What was the structure of government in the Mughal Empire?

The Mughal Empire, which ruled large parts of India from the early 16th to the mid-18th century, had a highly centralized form of government that was based on a mixture of Persian and Indian traditions. The structure of the Mughal government was as follows:

1. The Emperor: At the top of the Mughal hierarchy was the Emperor or "Padishah," who had absolute power and was seen as a representative of God on Earth. The emperor made all the major decisions and had the final say in the administration of the empire.

2. Central Government: The central government was composed of various departments, each headed by a noble or official appointed by the emperor. Key posts included the Wazir (Prime Minister), who was the chief advisor to the emperor and responsible for revenue and finance, and the Mir Bakshi (Paymaster General), who was in charge of military affairs and the payment of soldiers.

3. Provincial Administration: The Mughal Empire was divided into several provinces known as Subahs, each governed by a Subahdar or Governor appointed by the emperor. The provinces were further subdivided into Sarkars, run by Faujdars, and Parganas, overseen by Shiqdars.

4. Local Administration: At the local level, villages were governed by village headmen and councils, which had some autonomy but were still under the supervision of the imperial administration.

5. Judiciary: The judicial system was based on a combination of Sharia (Islamic law) and customary Hindu law. Qazis (judges) were appointed to preside over courts that dealt with civil and criminal matters.

6. Military: The Mughal military was composed of cavalry, infantry, artillery, and a navy, organized and maintained through a system of mansabdari, where military commanders were granted land revenues in exchange for maintaining a specified number of soldiers and horses for the emperor's service.

7. Revenue Collection: The empire's revenue system was sophisticated, including land revenue collected through a system known as the Zabt, which was based on periodic measurement and taxation of the agricultural output.

The Mughal emperor's authority was supported by a large bureaucracy, a standing army, and the ability to collect taxes efficiently. The Mughal government's structure allowed for the effective control of a vast and diverse empire for over two centuries.