The Mughal period (16th–18th century) was marked by prosperity, cultural synthesis, and administrative order. Society witnessed changes in class structure, economic activity expanded through agriculture and trade, and cultural achievements in art, architecture, literature, and music reached new heights.
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Social Conditions
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Class Structure:
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Nobles and mansabdars (high-ranking officials) enjoyed luxury and power.
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Middle classes included merchants, artisans, soldiers, and professionals.
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Peasants formed the largest group, burdened by land taxes.
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Caste and Community:
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Hindu caste system continued but was somewhat relaxed due to urbanization.
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Muslim society divided into foreign Muslims (Ashraf) and Indian converts (Ajlaf).
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Women:
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Royal women like Nur Jahan, Jahanara, and Roshanara played political and cultural roles.
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Practices like purdah, sati, child marriage, and polygamy existed, though education of women in elite families was encouraged.
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Slavery and bonded labor were common, with war captives often employed in households and agriculture.
Economic Conditions
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Agriculture:
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Backbone of the Mughal economy.
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Crops: rice, wheat, barley, cotton, indigo, sugarcane.
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Improved irrigation through canals and tanks.
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Land Revenue System:
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Introduced by Todar Mal under Akbar; based on land measurement and classification (zabt system).
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Taxes often formed one-third of produce, collected in cash.
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Trade and Commerce:
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India became a major exporter of textiles (cotton, silk), spices, indigo, precious stones.
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Imports included horses, luxury goods, and metals.
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Ports like Surat, Masulipatnam, Calicut, Hooghly flourished.
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Internal trade supported by merchants’ guilds and caravan routes.
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Currency: Stable silver rupee and copper dam facilitated commerce.
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Urbanization: Growth of cities like Delhi, Agra, Lahore, Ahmedabad, and Multan as centers of trade and culture.
Religious Conditions
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Policy of Akbar: Advocated Sulh-i-Kul (universal tolerance).
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Abolished jizya tax temporarily.
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Promoted interfaith dialogues at the Ibadat Khana (House of Worship) in Fatehpur Sikri.
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Founded Din-i-Ilahi, a new faith combining elements of all religions (though it had few followers).
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Later Mughals: Jahangir and Shah Jahan continued relative tolerance. Aurangzeb reversed this policy, reimposed jizya, and enforced orthodox Islam, leading to discontent.
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Bhakti and Sufi Movements: Continued during this period, promoting devotion, equality, and love for God across religious boundaries.
Cultural Conditions
Architecture
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Mughal architecture blended Persian, Central Asian, and Indian styles.
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Early phase: Humayun’s Tomb.
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Akbar: Fatehpur Sikri, Buland Darwaza, Agra Fort.
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Jahangir: Gardens and decorative art.
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Shah Jahan: Golden age of architecture — Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Jama Masjid.
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Aurangzeb: Less patronage to art, more focus on religion.
Literature
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Persian was the court language; historians like Abul Fazl (Ain-i-Akbari, Akbarnama), Badauni, and Jahangir wrote important works.
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Growth of Urdu as a blend of Persian, Arabic, and local dialects.
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Regional languages (Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi, Marathi) flourished with Bhakti poetry.
Art, Music, and Painting
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Mughal painting developed with Persian influence; themes included court scenes, hunting, and portraits.
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Akbar established an atelier of painters; artists like Basawan and Daswanth became famous.
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Jahangir encouraged naturalistic paintings (animals, birds, flowers).
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Music: Mughal emperors patronized music; Tansen under Akbar developed Hindustani classical music.
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Fusion of Indian and Persian traditions gave rise to new ragas and instruments.
Key Takeaway
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Under the Mughals, India witnessed economic prosperity, flourishing trade, and stable currency.
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Social life reflected diversity but also inequalities, with peasants and artisans supporting the elite lifestyle.
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Akbar’s religious tolerance fostered harmony, while Aurangzeb’s orthodoxy created divisions.
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Culturally, the Mughals left a lasting legacy in architecture, literature, painting, and music, making their era one of the most celebrated in Indian history.