Mughal Administration c17.s4.3

c17.s4.3

The art of war was very highly developed by the Muslims, partly by borrowing from Europe through Turkey—and, to a lesser extent, through Persia. The rajahs of the Hindu period used to lead petty forces or the confederation of a number of distinct petty contingents. But the Mughal Emperors commanded vast armies obeying one supreme voice, the handling of which required greater organizing power and capacity, and thus gave greater opportunities for the display of generalship than was possible in the Hindu period. From the point of view of mere organization [as distinct from real efficiency as an instrument of war], the Mughal army was almost perfect in every branch, according to mediæval Asiatic standards.