Syllabus:
Lodis – The Sur Empire: Sher Shah’s administration; Agrarian Reforms; Portuguese Colonial enterprise
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Bring out the significance of the reign of Sher Shah in the history of India. [1986, 60m]
Examine the major contributions of the Sur rulers to the administrative system. [1981, 20m]
Bring out the significance of the reign of Sher Shah in the history of India.
Politico-Admin System | Land Revenue System | Limitations | TARIKH-e-Sher Shahi |
Monarchical - like DS Despotism - didn't even appoint PM. Highly centralized - Sarkars, Parganas (by Shiqdar) ToK - Power, Prestige (complete subjugation of Nobility) - like Mughals. Secular - no discrimination based on religion. Military State Welfare State - grants to Mosque, temples, ulema's, Brahmanas, free kitchen Practise of local responsibility - law and order. | Scientific and Rational - Average of good, middle bad - data to estimate total production. Arrangement of Emergency - Emergency tax (proceeds = assistance @failure of crops); LR remitted; TACCAVI Loans. Balance - needs of state and welfare of peasantry. (a. Liberal at time of assessment; b. Tough @ time of collection) Intermediaries not allowed to collected other than L.R. Cash or Kind; Rate list for kind into cash. Elements of Ryotwari - assessment at individual level; collection at village level. | Land m/s required every year - cumbersome; delay. Rate of L.R. 1/3 but burden high - # of other taxes. Peasants - good Q land - lesser burden while bad Q land - over burden (avg. system) Rate list - based on prices in Capital (much higher) than prices in village. Existence of intermediaries. | By ABBAS KHAN SAHARWAN Sher Shah and his period. Crimes were absent. -------------------------- Patron of Art and Architecture - Purana Qila + Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque. SSS Tomb @ Sasaram.
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Sher Shah Suri made Pataliputra his capital and changed its name to Patna.
Write a short essay on: “Sher Shah combined in himself qualities of lion and fox.” [1999, 20m]
Sher Shah had quality of ‘planning like a fox’ and ‘attacking like a lion’.
Sher Shah with qualities of fox Many of Sher Shah’s military compaigns exhibit his tricks and tactics which reflects his political shrewdness. In 1537, at Rohtas, the Hindu Raja had agreed to shelter Afghan women but was tricked and the fort was captured. In 1543, during his campaign against Chanderi, he swore on Quran that he would spare life, honour and properties of Rajputs if they surrendered but when they surrendered, they were butchered. In 1539, at Chausa, he attacked sleeping Mughal soldiers. To capture Jodhpur, he used forgery of letter to create suspicion among Rajputs. Joined Mughal services (begged forgiveness after defeat by Babur) - learned the weakness. Married # of widows to get resources (Widow of guv of Bihar - access to Chunagarh Fort). | Sher Shah with qualities of lion He led many military campaigns with boldness and bravery. He was able to defeat powerful Mughal army. His qualities of lion are displayed by his enlightened despotism. As the Sultan, he improved the administration, carried out currency and revenue reforms, systematised military by reintroducing dagh and chehra. He built highways, provided for amenities for travellers, delivered justice, patronised learned men, showed liberal attitude towards non-Muslim objects. Defeated Nusrat Shah, guv of Bengal 1537. Defeated Humayun twice - (Chausa 1539) (Bilgram 1540) - faced challenges with full strength. # of reforms without worrying about risk and died like a lion @ Kalinger in 1545. |
SASARAM , Bihar -
| KALINJAR |
Make a comparative review of the agrarian reforms of Alauud-Din Khalji and Sher Shah Suri. [1995, 60m]
“In medieval Indian history Akbar is unique for his religio-political ideas and policies.” Discuss the statement and compare Akbar with Sher Shah in regard to their administrative policies and revenue administration. [1990, 60m]
How was the Afghan nobility responsible for the decline of the Afghan Empire? Discuss. [2012, 30m]
The Great Afghan Empire was established under Sher Shah Suri.
In general Afghans believed in the theory of Sultan as one among the equals. They were not accustomed to give exemplary status to their ruler on the basis of his position or lineage. This custom proved to be the biggest and weakest link to divide the Afghan Empire after the removal of strong monarch.
In the absence of strong rulers, nobility caused to disintegration of empires due to court intrigues and infighting.
According to Dr. R.P. Tripathi, "The noble sentiment of Patriotism with which Sher Shah had been able to inspire and unite the Afghan nobles received such a shock at the hands of Islam Shah that it was practically destroyed. As soon as his commanding personality was removed, the pent-up feelings and ambitions of the Afghan Nobles were let loose."
The noble became tyrants and crushed the people. An empire which does not bother about the condition of the people cannot last long.
The character of the Afghans deteriorated. They lost all sense of self-respect. It is stated that when Hemu charged them with cowardice, they "swallowed his insults like sweetmeats." The Afghans did not honour their word. Such a character lacking moral principles cannot create or maintain empire.
All kinds of punishments were inflicted on them. There was no regard for life or property. There was no bureaucracy devoted to the task of the State and no military class proud to die for its defence. No Justice, no discipline. No wonder the empire fell.
Write a short essay on: “Significance of the arrival of the Portuguese in India.” [2008, 20m]
The landing of Vasco-da-Gama at Calicut in 1498 is considered as the beginning of a new phase during which the control of the ocean passed into the hands of Europeans.
Economic Significance: (Indian trade and traders received a setback) | Scientific significance: (Encouraged agriculture) | Cultural Significance: (European style in architecture) | Political Significance (was small) | ||||
Maintained friendly relations w/ Vijayanagara - sought trade privileges. Opened up India's trade with Japan (Au, Ag, obtained). Ended the era of unarmed open sea trade in Indian water. Naval power demonstrate - harass and hamper trade even of well-developed country as India. Direct sea-link of Europe with India replaced the virtual monopoly of Arabs and Turks (spices). Enjoyed monopoly of eastern trade (~100 years) until challenge from the Dutch, the French, and the English in the 17th Century. | Imported productive coconut seeds and expanded the coconut production, coir trade. New Vegetables and trees - Papaya, Pine Apple, Cashew, Watermelon, Indian beans and Guava. Could not act as a bridge for transmitting to India the S&T which had grown in Europe (partly because themselves not deeply affected by Renaissance as Italy and north Europe). Help to transmit a number of agricultural products from Central America, such as potato, tobacco, etc. | Bungalows, churches of European model started to be built. Use of cosmetics, their style of dress rose. Building of Forts got popular. Fort Manuel, 1503, Kochi - 1st fort in India built by Europeans. Build new towns and markets - Calicut, Cochin and Chaliyam while old towns, such as Kollam and Kodungallur, were relegated. Promoted Portuguese, Latin languages, Catholism - established colleges in Kochi and Angamaly. Built printing press at Kochi and Vypin. Contribute many words to Indian languages like Malyalam and Konkani.(Lelam, Chavi, Vijagiri, Vikari etc) | Few in numbers to try to capture large territories on mainland India. Confined to islands and coasts. Goa was controlled by Governor-General. They encourages mixed marriages due to their small numbers and so a new Indo-Portuguese society came into being.
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How was cartaz system used by the Portuguese to maintain their control over the oceanic trade? [2014, 10m]
Write a short essay on: “Portuguese control of the Indian Ocean and its impact.” [1992, 20m]
Cartaz and its use | Could not be enforced totally and had to be liberalised |
A naval trade license or pass issued by the Portuguese in the Indian ocean (16th C). (It shared similarity with the British Navicert system of 1939-45). Trade in spices, drugs, dyes, arms and ammunition and war horses - royal monopoly. No nation/ Portuguese private traders allowed. Monopolisation was contrary to the tradition of ocean trade in Asian waters. For other commodities ships had to take Cartaz (Permit). Made all ships going to the east or to Africa to pass by Goa - ensure that merchants paid tax in Portuguese trading posts. Searched any ships suspected of trading without Cartaz. Ships which refused to be searched were treated as a prize of war and men and women aboard as slaves. | Traders who lost on sea put pressure on their governments to retaliate against Portuguese trade in their areas. It was impossible to police trade along huge coasts of Asia. Sea Pirates preying on Portuguese ships were encouraged by traders and small rulers. Arabs and Gujarati traders found ways to get round the Portuguese trade embargo and regulation. Even Portuguese private traders were unhappy due to royal monopoly. Royal officials who received small salary often bribed by Private traders. Failure to capture Aden => Portuguese control over Indian ocean incomplete. Challenged on arrival of other European powers in 17th C. |
Salsette - Mumbai in Maharashtra lie on Salsette island. Salsette was ruled by a succession of Hindu kingdoms, the last of which were the Silharas. In 1343, the islands were annexed by Muslim Sultanate of Gujarat. In 1534, Portuguese took these islands from Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat. In 1739 the islands were captured by Marathas. The British occupied Salsette in 1774, which was formally ceded to East India Company under the Treaty of Salbai, 1782.
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