The Origins of Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire was founded by Babur, a Central Asian ruler who was descended from the Turko-Mongol conqueror Timur on his father's side and from the Mongol ruler Genghis Khan, on his mother's side. He was thrown from his ancestral domains in Central Asia, and turned to India to find a place to settle. He conquered India in the battle of Panipat with Ibrahim Lodi in 1526, which marked the beginning of the Mughal Empire.
The Foundation of Mughal Empire
Babur's forces occupied much of northern India after his victory at Panipat in 1526. The preoccupation with wars and military campaigns did not allow Babur to strengthen the gains he had made in India. The instability of the empire became obvious under his son, Humayun, who was driven out of India and into Persia by rebels but returned triumphantly from Persia in 155, but dies shortly afterwards. His son Akbar succeeded to the throne under a regent, Bairam Khan. He strengthened the Mughal Empire in India. ]
India under Mughal Emperors
The Mughal Empire ruled India for almost two centuries. They combined Muslim culture and hindu culture india. Many ismalic style monuments were built by them. They never occupied all of India, but rued over most of it. The mughal empire was at its peak under Akbar's son Jahangir.
Babur (1526-1530)
The Mughal Empire was founded by Babur, a Central Asian ruler who was descended from the Turko-Mongol conqueror Timur on his father's side and from Genghis Khan, on his mother's side. He was removed from his ancestral domains in Central Asia, Babur turned to India to satisfy his ambitions. He established himself in Kabul and then pushed steadily southward into India from Afghanistan through the Khyber Pass. Babur's forces occupied much of northern India after his victory at Panipat in 1526. His preoccupation with wars did not let him strengthen the empire within India.
Humayun (1530-1556)
The instability of the empire became evident under his son, Humayun, who was driven out of India and into Persia by rebels. Humayun's exile in Persia established diplomatic ties between the Safavid and Mughal Courts, and led to increasing Persian cultural influence in the Mughal Empire. The restoration of Mughal rule began after Humayun's triumphant return from Persia in 1555, but he died from a fatal accident shortly afterwards.
Akbar (1556-1605)Through warfare and diplomacy, Akbar was able to extend the empire in all directions and controlled almost the entire Indian subcontinent north of the Godavari river. He created a new class of nobility loyal to him from the military aristocracy of India's social groups, implemented a modern government, and supported cultural developments Akbar intensified trade with European trading companies. India developed a strong economy, which led to commercial expansion and economic development. Akbar allowed free expression of religion. He also creates a new religion: Din-i-Ilahi .
The Great Jehangir (1605-1627)
Akbar's son, Jahangir, ruled the empire at its peak, but he was addicted to opium, neglected the affairs of the state, and came under the influence of rival court cliques. During his reign, there was a significant increase in the size of the Mughal Empire,many rebellions were crushed, prisoners of war were released, and the work of his father, Akbar, continued to flourish. Much like his father, Jahangir was dedicated to the expansion of Mughal held territory through conquest.
Shah Jehan (1627-1658)
During the reign of Jahangir's son, Shah Jahan, the culture and splendour of the luxurious Mughal court reached its zenith as exemplified by the Taj Mahal. The maintenance of the court, at this time, began to cost more than the revenue.The Mughal Empire continued to expand moderately during his reign as his sons commanded large armies on different fronts.
Aurangzeb (1658-1707) <The Paragon of Stability> “ The Master Builder”
However, a younger son, Aurangzeb, allied with the Islamic orthodoxy against his brother, who championed a syncretistic Hindu-Muslim culture, and ascended to the throne. Aurangzeb defeated Dara in 1659 and had him executed. Although Shah Jahan fully recovered from his illness, Aurangzeb declared him incompetent to rule and had him imprisoned. During Aurangzeb reign, the empire gained political strength once more, but his religious conservatism and intolerance undermined the stability of Mughal society. Aurangzeb expanded the empire to include almost the whole of South Asia, but at his death in 1707, many parts of the empire were in open revolt.
The Crisis of Mughal Empire
During the reign of Muhammad Shah, the empire began to break up, and vast tracts of central India passed from Mughal to Maratha hands. The campaigns of Nadir Shah, who had re-established Iranian suzerainty over most of West Asia and Central Asia, culminated with the Sack of Delhi and shattered the remnants of Mughal power and prestige. Many of the empire's elites now sought to control their own affairs, and broke away to form independent kingdoms. The Mughal Emperor, however, continued to be the highest manifestation of sovereignty. Not only the Muslim gentry, but the Maratha, Hindu, and Sikh leaders took part in ceremonial acknowledgements of the emperor as the sovereign of India.
Mughal Commercial System
The Mughal emperors encouraged trade with foreign countries. Under Akbar, the empire's economy gee strong and stable. The main imports were bullion, horses, and luxuries like raw silk, coral, amber, precious stones, superior textiles perfumes, drugs, china goods, and European wines. Indian exports consisted of manufactured articles, with cotton cloth in great demand in Europe and elsewhere. Indigo, spices, opium, sugar, textiles, yarn, asafetida, salt, beads, borax, turmeric, lac, sealing wax, and drugs of various kinds were also exported.
Mughal Art and Architecture
It was a blend of Islamic, Persian, and Indian architecture The Mughal Emperors gave a new direction to architecture. Examples of the style can be found in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Mughal architecture reached its zenith during the reign of Shah Jahan, who constructed the Jama Masjid, the Red Fort, the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore, and the most famous Mughal monument, the Taj Mahal, as well as many other fine examples of the style.While Shah Jahan's son Aurangzeb commissioned some buildings such as the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, his reign corresponded with the decline of Mughal architecture and the Empire itself. Mughal painting is a particular style of South Asian painting, with Indian Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist influences, and developed largely in the court of the Mughal Empire and later spread to other Indian courts, both Muslim and Hindu, and later Sikh.
The Mughal Empire was founded by Babur, a Central Asian ruler who was descended from the Turko-Mongol conqueror Timur on his father's side and from the Mongol ruler Genghis Khan, on his mother's side. He was thrown from his ancestral domains in Central Asia, and turned to India to find a place to settle. He conquered India in the battle of Panipat with Ibrahim Lodi in 1526, which marked the beginning of the Mughal Empire.
The Foundation of Mughal Empire
Babur's forces occupied much of northern India after his victory at Panipat in 1526. The preoccupation with wars and military campaigns did not allow Babur to strengthen the gains he had made in India. The instability of the empire became obvious under his son, Humayun, who was driven out of India and into Persia by rebels but returned triumphantly from Persia in 155, but dies shortly afterwards. His son Akbar succeeded to the throne under a regent, Bairam Khan. He strengthened the Mughal Empire in India. ]
India under Mughal Emperors
The Mughal Empire ruled India for almost two centuries. They combined Muslim culture and hindu culture india. Many ismalic style monuments were built by them. They never occupied all of India, but rued over most of it. The mughal empire was at its peak under Akbar's son Jahangir.
Babur (1526-1530)
The Mughal Empire was founded by Babur, a Central Asian ruler who was descended from the Turko-Mongol conqueror Timur on his father's side and from Genghis Khan, on his mother's side. He was removed from his ancestral domains in Central Asia, Babur turned to India to satisfy his ambitions. He established himself in Kabul and then pushed steadily southward into India from Afghanistan through the Khyber Pass. Babur's forces occupied much of northern India after his victory at Panipat in 1526. His preoccupation with wars did not let him strengthen the empire within India.
Humayun (1530-1556)
The instability of the empire became evident under his son, Humayun, who was driven out of India and into Persia by rebels. Humayun's exile in Persia established diplomatic ties between the Safavid and Mughal Courts, and led to increasing Persian cultural influence in the Mughal Empire. The restoration of Mughal rule began after Humayun's triumphant return from Persia in 1555, but he died from a fatal accident shortly afterwards.
Akbar (1556-1605)Through warfare and diplomacy, Akbar was able to extend the empire in all directions and controlled almost the entire Indian subcontinent north of the Godavari river. He created a new class of nobility loyal to him from the military aristocracy of India's social groups, implemented a modern government, and supported cultural developments Akbar intensified trade with European trading companies. India developed a strong economy, which led to commercial expansion and economic development. Akbar allowed free expression of religion. He also creates a new religion: Din-i-Ilahi .
The Great Jehangir (1605-1627)
Akbar's son, Jahangir, ruled the empire at its peak, but he was addicted to opium, neglected the affairs of the state, and came under the influence of rival court cliques. During his reign, there was a significant increase in the size of the Mughal Empire,many rebellions were crushed, prisoners of war were released, and the work of his father, Akbar, continued to flourish. Much like his father, Jahangir was dedicated to the expansion of Mughal held territory through conquest.
Shah Jehan (1627-1658)
During the reign of Jahangir's son, Shah Jahan, the culture and splendour of the luxurious Mughal court reached its zenith as exemplified by the Taj Mahal. The maintenance of the court, at this time, began to cost more than the revenue.The Mughal Empire continued to expand moderately during his reign as his sons commanded large armies on different fronts.
Aurangzeb (1658-1707) <The Paragon of Stability> “ The Master Builder”
However, a younger son, Aurangzeb, allied with the Islamic orthodoxy against his brother, who championed a syncretistic Hindu-Muslim culture, and ascended to the throne. Aurangzeb defeated Dara in 1659 and had him executed. Although Shah Jahan fully recovered from his illness, Aurangzeb declared him incompetent to rule and had him imprisoned. During Aurangzeb reign, the empire gained political strength once more, but his religious conservatism and intolerance undermined the stability of Mughal society. Aurangzeb expanded the empire to include almost the whole of South Asia, but at his death in 1707, many parts of the empire were in open revolt.
The Crisis of Mughal Empire
During the reign of Muhammad Shah, the empire began to break up, and vast tracts of central India passed from Mughal to Maratha hands. The campaigns of Nadir Shah, who had re-established Iranian suzerainty over most of West Asia and Central Asia, culminated with the Sack of Delhi and shattered the remnants of Mughal power and prestige. Many of the empire's elites now sought to control their own affairs, and broke away to form independent kingdoms. The Mughal Emperor, however, continued to be the highest manifestation of sovereignty. Not only the Muslim gentry, but the Maratha, Hindu, and Sikh leaders took part in ceremonial acknowledgements of the emperor as the sovereign of India.
Mughal Commercial System
The Mughal emperors encouraged trade with foreign countries. Under Akbar, the empire's economy gee strong and stable. The main imports were bullion, horses, and luxuries like raw silk, coral, amber, precious stones, superior textiles perfumes, drugs, china goods, and European wines. Indian exports consisted of manufactured articles, with cotton cloth in great demand in Europe and elsewhere. Indigo, spices, opium, sugar, textiles, yarn, asafetida, salt, beads, borax, turmeric, lac, sealing wax, and drugs of various kinds were also exported.
Mughal Art and Architecture
It was a blend of Islamic, Persian, and Indian architecture The Mughal Emperors gave a new direction to architecture. Examples of the style can be found in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Mughal architecture reached its zenith during the reign of Shah Jahan, who constructed the Jama Masjid, the Red Fort, the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore, and the most famous Mughal monument, the Taj Mahal, as well as many other fine examples of the style.While Shah Jahan's son Aurangzeb commissioned some buildings such as the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, his reign corresponded with the decline of Mughal architecture and the Empire itself. Mughal painting is a particular style of South Asian painting, with Indian Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist influences, and developed largely in the court of the Mughal Empire and later spread to other Indian courts, both Muslim and Hindu, and later Sikh.