Class 7 :: History And Civics :: Jahangir, Shah Jahan And Aurangzeb
1. Jahangir was originally named Salim.
2. Nur Jahan was the de-facto ruler of the Mughal Empire during the reign of Jahangir.
3. Shah Jahan built Taj Mahal in memory of Mumtaz Mahal.
4. In the centre of the Diwan-i-Aam was the stunning Peacock Throne.
5. Aurangzeb reintroduced the jizya tax.
B. Name the following.
1. The title bestowed upon Mehrunnisa by Jahangir Nur Jahan.
2. The new city built by Shah Jahan Shahjanabad.
3. The Emperor who imprisoned his own father Shah Jahan.
4. Any two titles assumed by Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir, Badshah.
5. Any two sects which rose in rebellion against Aurangzeb in the north
Sikhs, Rajputs.
C. Choose the correct answers.
1. The loss of ________________ was a major blow to the Mughal Dynasty during the reign of Jahangir.
a. Mewar. [ ]
b. Kangra. [ ]
c. Ahmednagar. [ ]
d. Kandahar. [✓]
2. Emperor Jahangir bestowed the title of Shah Jahan upon his son __________________.
a.
b. Khurram. [✓]
c. Salim. [ ]
d. Khusrau. [ ]
3. The Red Fort was built by _______________.
a. Aurangzeb. [ ]
b. Jahangir. [ ]
c. Shah Jahan. [
d. Nur Jahan. [ ]
4. Aurangzeb faced a major challenge from _______________ in the Deccan.
a. Marathas. [
b. Rajputs. [ ]
c. Sikhs. [ ]
d. Nur Jahan. [ ]
5. Aurangzeb executed ________________, the son and successor of the Shivaji.
a. Shahu Maharaj. [ ]
b. Bajirao. [ ]
c. Sambhaji. [
d. Raja Ram. [ ]
D. Answer the following questions in brief.
1. What is Jahangir most famous for?
= Jahangir is most famous for installing the Golden Chain of Justice so that the masses could communicate their troubles to him.
2. Name the two Europeans who arrived at the court of Jahangir. What was the purpose of their visit?
= The two Europeans who arrived at the court of Jahangir are – Captain William Hawkins and Sir Thomas Roe.
They visit the court of Jahangir to obtain trade concessions.
3. Why was Shah Jahan known as the ‘Engineer King’?
= Shah Jahan was known as the ‘Engineer King’ due to his patronage of architecture and building.
4. What was Aurangzeb disliked by common people?
= Aurangzeb was disliked by common people because he reintroduced Jizya and pilgrimage taxes on the non Muslims. He also maintained strict Islamic policies and was not as liberal and tolerant of other religions as his predecessors.
5. What were the primary reasons for the uprisings in Aurangzeb’s reign?
= The primary reasons for the uprisings in Aurangzeb’s reign are – his orthodox policies and his order for the execution of Guru Teg Bahadur on his refusal to embrace Islam.
E. Answer the following questions in detail.
1. Describe the different conquests of Jahangir.
= During his reign of twenty-two years, Jahangir led many military expeditions. The conquests directed the areas which were unconquered by Akbar.
i. Jahangir sent an expedition against Maharana Amar Singh of the Mewar and defeated him. He accepted Jahangir as his overlord.
ii. Jahangir led a campaign to the Fort Kangra to fulfil Akbar’s dream of conquering it. After a long siege of 14 months, the fort fell to the Mughals in 1620 CE.
iii. On the orders of Emperor Jahangir, his third son Prince Khurram recaptured the fort of Ahmednagar. This set up the rule of the Mughals in the Deccan region.
2.Who was Nur Jahan? Describe her role in the Mughal court.
= Nur Jahan was the widow of Persian nobleman, Sher Afghan. Her real name was Mehrunnisa. Jahangir married her in 1611 CE. Jahangir bestowed her with the title Nur Jahan, meaning ‘Light of the World’.
Nur Jahan was not only very beautiful ,strong and talented but also highly ambitions. After 1622 CE, when Jahangir because ill, Nur Jahan became the real power behind the throne. Jahangir trusted Nur Jahan and left all the matters of the state in her hand. Thus, Nur Jahan became the de-facto ruler of the empire. She started taking advantage and started filling the court with her own relatives. She got her niece, Mumtaz Mahal, married to Prince Khurram (shah Jahan). During the final years of Jahangir’s reign, there was a constant power struggle between Nur Jahan and Shah Jahan. After the death of Jahangir, Nur Jahan retired from public life and pursed a life of seclusion.
3.Give a brief account of the reign of Shah Jahan.
=Prince Khurram, also known as Shahabuddin Muhammad Shah Jahan, was one of the greatest Mughal rulers. He is referred to as the Engineer King due to his patronage of architecture and building. His reign is known as the Golden Age of the Mughal Empire.
Military Expeditions:- He extended the boundaries of the empire further. On becoming the emperor ,he faced revolt in Deccan and set out to crush it. He conquered Ahmednagar, Bijapur and Golconda. He tried to win back Kandahar but failed.
Monuments:- He is best remembered for the Taj Mahal. He built this beautiful monument in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is made up of white marble. It contains the tombs of both Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan.
Shah Jahan built a new city, Shahjahanabad(present day old Delhi). He built the Red Fort, Diwan-i-khas and Diwan-i-Aam. In the centre of Diwan-i-aam was his stunning Peacock Throne. He also built Moti Masjid and Jama Masjid.
Last Stage of Life:- Saha Jahan was bitterly betrayed by his third son Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb placed his father in house-arrest in the Agra Fort, where he remained till his death in 1666 CE.
4. Explain in detail the Deccan campaigns of Aurangzeb.
= There were two supreme power in the Deccan – the Sultanates of Bijapur and Golconda and the Marathas. Aurangzeb waged wars with both these powers at the same time.
Bijapur and Golconda:- Aurangzeb annexed Bijapur in 1686 CE and Golconda in 1687 CE. His empire became vast, more unstable and difficult to manage. It also brought the Mughals in close contact with the Marathas.
Maratha War:- Aurangzeb captured and killed Shivaji’s son Sambhaji in 1689 CE and annexed the Maratha capital. Sambhaji’s brother Raja Ram and later his widow, Tarabai continued war against the Mughals for more than 18 years. Aurangzeb refused peace negotiations with the Marathas though he was 80 years old. Aurangzeb died in 1707 CE. The Marathas maintained their independence and continued to be a great threat to the Mughal Empire.
5.What were the consequences of the Maratha War on the Mughal Empire? How did it contribute to the decline of the Mughal Empire?
= The immediate consequences of the Maratha War effected the Mughal Empire in the following way –
i. Drain of Mughal treasury.
ii. Rise of corruption in the north due to prolonged absence of the Emperor.
iii. Rebellions by nobles and mutinies of soldiers in Deccan.
iv. Strengthening the power of Jats and Sik
His victories came at a heavy cost as the vast empire became even more unstable and difficult to manage. He could never supress the power of the Marathas. Though he was 80 years old, he waged numerous wars against Marathas refusing peace negotiations. After his death in 1707 CE, Marathas maintained their independence and continued to be a great threat to the Mughal Empire. This led to the decline of the mighty Mughal Empire.