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Mansab Dari System
Describe the various stages of evolution in the mansab system under Akbar?
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The Mansab System was a way of organizing and managing the military and administration during the time of Akbar, a Mughal emperor in India. It worked like a ranking system for nobles, which determined their positions and responsibilities in the empire.
Imagine you’re playing a game where you have different levels or ranks. The Mansab System was similar but in real life. Each noble was given a rank called a “mansab” based on things like their military skills, loyalty, and how well they could handle administrative tasks.
These ranks were divided into two parts: zat and sawar. The zat rank showed a noble’s personal status or importance, while the sawar rank determined how many horsemen they were supposed to have for the army. Having a strong army was crucial for maintaining power and protecting the empire.
At first, these ranks were not fixed and could change depending on how well a noble did their job. But later, Akbar decided to make the ranks fixed and hereditary, meaning they would be passed down from one generation to the next in a noble’s family. This made things more stable and prevented constant changes in ranks.
The ranks were also classified into different categories, starting from the highest rank for the emperor and his family members, and going down to lower ranks for other nobles. This made it clear who was more important and who had more power.
The Mansab System wasn’t just about the military. Akbar expanded it to include non-military positions like those in revenue administration and diplomacy. This meant that even if someone wasn’t a soldier, they could still have a rank and serve the empire in different ways.
To keep things in check, the emperor wanted to make sure that the nobles were doing their job properly. So, the nobles had to submit reports regularly, telling the emperor about things like the strength of their army and their expenses. This helped the emperor keep an eye on everything and make sure things were running smoothly.
In summary, the Mansab System was a way of ranking and organizing the military and administration under Akbar’s rule. It determined a noble’s position, their army size, and their responsibilities. It made sure everyone knew their place and helped the emperor keep control over the empire.
Here’s a video from a YouTube channel (in-detail): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gNVtGqG3NY
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