With the Mughal conquest of Bengal zamindar became a generic title embracing people with different kinds of landholdings and rights.  To achieve the goal of maximisation of public revenue and its punctual remittance, Murshid Quli divided the province into 13 chaklahs (administrative divisions) instead of the previous 34 sarkars and placed the smaller zamindars under the jurisdiction of Chaklahdars who were none other than the larger zamindars. From moderate territorial possession large estates were built by marriage , inheritance, machination, bribery or even force.

The revenues to be paid by zamindars were of three sorts: (1) the mal, made up of rents from arable land and uncultivated lands containing woods, groves, marshes and ponds; (2) the sair, the next important source of revenue that consisted of tolls and excise collected on river traffic and markets and of fees paid by the various service classes; and (3) baze-jama in the form of fines, forfeitures and marriage fees.

Four factors, provincial powers trying to get independence, the Maratha incursions, the erosion of the Mughal political system and the ascendamcy of the East  India Company impacted the Revenue collection system.

The Mughal Government had to ensure a constant flow of income. The assignment of land  on condition of payment, an old practice in India was continued. The Bhuiya or Bhumi became the Zamindar, The Zamindars in Bengal may be classified into four types.

The Autonomous Chiefs    which included Hindu chiefs of great antiquity such as the Rajas of Koch, Assam and Tripura.Their traditional hereditary rights were recognised.

The Frontier Zamindars enjoyed independence and were important because of their estate lying in the outlying parts of their suburbs. On payment of nominal peshkash in return for defending the country these Western and North Eastern provinces were free within their jurisdiction. The Rajas of Birbhum and Bishnupur    were feudal lords guardians of the Western parts.

The Big Zamindars were the most important in the Mughal Revenue system and they acted as intermediaries between the imperial authority and the subordinate landed classes. These were with great lineages and traditional family backgrounds. These families grew in power and had their rights and privileges, including their hereditary rights were  recognised by the Sovereign.

The Petty Zamindars were the overwhelming majority and owned smaller tracts and cultivated their own land. These are usually under the influence of the Principal Zamindars.

The history of the rise of the Birbhum and Burdwan zamindaris exemplifies the expansion of the Pathan and Rajput Zamindars of the Western borderlands. The Raja of Burdwan helped Alivardi Khan for a settlement with the Marathas and in exchange he was promised non interference. The Nadia Zamindars originated from Bhattanarayan, one of the five Brahmins who had come to Bengal on the invitation of King Adisur. The Dinajpur zamindari headed by Srimanta Dutta whose son was childless and his estate was inherited  by his daughters in laws Devakinandan Ghosh the Diwan of Bardhankuthi. The Zamindari of Momenshahi owes its rise mainly to a favour shown by Murshid Quli Khan. This family traces its antecedents to Sushen, one of the five Brahmins who came to Nadia.

In 18th century, “Sheherwalis” community of businessman from Rajasthan migrated to Murshidabad. They worked tirelessly to create their empires in textile and banking and went on to become Zamindars. The Sheherwalis adapted to the then prevalent cultural influences in the region namely, Mughal, British, Bengali and European and as such created their own unique culture over generations. They settled in the twin cities of Azimganj-Jiaganj. The most notable Sheherwali was Jagat Seth (literally, ‘universal banker’, title accorded by the Mughal empire).

The triumph of the English at Plassey in 1757 shattered the political supremacy of the Nawab and changed the economic system of the country. Mir Jafar failed to pay the promised sum and had to cede the districts of Nadia, Burdwan, Hughli, Hijli and some Zamindaris of Dacca to redeem the debts of the Company. Thus began the integration of the British Empire and a different breed of entrepreneurs.