Life in Mughal India! Flashcards
What was India’s economic status under the Mughals?
Under the Mughals, India was perhaps the richest place in the world – even though most of its people lived in poverty.
What impressed foreign visitors in the palaces of Mughal India?
In the palaces of Mughal India, foreign visitors were dazzled by the amount of gold, silver, silk and precious jewels on display.
What did the emperor and officials wear in Mughal India?
Both the emperor and the officials around him wore dazzling costumes studded with gemstones.
What architectural works were built under the Mughals?
Palaces and massive tombs were built all over India in what became the classic Mughal architectural style – red sandstone or white marble, with remarkably intricate carvings and decorations.
What was the local market scene like in Mughal India’s imperial cities?
In the three imperial cities of Delhi, Lahore and Agra, thriving local markets sprang up in fine clothes, jewellery and other expensive perfumes.
What percentage of the global economy did India hold by 1700?
It has been calculated that in the year 1700, India made up 23 per cent of the global economy, holding a massive share of the world’s wealth.
Where did India’s wealth primarily come from?
Part of the reason for India’s wealth was exports.
Which merchants came to India to buy products?
Persian, Arab and Portuguese merchants all came to India’s ports to buy Indian products, later followed by Dutch, French and British merchants.
How did European involvement affect Indian industry?
Growing commercial interest from Europeans led to an expansion of Indian industry in the 17th century.
What industry did the British eventually focus on in India?
The British, who originally came to compete with Portuguese for Indian spices, became interested in cotton textiles.
What impact did Indian textiles have on exports?
India produced a great variety of high-quality cotton cloths, and it was soon producing even more to sell to the British.
How significant was Bengal’s textile and silk production?
Textile and silk production in Bengal alone is estimated to have grown by a third in the hundred years before 1757.
Why was silver important to India’s economy?
Most of these exports were paid for in silver, so European trade was constantly injecting more silver into India.
What was the origin of Mughal painting?
The wealth of the Mughal court attracted the very best artists from India, Persia and central Asia, who came hoping to find patrons for their work. Mughal painting, including the creation of illuminated manuscripts, became very famous. This tradition was Persian in origin.
Who were the Persian painters that influenced Mughal art?
Two major Persian painters had accompanied Humayun back to India after his time in the Safavid court, and they became the founders of Mughal painting.
What did Indian clothmakers understand about textile exports?
The designs on Indian textiles varied according to the export destination. This is a sign that Indian clothmakers understood what would fetch a good price in different destinations around the world.
