• Extramarks offers comprehensive revision notes for Class 7 History Chapter 4, covering information from NCERT books in an easy-to-understand language
• The Mughals descended from Genghis Khan (d. 1227), the Mongol ruler of Central Asia and China, and Timur (d. 1404), the ruler of Iran, Iraq, and modern-day Turkey.
• The Mughals disliked being associated with the name "Mughals" or "Mongols" due to its association with Genghis Khan and his massacres.
• The Mughal leaders fought against rulers who refused to accept their rule.
• As the Mughal government gained power, some rulers, such as the Rajputs, voluntarily served them.
• The Mughals distributed jagirs and mansabs to support their expansion plans.
• The primary source of income for the Mughal rulers was the tax imposed on peasant produce.
• The Mughals did not believe in primogeniture, instead following common inheritance rules.

Key Mughal Rulers

• Akbar (1556-1605) became ruler at age 13 and defeated King Hemu in the Second Battle of Panipat with the help of Bairam Khan.
• Akbar also defeated many kings during the Sieges of Ranthambore and Chittorgarh.
• Akbar is considered one of the Mughal dynasty's most successful rulers.

Mughal Relations with Other Kingdoms

• The Mughals waged war against kings who refused to submit to their authority.
• As the Mughals' power grew, many kingdoms voluntarily associated with them, such as the Rajputs (arranged marriages for higher positions).
• The Rajputs of Mewar (Sisodiya Rajputs) resisted accepting Mughal rule.
• When the Mughals defeated the Sisodiya Rajputs, they were treated with respect and given land as compensation.
• The Mughal emperors increased their power by balancing humiliation and defeat.

Mughal Economy and Society

• The Mughal Empire's military strength and management policies led to commercial and economic prosperity.
• Mughal rulers and their mansabdars spent heavily on goods and salaries.
• Jagir was the distribution of income as wages to Mansabdars.
• The main source of income for the Mughal rulers was the tax imposed on peasant produce.
• Major artisanal groups, richer peasants, bankers, and merchants profited from this economic activity.
• The Mughal dynasty declined in the late 17th century, leading to the establishment of independent provinces like Awad and Hyderabad.

Mughal Legacy

• The Mughals ruled successfully until the 17th century, with changes implemented during each emperor's reign.
• The Mughals descended from Timur and Genghis Khan.
• Babur, the first Mughal emperor, defeated Ibrahim Lodi of the Delhi Sultanate at Panipat in 1526.
• Babur defeated Rana Sanga and other Rajput rulers at Khanwa in 1527.
• Babur defeated the Rajputs at Chanderi in 1528.
• Babur established control over Agra and Delhi before his death.
• Taxation on agricultural and peasant products was the primary source of income for the Mughal emperors.
• Zamindars were responsible for collecting taxes from farmers.
• All intermediaries were referred to as zamindars, some of whom were village in-charges or powerful chieftains.
• Zamindars wielded considerable power in some areas and were observed exploiting peasants.
• The Mughals ruled over several central provinces called subas, with 22 subas recorded during Aurangzeb's reign.

Key Subas

• Kabul, Kashmir, Lahore, Multan, Delhi, Agra, Awadh, Allahabad, Bihar, Bangal, Orissa, Malwa, Ajmer, Gujrat, Golkonda, Berar, Bijapur, Thatta, Khandesh, Aurangabad, Bidar, and Sira.
• Abul Fazl, Akbar's friend and counselor, helped him develop the concept of sulh-i kul to govern a diverse society.

Revision notes for Class 7 History Chapter 4, covering information from NCERT books. The Mughal dynasty successfully built an extensive empire, controlling nearly all of the subcontinent by the 17th century. They implemented new administrative structures and governing ideas that persisted even after their rule.