Mughal Period: Miscellaneous

1. When was tobacco introduced in Northern India ?

When was tobacco introduced in Northern India ?

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15<sup>th</sup> century
16<sup>th</sup> century
17<sup>th</sup> century
18<sup>th</sup> century
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UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2021
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Tobacco was introduced to India by the Portuguese towards the end of the 16th century, during the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar (1556-1605).
– It quickly gained popularity and was widely used across India by the early 17th century.
– Emperor Jahangir (1605-1627) issued orders against the use of tobacco, indicating its widespread adoption by his time.
While introduced in the late 16th century, its widespread use and cultural integration happened more in the 17th century. However, the question asks for when it was ‘introduced’, which places it firmly in the 16th century. The Portuguese brought it from the Americas following the Columbian Exchange.

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2. Who among the following European travellers was the physician of Princ

Who among the following European travellers was the physician of Prince Dara Shukoh ?

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François Bernier
Niccolao Manucci
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier
Jean de Thévenot
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François Bernier was a French physician and traveller who served as the physician to Prince Dara Shukoh, the eldest son of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
– Bernier was in India from 1658 to 1669.
– His book, ‘Travels in the Mughal Empire’, provides a detailed account of the Mughal court, society, and the war of succession between Shah Jahan’s sons.
Niccolao Manucci was an Italian adventurer who also served at the Mughal court, initially as a physician to Shah Alam (Aurangzeb’s son). Jean-Baptiste Tavernier was a French gem merchant and traveller known for his accounts of India’s trade and wealth. Jean de Thévenot was a French traveller who visited India after Bernier.

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3. Seydi Ali Reis was a Turkish traveller to India in the

Seydi Ali Reis was a Turkish traveller to India in the

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18th Century.
14th Century.
13th Century.
16th Century.
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Seydi Ali Reis was an Ottoman admiral and cartographer who travelled to India in the mid-16th Century.
He reached India around 1554-1556, seeking refuge after a naval defeat against the Portuguese, and spent time at the court of Mughal Emperor Humayun before returning overland.
He documented his journey and observations in his famous travelogue “Mirat ul Memalik” (Mirror of Countries), which provides valuable insights into the political and social conditions of the regions he visited, including parts of India.

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4. Which one of the following prompted the Mughals to enter into trade ne

Which one of the following prompted the Mughals to enter into trade negotiations with the English in the early 17th century?

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The English victory over the Portuguese fleet off Swally in 1612
The gifts sent by the English king to the Mughal emperor
The diplomatic skills of William Hawkins
The skills of Sir Thomas Roe
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UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2017
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The English victory over the Portuguese fleet off Swally in 1612 prompted the Mughals to enter into trade negotiations with the English.
The Portuguese held a dominant position in maritime trade on the west coast of India in the early 17th century and were hostile to other European powers. When the English East India Company ship, the *Hector*, under William Hawkins, arrived at Surat in 1608 seeking permission for trade, the Portuguese actively obstructed their efforts. The English victory over the Portuguese fleet at the Battle of Swally (or Suvali) near Surat in November 1612 was a crucial turning point. This naval defeat demonstrated the English’s superior fighting capabilities and broke the perception of Portuguese invincibility at sea, impressing the Mughal authorities in Surat and the Emperor Jahangir. It convinced the Mughals that the English could be effective partners and rivals to the Portuguese, opening the door for formal trade agreements.
While diplomatic efforts by figures like William Hawkins and later Sir Thomas Roe (who arrived in 1615 and successfully secured a trade treaty) were important, the tangible demonstration of military strength at Swally was the key event that significantly altered the Mughal calculus and paved the way for sustained negotiations and the establishment of English factories. Gifts were common diplomatic tools but not the primary prompt in this context.

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5. Which one of the following foreign travellers elaborately discussed ab

Which one of the following foreign travellers elaborately discussed about diamonds and diamond mines of India ?

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Francois Bernier
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier
Jean de Thevenot
Abbe Barthelemy Carre
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Jean-Baptiste Tavernier (1605-1689) was a 17th-century French gem merchant and traveller who made six voyages to Persia and India. His book “Les Six Voyages de Jean-Baptiste Tavernier” contains extensive descriptions of the diamond mines and the diamond trade in India, including detailed accounts of places like Golconda.
Tavernier’s accounts are considered a valuable historical source for the diamond industry and economic conditions in India during the Mughal period.
Francois Bernier was a French physician and traveller who wrote “Travels in the Mogul Empire”. Jean de Thevenot was a French traveller known for his accounts of the Middle East and India. Abbe Barthelemy Carre was a French cleric and traveller. While all were foreign travellers to India, Tavernier’s work is particularly noted for its detailed discussion of diamonds and mines.

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6. With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the followin

With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements :

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  • White marble was used in making Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri.
  • Red sandstone and marble were used in making Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza at Lucknow.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
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UPSC IAS – 2018
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Statement 1 is incorrect. While Fatehpur Sikri primarily used red sandstone, with some use of marble inlay for decoration or specific structures like the tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti, the Buland Darwaza and Khankah are predominantly built using red sandstone. Statement 2 is incorrect. Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza in Lucknow are examples of Awadhi architecture built in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. They primarily use brick and lime plaster (stucco) as building materials, not red sandstone or marble as the main components.
Mughal architecture at Fatehpur Sikri is characterized by the extensive use of red sandstone. Awadhi architecture in Lucknow often utilized brick and stucco.
The Buland Darwaza is a magnificent gateway made primarily of red sandstone. The Khankah (a Sufi lodge) at Fatehpur Sikri is also mainly of red sandstone. The Bara Imambara is famous for its large vaulted central hall and the Bhulbhulaiya, built using local materials like Lakhauri bricks and lime plaster.

7. With reference to the economic history of medieval India, the term ‘Ar

With reference to the economic history of medieval India, the term ‘Araghatta’ refers to

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bonded labour
land grants made to military officers
waterwheel used in the irrigation of land
wasteland converted to cultivated land
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In the economic history of medieval India, the term ‘Araghatta’ refers to a water lifting device, specifically a waterwheel used for irrigation. It is often associated with the Persian wheel type of waterwheel, which utilized pots attached to a wheel or chain to lift water from a well or river. This technology significantly improved irrigation efficiency.
Options A, B, and D are incorrect. Araghatta is related to irrigation technology, not bonded labour, land grants, or wasteland conversion methods.
‘Araghatta’ is a term for a waterwheel used for irrigation in medieval India.
Inscriptions and texts from various periods of Indian history mention different irrigation techniques and devices. The Araghatta represents an advancement in water lifting technology compared to simpler methods.

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8. Banjaras during the medieval period of Indian history were generally

Banjaras during the medieval period of Indian history were generally

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agriculturists
warriors
weavers
traders
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Banjaras were a historical nomadic community in India.
During the medieval period and earlier, they were primarily known for their role as itinerant traders and transporters. They moved in large groups called Tandas, carrying goods, especially grain, on their bullocks across long distances, often serving as supply lines for armies and urban centers.
They played a crucial role in the economy by connecting producers and consumers across different regions before the development of extensive road and rail networks. While some might have been involved in agriculture seasonally or other activities, their most prominent historical role was that of traders/carriers.

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9. Consider the following statements about the Dutch trade in Mughal peri

Consider the following statements about the Dutch trade in Mughal period :

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  • 1. The Dutch transported silk goods from Bengal through Hooghly
  • 2. Cloves and nutmegs were collected at Surat by the Dutch and exported to Europe

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2024
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Let’s evaluate the statements about the Dutch trade in the Mughal period:
1. The Dutch transported silk goods from Bengal through Hooghly: This is correct. The Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie – VOC) had significant trading interests in Bengal, which was a major centre for textile production, including silk. They established a factory at Chinsurah (near Hooghly) and were actively involved in transporting silk, cotton textiles, saltpetre, and other goods from Bengal via the Hooghly River to their ships for export to Europe and other Asian markets.
2. Cloves and nutmegs were collected at Surat by the Dutch and exported to Europe: This is incorrect. Cloves and nutmegs were highly valuable spices originating from the Moluccas (Spice Islands) in Southeast Asia. The Dutch established a virtual monopoly over the trade of these spices by controlling their source in Southeast Asia. Surat was a major port for trade in goods from the Indian subcontinent, Persia, and Arabia. While the Dutch traded at Surat, their primary source and export point for Moluccan spices were Southeast Asian ports like Batavia (Jakarta), from where they were shipped directly to Europe or other destinations. Spices like cloves and nutmegs were not sourced or collected in significant quantities *at Surat* for export to Europe.
The Dutch were major players in Indian Ocean trade during the Mughal period, prominent in textile trade from regions like Bengal, but their spice trade monopoly was centered on Southeast Asia, not ports like Surat for export of Moluccan spices.
The Dutch VOC was a powerful entity that competed with the English, French, and other European companies as well as Asian merchants. They traded in a wide variety of goods across Asia, but their most profitable monopoly was initially in the spice trade from Southeast Asia.

10. The establishment of Mughal rule in India strengthened urbanization

The establishment of Mughal rule in India

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  • strengthened urbanization
  • strengthened inter-urban contact in riparian North India
  • increased India’s sea trade
  • decreased the risk of carrying long-distance trade

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1, 2 and 3
1 and 2 only
3 and 4
1 only
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UPSC CAPF – 2013
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The establishment of Mughal rule in India had several significant economic impacts. Urbanization received a boost with the growth of major administrative and commercial centers like Delhi, Agra, Lahore, Surat, Dhaka, etc. Riverine trade, particularly in the fertile Gangetic plain (riparian North India), was crucial for transporting goods between these urban centres, and Mughal control and infrastructure facilitated this. India’s sea trade also increased significantly during the Mughal period, with major ports like Surat, Hooghly, and Masulipatnam flourishing and trade with Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia expanding. While statement 4 about decreasing the risk of long-distance trade might be partially true compared to periods of fragmentation, statements 1, 2, and 3 are more widely accepted and directly attributable positive economic impacts of the stable and centralized Mughal state on trade and urban development.
– Mughal rule led to significant urban growth.
– Inter-urban trade, especially via rivers in North India, was strengthened.
– Sea trade from Indian ports saw a substantial increase during the Mughal era.
The Mughal state’s relative stability, administrative structure, and focus on collecting land revenue stimulated economic activity. Infrastructure like sarais (inns) and roads also supported trade. The influx of precious metals from trade, particularly with Europe, impacted the economy.

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