Question 1 of 20intermediate🔍 AnalyzeLong Answer5 marks

Compare the political strategies of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals. What similarities and differences existed between them?

Correct Answer

The Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals both relied on military conquest to expand their territories, but their political strategies differed significantly.

The Delhi Sultanate primarily used military force, with sultans conducting raids, plundering cities, and destroying temples to assert dominance. Successions were often violent, with almost two out of three sultans seizing power by eliminating their predecessors.

The Sultanate used the iqta system where nobles collected taxes from assigned territories.

In contrast, the Mughals, especially under Akbar, combined military conquest with political strategies like marriage alliances with Rajput princesses, welcoming regional leaders into the court, abolishing the jizya tax, and promoting the doctrine of sulh-i-kul (peace with all). Akbar appointed Hindu officials to high positions and engaged in interfaith dialogues.

The Mughal mansabdari system created a more organised military and administrative structure.

While the Sultanate's average reign was about nine years due to instability, Mughal emperors up to Aurangzeb averaged 27 years, showing greater stability through their inclusive policies.

Exercise: Questions and activities | Q: 1 | (Page Page 39)
For More Understanding

Explanation

The chapter explains that the Delhi Sultanate period was marked by political instability combined with efforts at territorial expansion, with violent successions. The sultans imposed the jizya tax on non-Muslims and relied heavily on military campaigns. In contrast, Akbar's reign demonstrated a shift towards tolerance and political alliances, as recorded by his court historian Abul Fazl. The chapter quotes Akbar's reflection: 'Formerly I persecuted men into conformity with my faith and deemed it Islam. As I grew in knowledge, I was overwhelmed with shame.' This shows the evolution of Mughal strategy towards inclusivity.

Solution Steps

  1. Both empires relied on military conquest for territorial expansion

  2. Delhi Sultanate primarily used military force, raids, and violent successions

  3. Delhi Sultanate employed the iqta system for tax collection

  4. Mughals under Akbar combined military conquest with political alliances and inclusive policies

  5. Akbar abolished jizya tax and promoted sulh-i-kul doctrine

  6. Mughals used the mansabdari system for organized administration

  7. Mughal reigns showed greater stability (27 years average) compared to Sultanate (9 years average)

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