Question 1

Akbar´s attempt to create a new divine faith was doomed to failure in part because:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Akbar´s attempt to create a new divine...

Question 2

Which of the following is not a long-term consequence of the creation of a world trading system by the European maritime powers:

Accepted Answer

The creation of a world trading system by European maritime powers did not lead to a sharp decline in the supremacy of the Dutch and the British in India. Instead, it marked the beginning of their dominance in Indian trade and later in its administration, particularly for the British with the establishment of the British East India Company's rule.

Question 3

Fathullah Shirazi, a gifted Indian engineer, astronomer and philosopher:

Accepted Answer

Fathullah Shirazi is known for conceptualizing a multibarreled gun, similar to designs by Leonardo da Vinci, during the Mughal Empire period.

Question 4

Akbar's Sufi mystical training had increasingly predisposed him toward tolerance and eclecticism, which gradually developed into a personal philosophy he called _________, or "at peace with all."

Accepted Answer

Akbar's personal philosophy, which emphasized tolerance and eclecticism, leading him to be at peace with all religions and cultures, was called "sulh-i kull."

Question 5

After 1600, Akbar was faced with a domestic insurrection led by his own son Salim which nearly brought an untimely end to the latter's claims as heir apparent. In the end, however, Salim was able to prevail and ascended the throne as _________.

Accepted Answer

Salim ascended the throne as Jahangir after his father, Akbar. The name change signifies his official ascension and the continuation of the Mughal dynasty.

Question 6

While relations between Muslims and India's other religions were syncretic, in that they co-existed but remained largely separate, the political and social systems created by the Mughals were in many respects a successful example of the _________ of an "extraction state" and several centuries of ruling more settled areas.

Accepted Answer

The correct term is "synthesis," which refers to the combination or integration of different elements. In this context, it describes how the Mughal Empire successfully merged the concept of an "extraction state" with its governance over settled areas, creating a unique political and social system.

Question 7

Aurangzeb's long rule renewed the Mughal trend of expanding into the Northeastern areas controlled by the Ahoms, whom he ultimately succeeded in converting into _________ after a military standstill.

Accepted Answer

Aurangzeb's military campaigns in the Northeast against the Ahoms eventually led to a situation where the Ahoms, after a prolonged military standstill, became Mughal clients. This meant they acknowledged Mughal supremacy in some form, rather than being fully integrated into the Mughal administrative system as chiefs, representatives, or citizens.

Question 8

The basic administrative unit of the Mughals was the _________, a unit comprising an area usually containing a town and from a dozen to about a hundred villages.

Accepted Answer

The basic administrative unit of the Mughals was the "pargana," which typically included a town and a number of villages, ranging from a dozen to about a hundred.

Question 9

After Jahangir's death in 1627, his son Khurram inherited the throne and reigned as Shah Jahan. His rule coincided with perhaps the high point of Mughal cultural power and prestige, as reflected in its iconic monument, the _________.

Accepted Answer

The Taj Mahal, an iconic monument built by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, reflects the high point of Mughal cultural power and prestige during his reign.

Question 10

Under Mughal rule, an elaborate, graded system of official ranks was created in which the recipients, called _________, were awarded grants of land along with the revenues those working the land generated.

Accepted Answer

Mansabdars were the recipients of land grants under the Mughal rule, where they were assigned ranks and the revenues generated from the land were part of their compensation. This system was a key feature of Mughal administration.

Question 11

The Persian tradition of miniature painting flourished in Mughal India, as did larger works on a variety of surfaces, while charcoal sketches and the _________ painting technique were the artistic media of choice.

Accepted Answer

The correct term is "gouache," which refers to a method of painting using opaque pigments ground in water and thickened with a glue-like substance. This technique was indeed one of the artistic media of choice, alongside charcoal sketches, in the context described.

Question 12

Great mosque projects also represent highlights of Mughal artistic sophistication and monumental scope. Among them are the Friday Delhi Mosque in Shahjahanabad and Aurangzeb's huge _________.

Accepted Answer

The Badshahi Mosque in Lahore was built by Aurangzeb, one of the Mughal emperors, and is known for its monumental size and architectural beauty, fitting the description of a great mosque project from the Mughal era.

Question 13

In addition to being a monument to his beloved wife, the Taj Mahal is also an architectural allegory for:

Accepted Answer

The Taj Mahal, beyond being a mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal, incorporates Islamic architectural elements that symbolize paradisiacal themes, reflecting beliefs about the afterlife and Allah's judgment in paradise, as per Islamic eschatology.

Question 14

Like his model Genghis Khan, Timur:

Accepted Answer

Timur, like Genghis Khan, was known for his military strategies and conquests. However, unlike the Mongol Empire created by Genghis Khan, Timur's empire did not long outlast him, making option A incorrect. Timur, deeply influenced by Islamic culture, did not claim independence from divine guidance, which makes option B incorrect. While he conducted campaigns in various directions, there is no substantial evidence that he set his ultimate sights specifically on western Europe, making option C incorrect. However, historical records indicate that Timur could be lenient towards cities that surrendered without resistance, showing a degree of liberal treatment in such cases, which makes option D correct.

Question 15

At the battle of Panipat in 1526, Babur's army had the advantage of:

Accepted Answer

Babur's army at the Battle of Panipat in 1526 had the advantage of new military technologies, including matchlock muskets and field cannon, which played a significant role in his victory over the Sultan of Delhi, Ibrahim Lodi.

Question 16

As distasteful as it was for a _________ to curry favor from the Safavid ruler Shah Tahmasp, Humayun received his support and reclaimed his throne in 1555.

Accepted Answer

Humayun, a Sunni Muslim, found it distasteful to seek support from Shah Tahmasp, a Shia Muslim ruler of the Safavid dynasty, due to the sectarian differences between Sunni and Shia Islam. However, he did so to reclaim his throne.

Question 17

Akbar's religious policies were viewed, by his fellow Muslims:

Accepted Answer

Many of Akbar's fellow Muslims viewed his religious policies, such as the promotion of a syncretic religion called Din-i Ilahi, as evidence that he had strayed from Islam and become a non-believer.

Question 18

After he had launched a coup against his father, Akbar, Salim:

Accepted Answer

Salim, who later became Emperor Jahangir, faced a revolt led by his own son, Khusrau Mirza, in 1606. This was a significant event in the Mughal history, reflecting the internal conflicts within the royal family.

Question 19

The memory of Humayun's __________ was galling to the Mughals.

Accepted Answer

Humayun's forced conversion to Shiism by the Safavids was a humiliating event for the Mughals, as it was against their Sunni beliefs and was seen as a political and religious subjugation.

Question 20

As Mughal power was sapped by the revolts of the Marathas and others in the eighteenth century, the armed forces of the ___________ became important players in regional politics.

Accepted Answer

The European trading companies, notably the British East India Company, became significant military and political forces in India as Mughal power declined, leveraging their private armies to establish control over large areas.

Quiz 20: The Mughal Empire: Muslim Rulers and Hindu Subjects, 1400-1750