During a source investigation, students map Shah Jahan's building projects. Their notes include the Taj Mahal at Agra, the Red Fort at Delhi and the Shalima...
Question 1 Report
During a source investigation, students map Shah Jahan's building projects. Their notes include the Taj Mahal at Agra, the Red Fort at Delhi and the Shalimar Gardens at Lahore. One student states: "These projects prove that Shah Jahan was successful." Another argues that costly court life and buildings placed pressure on imperial resources. Answer using the evidence and your own knowledge of the Mughal Empire.
(a) Identify the city in Pakistan where the Shalimar Gardens are located. [1]
(b) Explain why Shah Jahan built a new imperial city at Delhi. [2]
(c) Analyse the statement that Mughal architecture was both an achievement and a weakness. [3]
Answer Details
(a) Lahore [1] (b) It gave Shah Jahan a planned, prestigious centre for government and court [1]; it displayed his authority and separated his rule from earlier imperial centres [1]. (c) Achievement: buildings showed wealth, skill and a powerful, cultured empire [1]. Weakness: construction and court expenditure used revenue that could support armies or administration [1]. Balanced judgement supported by a link to prestige or financial pressure [1].
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