Year 8 - History
Religious tensions in the Mughal Empire
The East India Company: when did Mughal authority collapse?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn about the arrival of the East India Company on the fringes of the Mughal Empire. They examine how the East India Company's power and influence grew, and how they, along with various Indian rulers, destabilised Mughal power over India.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain the impact of Aurangzeb's religious policies on support for the Mughal Empire.
Key Notes
- Mughal emperors, including Aurangzeb, were Muslims.
- Mughal emperors traditionally showed tolerance towards non-Muslims.
- Aurangzeb reintroduced the jizya and even destroyed Hindu temples.
- Hindu and Sikh groups rebelled against the Mughals during Aurangzeb's reign.
- A growing number of non-Muslims served as Mughal officials during Aurangzeb's reign.
Vocabulary To Learn
- tolerance: tolerance involves allowing people to do or believe what they want although your beliefs are different or you do not agree with them
- gurdwara: a gurdwara is a Sikh place of worship
- jizya: the jizya was a tax which non-Muslims had to pay in Muslim-ruled countries
- discrimination: discrimination involves treating a person or particular group of people in a worse way from the way in which you treat other people, because of characteristics like their race or religion
- guru: a guru is a religious leader in the Sikh religion
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Aurangzeb was completely intolerant towards and alienated all non-Muslims.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
Mughal emperors, including Aurangzeb, were Muslims. Mughal emperors traditionally showed tolerance towards non-Muslims.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'tolerance'
tolerance involves allowing people to do or believe what they want although your beliefs are different or you do not agree with them.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Aurangzeb was completely intolerant towards and alienated all non-Muslims. Correction: Aurangzeb continued to support non-Muslim places of worship and to promote non-Muslim officials in the empire, leading to increased numbers of Hindus and Sikhs serving the Mughal Empire by the end of his reign.
More Lessons In This Unit
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