HIS282H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Indus Valley Civilisation, Maurya Empire, Khyber Pass
Document Summary
Construction of empires: political and economic systems that pulled in surplus produced by different groups of people. Expansion of long distance trade: empires offer zones of concentrated demand and/or zones concentrated zones of supply. What is production: basically making something, the process in which labour is applied in changing nature to satisfy the conditions of human life. Who is a peasant: a cultivator, farmer. Centralization vs. decentralization: determined by organizational, military, etc. prowess. Shariffudin: challenge of usurpation, centralization vs. decentralization. Marriage with hindu rajput: akbar"s belief, don"t kill people if you don"t have to, alliance building; make friendships with the strongest group so they stay happy with you (hindu rajputs) Mansabdars: bureaucrat, political and military leaders, emperor centralizes political and administrative appointments, standardize military requirements (horses) Jagirdars: emperor centralizes fiscal power, avoid regional attachments, powerful instruments of integration. Tribute to tax: negotiated tribute with chaudhuries or deshmukhs (heads at pargana levels, assessment of tax at village or town levels.
