Q. Match the following campaigns of Akbar with their specific historical significance:
CampaignSignificance/Outcome
1. Conquest of GujaratProvided the Mughal Empire with access to the sea and control over major foreign trade ports like Surat.
2. Conquest of Bihar & BengalMarked the final defeat of the last effective remnants of the Afghan Sur dynasty.
3. Annexation of KhandeshGave the Mughals a strategic foothold on the Deccan plateau and control over the gateway to the South.
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Answer: C
Notes:
Explanation:
- Pair 1: Correct. Gujarat (1572 CE) was vital for its thriving maritime trade and control over the pilgrimage routes to Mecca.
- Pair 2: Correct. The defeat of Daud Khan Karrani (the last independent Sultan of Bengal) and the subsequent formal annexation of Bengal (1576 CE) signaled the end of the powerful Afghan challenge to Mughal authority.
- Pair 3: Correct. Khandesh (annexed in 1601 CE) was strategically crucial, particularly its capital, the strong fort of Asirgarh, which was called the ‘Key to the Deccan’.
