The correct answer is D. Persia.
The Mansabdari system was a system of military and civil administration in the Mughal Empire of India. It was borrowed from the Safavid Empire of Persia. The system was based on a hierarchy of ranks, with each rank having a corresponding number of cavalry and infantry soldiers. The Mansabdars, or holders of mansabs, were responsible for raising and maintaining their assigned troops. They were also entitled to a share of the revenue collected from the territories under their control.
The Mansabdari system was a complex and sophisticated system of administration that served the Mughal Empire well for over a century. However, it began to decline in the 17th century, and was finally abolished in the 18th century.
Here is a brief explanation of each option:
- Afghanistan: The Mughal Empire did not conquer Afghanistan until the reign of Akbar the Great (1556-1605). It is unlikely that the Mansabdari system was borrowed from Afghanistan, as it was already in place by the time the Mughals conquered the region.
- Turkey: The Ottoman Empire was a rival of the Mughal Empire, and the two empires were often at war. It is unlikely that the Mughals would have borrowed a system of administration from their rival.
- Mongolia: The Mughal Empire was founded by Babur, who was a descendant of Timur, the founder of the Timurid Empire. The Timurids had conquered much of Central Asia, including Mongolia. However, there is no evidence that the Mansabdari system was borrowed from Mongolia.
- Persia: The Safavid Empire was a contemporary of the Mughal Empire, and the two empires had close ties. It is likely that the Mughals borrowed the Mansabdari system from the Safavids.