The table below is not reproduced, but a historian's notes compare two Mughal rulers. Akbar granted many Rajput nobles high office and removed jizya. Aurang...
Question 1 Report
The table below is not reproduced, but a historian's notes compare two Mughal rulers. Akbar granted many Rajput nobles high office and removed jizya. Aurangzeb reimposed jizya in 1679, destroyed or restricted some temples, and faced prolonged wars against the Marathas. The historian warns that a simple statement that Aurangzeb "caused the decline" needs careful analysis of evidence and reasons.
(a) Identify the tax reimposed by Aurangzeb. [1]
(b) Explain one reason why Aurangzeb's religious measures caused opposition. [2]
(c) Analyse whether Aurangzeb's Deccan campaigns were a greater threat to the empire than his religious policy. [3]
Answer Details
(a) Jizya [1] (b) They appeared to favour Muslims over Hindu subjects [1]; this could alienate Hindu rulers and communities / encourage resistance [1]. (c) Campaigns: long wars cost money and tied down troops [1]; distance made control of the Deccan difficult [1]; religious policy also damaged cooperation and could fuel rebellion [1]. Supported judgement, for example that campaigns had the wider financial and military effect [1].
Download The App On Google Playstore
Everything you need to excel in your exams
