- Jizya
- A discriminatory tax paid by non-Muslims living under Islamic rule. Abolished by Akbar in 1564; reimposed by Aurangzeb in 1679. Its reimposition became a symbol of religious intolerance and alienated the Hindu majority.
- Mansabdari system
- Akbar's graded administrative and military ranking system. Officials held ranks (mansabs) and were paid accordingly. Open to Hindus, Muslims, and Rajputs alike — a meritocratic alternative to hereditary local power.
- Zabt system
- Finance minister Todar Mal's land revenue system. Farmland was measured precisely, crop yields assessed, and tax rates fixed according to soil quality. Replaced arbitrary local taxation and provided stable imperial revenue.
- Din-i-Ilahi
- Literally "Religion of God" — Akbar's syncretic faith proclaimed in 1582 combining elements of Islam, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, and Jainism. Only 18 courtiers ever followed it. Shows Akbar's desire to transcend religious divisions.
- Fatehpur Sikri
- New capital city built by Akbar in 1571, around 40 km west of Agra. Built in honour of the Sufi saint Salim Chishti. Its architecture uniquely blends Mughal, Hindu, and Persian styles. Abandoned around 1585, possibly due to water supply problems.
- Taj Mahal
- Mausoleum built by Shah Jahan in Agra, 1632–1653, in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Considered a masterpiece of Mughal architecture. Its enormous cost strained the imperial treasury.
- Marathas
- A Hindu warrior people of the western Deccan who, under Shivaji Bhonsle, built a powerful independent state resisting Mughal authority. Their guerrilla warfare and fortress control contributed significantly to Aurangzeb's costly and ultimately failed Deccan campaigns.
This definitions covers Key Terms within The Mughal Empire, 1526-1707 for GCSE History. Revise The Mughal Empire, 1526-1707 in Component Group 4 — Period Studies for GCSE History with 14 exam-style questions and 17 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 9 of 14 in this topic. Make sure you can use the exact wording confidently, because definition marks are often lost through vague language.
Practice questions for The Mughal Empire, 1526-1707
Describe two features of how Babur founded the Mughal Empire in 1526.
Describe two features of Akbar's policy of religious tolerance.
Quick recall flashcards
What was Akbar's Rajput policy?
Akbar married Rajput Hindu princesses (including Jodha Bai of Amer) and appointed Rajput nobles as senior military commanders and court officials. This turned potential enemies into loyal allies, giving the Muslim Mughal emperor a strong Hindu power base.
What happened to Humayun and why does it matter?
Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun at Kannauj (1540), forcing 15 years of exile at the Safavid Persian court. Humayun reconquered Delhi in 1555 but died in 1556. His Persian exile brought important artistic and cultural influences into the Mughal court.