Jharkhand P.C.S. Prelims 2021

Evolution of the Medieval State

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Government of medieval period was a composite structure. It was a fusion of:

Solution & Analysis

Answer: D

Concept The administration of the Sultanate and Mughal periods was never purely foreign. It evolved into a complex system that integrated local Indian traditions with West and Central Asian models.

Explanation Historians like Satish Chandra describe the medieval state as a composite structure. It used Perso-Arabic legal and administrative terms, Turko-Mongol military and kingship theories, and Indian village-level revenue systems and local intermediaries.

Logical Breakup

Logic 1: Option D is the most comprehensive. The nobility itself was a mix of Persians, Turks, Arabs, Afghans, and later, Indian Muslims and Rajputs.

Logic 2: The lower bureaucracy remained largely Indian (Kayasthas and Brahmins), ensuring that the state functioned according to local realities.

Active Recall

Question

How did Indian elements manifest in the Sultanate's revenue system?

Answer

The state relied on local hereditary officials like the Khuts, Muqaddams, and Chaudharys to manage rural revenue collection.

Core Insight

The success of medieval dynasties was directly linked to their ability to synthesize foreign administrative models with indigenous socio-political structures.

Government of medieval period was a composite structure. It was a fusion of:

Solution & Analysis

Active Recall

Core Insight

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