History Ancient India Questions Medium
The Mughal Empire, which existed from 1526 to 1857, had a complex political structure that was characterized by a centralized monarchy with a strong emperor at the top. The empire was founded by Babur, who established the Mughal dynasty in India.
At the head of the political structure was the emperor, who held absolute power and was considered the highest authority in the empire. The emperor was responsible for making all major decisions, including matters of governance, military campaigns, and the administration of justice. The emperor's authority was often legitimized through the concept of divine kingship, where he was seen as the representative of God on Earth.
Below the emperor, the empire was divided into provinces known as subahs, which were further divided into smaller administrative units called sarkars. Each subah was governed by a governor known as a subahdar, who was appointed by the emperor. The subahdars were responsible for maintaining law and order, collecting taxes, and overseeing the administration of justice within their respective provinces.
The Mughal Empire also had a well-organized bureaucracy that assisted in the administration of the empire. The emperor was supported by a council of ministers, known as the Diwan-i-Khas, who advised him on various matters. The empire also had various departments, such as the Diwan-i-Arz (military department), Diwan-i-Insha (department of correspondence), and Diwan-i-Rasalat (department of religious affairs), which were responsible for specific functions.
Furthermore, the Mughal Empire had a system of mansabdari, which was a ranking system for the nobility. The nobles, known as mansabdars, held military ranks and were granted jagirs (land grants) in exchange for their military service. The mansabdars were responsible for maintaining a certain number of soldiers and providing military support to the emperor when required.
Overall, the political structure of the Mughal Empire was characterized by a centralized monarchy with a powerful emperor at the top, supported by a well-organized bureaucracy and a system of provincial governance. This structure allowed the empire to maintain control over a vast territory and diverse population for several centuries.