CBSE Class 12 History Peasant Zamindar State Agrarian Society Mughal Empire Worksheet Set 02

Concepts in nutshell

• 1. Peasants and agricultural production - Geographical Diversity Looking for sources Historical Epic and Records, Important chronicles - Ain-i-Akbari, Records from Gujrat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Peasants and their lands - cultivation was based on the principle of individual Ownership. Irrigation and Technology - Expansion of agriculture, monsoon remained the Backbone of Indian agriculture, artificial system of irrigations had to be devised, Agriculture often harnessed cattle energy. An abundance of crops - two major crops - the kharif and the rabi, new crops came from different parts of the world.
• 2. The village community - Caste and rural milieu - Rajputs are mentioned as peasants. Panchayats and headman - The panchayat was usually a heterogeneous body; the headman was chosen through the consensus of the village elders, functions of the panchayat. Village artisans - The existence of substantial members of artisans. A little republic (?) - deep inequities based on caste and gender distinctions.
• 3. Women in agrarian Society - women's role in the production process, high mortality rates among women; women petitioned to the panchayat; hindu and muslim women inherited zamindaris.
• 4. Forest and tribes - Beyond settled villages, livelihood came from the gathering of forest produce, hunting and shifting agriculture, jungles provided a good defence. Inroads into forests - the state required elephants for the army, hunting expeditions by the Mughals, the spread of commercial agriculture.

OTQ (1 MARKS)

Question. Who was responsible for supervising the fiscal system of the Mughal Empire?
Answer: Diwan.

Question. What was ‘jama’ ?
Answer: The jama was the amount assessed.

Question. What was hasil ?
Answer: The amount collected in revenue system.

Question. Which type of land was known as Polaj ?
Answer: Polaj is land which is annually cultivated for each crop.

Question. Mention various duties performed by state officials in the 16th century?
Answer: They collect land revenue, measure the lands and keep records etc.

Question. Who was the author of Ain-i-Akbari?
Answer: Abul Fazl, writer of Ain-i-Akbari, gems of Akbar’s court.

Question. What was Jins-i-Kamil?
Answer: Cash Crop. Literally perfect crops. Example - cotton and sugarcane.

Question. What were the functions of panchayat in Mughal period?
Answer: Community welfare – Construction of bandh or digging the canal.

Question. Name any two sources that provides the information about the agriculture in Mughal Period.
Answer: (i) Ain-i-Akbari (ii) Accounts of foreign travellers (iii) Records of British India.

Question. Who were Raiyat? How many types of Raiyat?
Answer: They were peasants. There are two types of Raiyat - Khud-Kashta and Pahi-Kashta.

Question. Who were the Khud-kashta and Pahi-Kashta?
Answer: They refers to two kinds of peasants - Khud-Kashta were residents of the Village in which they held their land; Pahi-Kashta were non-resident cultivators.

Question. How many seasons of agriculture according to Ain?
Answer: According to Ain-i-Akbari, agriculture was organized around the two major seasonal cycles – The kharif and the Rabi.

SA (3 Marks)

Question. Why did the Mughal Emperor take interest in developing agriculture?
Answer: Because it was the main source of income of the empire. At that time land revenue was the most important income factor for the Mughal Empire.

Question. Write the factors responsible for the expansion of agriculture during 16th and 17th century.
Answer: 1. Excess of land. 2. Availability of labourers. 3. Irrigation facilities.

Question. Is it correct to say the village as a little republic?
Answer: 1. No, there was individual ownership of assets and deep inequities based on caste and gender. 2. Powerful groups exploited the weaker sections.

Question. What was the role of Village Panchayats and Headman? (Head Panch)
Answer: 1. Panchayat was headed by a headman. 2. Panchayat derived its funds from contributions made by individuals. 3. Entertaining revenue officials who visited the village. 4. Community welfare. 5. Ensure the caste boundaries. 6. To oversee the conduct of the member of the village community. 7. Authority to levy fines and give punishment.

Question. Describe the role played by women in agricultural Production.
Answer: 1. They worked with men in the field. 2. Women sowed, weeded and threshed the harvest. 3. Spinning yarn, making clay, pottery, embroidery.

Question. Give a brief account of land revenue system of Mughals.
Answer: 1. Land Revenue was the main source of the income. 2. It consists two stages - i) Assessment ii) Actual collection. 3. Control over agricultural Production and fixation of the tax. 4. Revenue office - Amil Guzar. 5. Payment of tax - in cash or crop. 6. Land measurement and classification of Land. 7. Tax was fixed as per the quantity of land.

LA (8 Marks)

Question. Explain the role played by the Zamindars in Mughal India.
Answer: 1. Zamindars did not directly participate in the process of agricultural production but they enjoyed high status in the society. 2. They hold their personal lands. They could sell the land. 3. They enjoyed many social and economic privileges. 4. They belonged to the upper caste. 5. They rendered certain services to the state. 6. They had right to collect revenue. 7. The Zamindars had kept control over the military resources. 8. Important role in developing the agricultural land. 9. Highest position in the society.

Question. Write in brief about the Mansabadari system. Write its merits and demerits also.
Answer: Introduced during Akbar's period. All holders of government offices held rank (Mansabs) comprising of two numerical designations: i) Zat (Position & Salary) ii) Sawar - Number of Horsemen he required. Merits: 1. Qualification as based of rank. 2. Forceful army. 3. Good on revolts. 4. Ban on corruption. Demerits: i) Luxurious life. ii) Misuse of money. iii) Loyalty of the soldiers.

Question. Explain why does Ain-i-Akbari remain important today?
Answer: 1. Because it provides glimpses of Mughal Empire. 2. Valuable information about the political events of the time. 3. Information about country, people, products. 4. Information about various customs and practices, literacy, religious tradition. 5. Information about Mughal provinces.

Source Based Questions

Classification of lands under Akbar
The following is a listing of criteria of classification excerpted from the Ain: The Emperor Akbar in his profound sagacity classified the lands and fixed a different revenue to be paid by each. Polaj is land which is annually cultivated for each crop in succession and is never allowed to lie fallow. Parauti is land left out of cultivation for a time that it may recover its strength. Chachar is land that has lain fallow for three or four years. Banjar is land uncultivated for five years and more. Of the first two kinds of land, there are three classes, good, middling, and bad. They add together the produce of each sort, and the third of this represents the medium produce, one-third part of which is exacted as the Royal dues.

Question. Explain the classification of land by Akbar.
Answer: Polaj, Parauti, Chachar, Banjar.

Question. How the revenue was fixed for the two types of land?
Answer: Production of each types of land added together then one third was the tax.

Question. Suggest some other ways of your own.
Answer: Other way is Kankut.