Taxation and Caste! Flashcards
What was a second source of Mughal wealth?
A second source of Mughal wealth was the taxation system designed by Akbar’s finance minister, Raja Todar Mal.
What did Raja Todar Mal do to design the taxation system?
He had commissioned surveys of India’s agricultural land and calculated precisely how much of every crop should be produced in every part of the country.
What was the aim of Todar Mal’s taxation system?
Todar Mal created a system that demanded maximum agricultural production.
How much of a peasant’s produce was taken in taxes?
As much as half of what a peasant produced was taken in taxes.
Who benefited from the taxes collected from peasants?
Most of this would have gone to local landowners called zamindars, so they too grew poorer as their incomes were redirected to the emperor.
How did the taxes benefit the Mughal Empire?
All the grain and farm products collected in taxes could then be sold, generating yet more wealth for the Mughals.
What did the emperor and nobles do with their wealth from taxes?
The emperor and nobles used some of this money to set up schools, charitable institutions and religious houses, but they also spent much of it on their own luxurious lifestyles.
What were peasants required to do apart from paying taxes?
The peasants could also be called upon at any time to provide labour or military service, so they lived very insecure lives.
What reforms did Akbar introduce to improve the lives of women?
Akbar had made certain reforms that did improve life, especially for women. He banned marriage for girls below the age of 14, though this was difficult to enforce.
What did Akbar do to limit the Hindu tradition of sati?
He also attempted to limit the Hindu tradition of sati, when a widow sacrificed herself on her husband’s funeral pyre.
When did Akbar attempt to limit sati?
In 1562, banning certain types of slavery after this practice had become less common – though the practice did continue until the 19th century.
How was Indian society divided since ancient times?
Since ancient times, Indian society had been divided into strict, hereditary classes called castes.
What determined a person’s caste?
The caste a person was born into determined what work they could do, who they could marry, and what rules they were expected to follow.
Why was life difficult for someone outside of their caste?
It was difficult for an Indian person to live a life outside of the limits set by their caste.
What were the four main castes in Indian society?
The four main castes, in descending order of status, were Brahmans (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (peasants) and Shudras (artisans).
Who were the Dalits, and what was their status?
A fifth main group, the Dalits (‘untouchables’), were theoretically so low in status that they were not even part of the caste system.
What kind of work did the Dalits perform?
They performed work that was believed to be spiritually polluting because it brought them into contact with waste matter or dead bodies – jobs such as butchery, laundry, cleaning drains or making leather from the hides of cattle.
