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Chapter: 10. Jahangir Shah Jahan And Aurangzeb

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CHAPTER EXERCISES & ACTIVITIES

Warm Up! Critical Thinking

Akbar had inherited an unstable throne, surrounded by enemies on all sides. What kind of empire did Akbar’s son and successor, Jahangir, inherit?
Jahangir inherited a kingdom that was among the largest, most prosperous, and probably the best-organized in the medieval world. The political, military, and administrative foundations laid by his father, Akbar, were so strong that Jahangir did not face any major difficulties in maintaining and running the empire.
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Critical Thinking (Red Fort)

What is the significance of this impressive monument (the Red Fort) in the modern era?
In the modern era, the Red Fort serves as an iconic symbol of India’s sovereignty, independence, and rich cultural heritage. Every year on Independence Day (15th August), the Prime Minister of India hoists the national flag from its ramparts and delivers a national address, connecting India’s historic legacy with its democratic present.
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SDGs Goal 5: Gender Equality

During Jahangir’s era, Nur Jahan, his wife, also acted as one of his prime advisers in administrative matters. This was a very rare occurrence during medieval times, as women seldom had any say in matters of great importance. What does this tell you about Jahangir’s attitude towards women?
It shows that Jahangir had a progressive, respectful, and open-minded attitude towards women. Unlike many medieval rulers, he recognized, valued, and empowered the intelligence, administrative acumen, and leadership capabilities of his wife, trusting her with critical affairs of the state.
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HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills)

Do you think it was a wise decision on part of Aurangzeb to bring more regions under Mughal control? Give reasons for your answer.
No, it was not a wise decision. Extending the empire to such a vast scale made it unwieldy and extremely difficult to administer effectively. The relentless campaigns of annexation (such as Bijapur and Golconda) and the prolonged war with the Marathas severely drained the Mughal treasury, ruined the economy of the Deccan, and kept Aurangzeb away from the north for 26 years, leading to a complete breakdown of administrative control, corruption, and widespread rebellions.
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Values and Life Skills

Some irresponsible people deface and disfigure our national monuments. What actions can be taken against them? How can such antisocial elements be prevented in future?
Actions: Implementing strict legal penalties, levying heavy fines, and enforcing imprisonment under heritage protection laws (such as the Ancient Monuments Act).
Prevention: Installing extensive CCTV surveillance, deploying active security guards, conducting school and public awareness campaigns about the value of national heritage, and promoting community-led volunteer groups to monitor and report vandalism.
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EXERCISES

A. Fill in the blanks.

Nur Jahan became the ______________ ruler of the Mughal empire.
virtual
During the final years of Jahangir’s reign, there was a power struggle between ______________ and ______________.
Nur Jahan and Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan’s reign is often referred to as the ______________ Age of the Mughal empire.
Golden
Aurangzeb spent the first half of his reign in the ______________ and the second half in the ______________.
north and Deccan
Aurangzeb spent the last ______________ years of his reign fighting against the ______________ and the sultanates of ______________ and ______________.
26, Marathas, Bijapur, and Golconda

B. Match the following.

Salim
math
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(d) son of Akbar
Khusrau
math
⁠
(a) son of Jahangir
Nur Jahan
math
⁠
(e) wife of Jahangir
Taj Mahal
math
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(f) white marble
Mumtaz Mahal
math
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(b) wife of Shah Jahan
Red Fort
math
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© red sandstone

C. Choose the correct answer.

The foundations laid by Akbar / Babur / Humayun were so strong that Jahangir did not have any major problems maintaining the empire.
Akbar
Shah Jahan built the magnificent Agra Fort / Taj Mahal / Red Fort in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
Taj Mahal
Shah Jahan built a new city called Fatehpur Sikri / Daulatabad / Shahjahanabad.
Shahjahanabad
Aurangzeb’s reign can be roughly divided into four / three / two periods.
two
One of the most serious challenges faced by Aurangzeb came from the Sikhs / Marathas / Rajputs in the Deccan.
Marathas

D. State whether the following are true or false. Rewrite the false statements correctly.

Jahangir defeated the Rana of Mewar.
True
Jahangir is said to have installed a chain of justice.
True
The Peacock Throne was taken to Persia by Nadir Shah.
True
The Jama Masjid is said to be the most perfect of Jahangir’s buildings.
False. The Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) is considered to be the most perfect of Shah Jahan’s buildings.
Aurangzeb’s rule was marked by the outbreak of many revolts.
True

E. My mixed bag

Which two of the following are among the achievements of Jahangir? (A) Annexation of Ahmadnagar (B) Conquest of Mewar © Construction of the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) (D) Promotion of justice
(a) (A) and (D)
Identify the odd one out. (a) Moti Masjid (b) Peacock Throne © Agra Fort (d) Red Fort
(b) Peacock Throne (Reason: The Peacock Throne was a jewelled royal seat, whereas the other three are architectural buildings.)
Read the statements below and select the correct option. (A) Assertion: Aurangzeb’s rule was marked by the outbreak of many revolts that destabilized the Empire. (B) Reason: Aurangzeb reversed Akbar’s religious policy.
© (A) and (B) are both true and (B) is the correct explanation for (A).

F. Answer the following questions in one or two words/sentences.

Name Jahangir’s son who rebelled against him.
Khusrau (his eldest son)
Which fort did Shah Jahan build in the new city of Shahjahanabad?
The Red Fort
Who succeeded Shah Jahan as the Mughal emperor?
Aurangzeb
What was the nature of Aurangzeb’s religious policy in the early years of his reign?
Aurangzeb reversed Akbar’s policies of religious tolerance, which included the reimposition of the jizya and pilgrimage taxes on his Hindu subjects.
What were the objectives of Aurangzeb’s Deccan policy?
The objectives were to annex the wealthy sultanates of Bijapur and Golconda and to crush the growing political and military power of the Marathas.
State any one major cause of the decline of the Mughal empire.
One major cause was the weakness and inefficiency of Aurangzeb’s successors, who became puppets in the hands of ambitious nobles.

G. Give reasons for the following.

Why did Jahangir not face any major problems in maintaining his large empire?
He did not face major problems because his father Akbar had left behind an exceptionally large, wealthy, stable, and highly organized administrative system, which provided Jahangir with a solid foundation to rule.
Why is Shah Jahan known as the Engineer King?
He is known as the Engineer King because of his extraordinary passion and legendary patronage for architecture, leading to the construction of grand, symmetrical, and beautifully designed buildings (primarily in white marble and red sandstone).
Why did the annexation of Bijapur and Golconda prove harmful for the Mughal empire?
It expanded the borders so much that the empire became too vast and unwieldy to administer, and it brought the Mughals into costly, direct, and exhausting military conflicts with the Marathas.

H. Answer the following questions briefly.

Jahangir fulfilled Akbar’s unrealized imperial dreams by conquering Mewar. Explain.
Akbar had repeatedly tried but failed to fully subjugate Mewar. Jahangir succeeded by sending a powerful expedition that defeated Rana Amar Singh. Demonstrating political wisdom, Jahangir treated the defeated Rana with respect, let him keep his lands, and made his son, Karna, a military commander in the imperial army. This established Mughal paramountcy in Rajputana and ended the last major Rajput resistance.
To what extent were Jahangir’s Deccan campaigns successful?
They were only temporarily and partially successful. While Prince Khurram successfully recaptured the fort of Ahmadnagar, the chief minister Malik Ambar eventually recovered the lost Deccan territories. By the end of Jahangir’s reign, Ahmadnagar had reasserted its independence and remained completely outside Mughal control.
What qualities did Nur Jahan possess to make her worthy of her name?
Nur Jahan, meaning ‘light of the world’, was highly educated, cultured, and intelligent. She wrote Persian poetry, designed new fashion trends in silk, cotton, carpets, and jewelry, and was physically strong enough to actively accompany Jahangir on royal hunting expeditions.
Nur Jahan was very ambitious and eventually became the power behind the Mughal throne. Explain.
She used her intelligence and immense influence to take control of day-to-day administration as Jahangir indulged in leisure. She had coins minted jointly in her name, placed her close relatives (father, brother, etc.) in high-ranking administrative posts, and consolidated royal power by marrying her niece, Mumtaz Mahal, to Prince Khurram.
Shah Jahan’s reign was an age of architectural splendour and cultural brilliance. In this context, discuss: (a) The Taj Mahal (b) The Red Fort
(a) The Taj Mahal: A magnificent octagonal white marble monument built in memory of Mumtaz Mahal. It took over 20 years to build at immense cost, featuring a grand dome, four minarets, beautiful gardens, and intricate decorations with semi-precious stones and lace-like marble screens.
(b) The Red Fort: Built in Shahjahanabad with red sandstone, it is famous for its grand defensive walls and splendid buildings inside, such as the Diwan-i-Khas (featuring a silver ceiling and gold-decorated marble walls) and the Diwan-i-Aam (which housed the legendary gem-studded Peacock Throne).
Why did Aurangzeb’s Deccan campaign against the Marathas prove to be a ruinous misadventure? What were the long-term consequences of this campaign?
It was ruinous because the Marathas, using clever guerrilla warfare tactics under leaders like Rajaram and Tarabai, consistently harassed and demoralized the Mughal army for decades, refusing to submit. The long-term consequences were:
The imperial treasury was completely drained, and the economy of the Deccan was ruined.
Aurangzeb’s 26-year absence from the north caused the northern administration to collapse into corruption, lawlessness, and disorder.
Rebellious nobles and regional powers (like Jats and Sikhs) grew significantly stronger, paving the way for the empire’s ultimate disintegration.
Why did Aurangzeb fail as a ruler?
Aurangzeb failed because his policies lacked administrative and political foresight. His major missteps included reversing Akbar’s inclusive religious policies (which alienated his non-Muslim subjects), aggressively over-expanding the empire’s boundaries (making it administratively impossible to govern), and engaging in a ruinous, decades-long campaign in the Deccan that bankrupt the state and broke the administrative machinery of the north.

I. Source-based questions

Picture study
(a) Identify the monument: The Red Fort (Lal Qila)
(b) Where is it located? Delhi (Old Delhi / Shahjahanabad)
© Who built this monument? Emperor Shah Jahan
(d) Name two important buildings inside this monument: The Diwan-i-Khas and the Diwan-i-Aam
(e) Mention its important features: It is built of massive red sandstone walls. Its interior structures feature magnificent white marble, precious stone inlays, and historically housed the famous Peacock Throne.
Read and answer
(a) Why does Aurangzeb say that he has not been ‘the guardian and protector of the empire’? He says this because his policies and ceaseless warfare destroyed the economic resources of the empire, disrupted the administration, and failed to leave behind a stable, cohesive state for his successors.
(b) Which emotion do you think Aurangzeb is expressing in this letter? He is expressing deep regret, sorrow, guilt, and a profound sense of failure in his final days.
© Which of his policies do you think caused him to feel this emotion? His aggressive, unrelenting Deccan policy (which drained the treasury), his failure to compromise with the Marathas, and his rigid, intolerant religious policies that caused widespread internal rebellions.

J. Map work

Instructions for mapping:
Obtain an outline map of India.
Shade the territory representing the maximum extent of the Mughal Empire in 1707 CE. This should cover almost the entire Indian subcontinent, stretching from Kabul and Kashmir in the north down to Karnataka in the south, and from Gujarat in the west to Chittagong (Bengal) in the east.
Mark and label major historical centers on the map: Delhi, Agra, Ahmedabad, Bijapur, Golconda, and Aurangabad.
Gallery
 
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