The Mughal Empire
Medieval History Descriptive Notes
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| The Mughal Empire |
On this page, we have shared the most important topic of Indian history, The Mughals (1526-1857). The Mughal Empire is also called the Mogul or Moghul Empire was an early modern empire in South Asia.
The Mughal Empire (c. 1526 1857 ce)
Mughal empire stretched from the outer fringes of the Indus basin in the west, northern Afghanistan in the northwest, and Kashmir in the north, to the highlands of present-day Assam and Bangladesh in the east, and the uplands of the Deccan plateau in south India.
Babur (1526 - 1530)
- Zahirudddin Muhammad Babur was the founder of the Mughal Emperor in India.
- Babur used gun powder for the first time in India in 1519 and this time he captured Peshawar.
- He was successful in capturing Bhira, Sialkoat and Lahore.
- Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the first battle of Panipat in 1526 A.D. Babur's soldiers were less in numbers (Only 12000 soldiers) against Lodhi's troops of 100000 soldiers, but the organisation of his army was far superior.
- Babur defeated Rana Sanga in 1527 in the battle of Khanwa on the bank of river Piliakhar.
- Babur defeated Medini Rai in the battle of Chanderi in 1528.
- In 1529, he defeated Muhammed Lodi in the battle of Ghaghara.
- His empire extended from the Himalayas in the north to Gwalior in the south and from Khyber Pass in the west to the border of Bengal in the east.
- He was learned Persian and Arabic languages and is regarded as one of the two most famous writers of his mother tongue.
- He wrote his autobiography Tuzuk-i-Babri or Babarnama and also wrote Masnavi.
- Babur built two mosques, one at Panipat and another at Sambhat in Rohilkhand.
Humayun (1530-1556)
- Nasiruddin Mohammad Humayun succeeded Babur.
- Humayun ruled from 1530 A.D. to 1540 A.D. and again from 1555 A.D. - 1556 A.D.
- The meaning of Humayun is fortune.
- He was
- In 1539, - The battle of Chaucer: Humayun was defeated by Sher Shah.
- In 1540 - The battle od Bilgrama/ Battle of Kannauj: Sher Shah once again defeated him.
- After the battle of Kannuj Humayun fled and took shelter at Amorkot for a few days.
- After Sher Shah's death, Humayun invaded India in 1555 and defeated Afghans. He became the ruler of India once again.
- He laid the foundation of the city Din Panah at Delhi in 1556.
- He established Tabal-i-Adal (Drum of Justice) in his Judiciary.
- Humayun bright two painters from Iran, Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad.
- He died while climbing down the stairs of his library in 1556 was buried in Delhi.
- Humayun's tomb was built in Delhi by his widow Hamida Banu Begum.
- Mirza Inayatullah was the chief architect of Humayun's tomb.
Akbar (1556 - 1605)
- Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar was born in Amarkot in the palace of Virasal in 1542 A.D.
- Humayun’s officer Bairam Khan crowned 13-year-old Akbar as the third Mughal emperor.
- He defeated Hemu at the Second Battle of Panipat (AD 1556) with the help of Bairam Khan
- In 1562, he abolished the system of making war captives as slaves.
- In 1653, he abolished the pilgrim tax and in 1564 abolished the Jaziya.
- Akbar conquered:
- Malwa (AD 1561) after defeating Baz Bahadur followed by Garh-Katanga (ruled by Rani Durgawati)
- Chittor (AD 1568)
- Ranthambhor and Kalinjar (AD 1569)
- Gujarat (AD 1672)
- Mewar (AD 1576) in the Battle of Haldighati after defeating Rana Pratap
- Kashmir (AD 1586)
- Sindh (AD 1593)
- Asirgarh (AD 1603)
- Buland Darwaza was constructed at Fatehpur Sikri after Akbar’s victory over Gujarat in AD 1572
- Laid the foundation of Fatehpur Sikri as his capital.
- Akbar discouraged the practice of Sati and encouraged widow remarriage. Increased marriageable age (girls 14 years, boys 16 years)
- Akbar was married to Harkha Bai, daughter of Rajpur ruler Bharmal.
- In 1576, Akbar defeated Rana Pratap of Chittor in the Battle of Haldighati.
- The third Mughal emperor introduced a land revenue system called the Todar Mal Bandobast or Zabti system, through his finance minister Raja Todar Mal, wherein the classification of land and fixation of rent was introduced.
- He also introduced the Mansabdari System or the rank-holder system to organise the nobility and army.
- The Navratnas or the nine famous intellectuals of Akbar’s court were Todar Mal, Abul Fazal, Faizi, Birbal, Tansen, Abdur Rahim Khana-i-Khana, Mullah-do-Pyaza, Raja Man Singh, and Fakir Aziao-Din.
- Set up Ibadat Khana at Sikri for religious discussion in 1575.
- He was a pious Muslim in early stage of life but later he became a sceptic.
- In 1582, he promulgated a new religion Din-i-Illahi or divine faith in One God.
- Buildings built by Akbar are Agra fort in 1565, Lahore palace in 1572, Fatehpur Sikri, Buland Darwaja and Allahabad fort in 1583.
- Two unusual buildings at Fatehpur Sikri are Panch Mahal and Diwan-i-Khas.
- Panch mahal has the plan of a Buddhist vihara.
- He also began to build his own tomb at Sikandara which was later completed by Jahangir.
- Akbar died in 1605 in Agra Fort.
Jahangir (1605-1627)
- Nuruddin Mohamdam Jahangir was born at Lahore in 1569.
- Jahangir was popularly known as Salim.
- The meaning of Jahangir is Conqueror of the world.
- In 1611, married Mehrunnisa, widow of Sher Afghan. Later on, she was given the title Nur Jahan. Nur Jahan means Light of the world.
- Jahangir also married Jodha Bai of Marwar and Kachchwaha princes.
- His son Khusrau, who received the patronage of Guru Arjun Dev, revolted against Jahangir. The fifth Sikh Guru Arjun Dev was later sentenced to death for his blessings to the rebel prince.
- He established Zanjir-i-Adal for the seekers of royal justice.
- Captain William Hawkins resided at Agra for two years (1609-1611). He was given the mansab of 400.
- In 1615, Sir Thomas Roe, an ambassador of King James I also came to his court.
- He wrote his autobiography Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri in Persian.
- He maintained diary and note down day-to-day events in his court.
- Ustad Mansur was the most important painter of Jahangir.
- Mughal Paintings reached its zenith during the region of Jahangir.
- Jahangir was buried at Shahdara near Lahore.
Shahjahan(1628-1657)
- Shahjahan was born in Lahore in 1592.
- Shahjahan's childhood name was Khurram. Shahjahan's full name was Shihabuddin Muhammad Shah Jahan.
- Shahjahan was born to Jagat Gosain, daughter of Mota Raja Udai Singh of Jodhpur.
- In 1612, he was married to Mumtaj Mahal (Arjumand Banu Begum), daughter of Asaf Khan.
- He was best known for his Deccan and foreign policies.
- Three years after his accessions, his beloved wife Mumtaj Mahal died in 1631. To perpetuate her memory he built the Taj Mahal at Agra in 1623-53.
- Ustad Isa was the master architect under whose guidance, the Taj Mahal was designed and constructed in Agra.
- Built Moti Masjid in Agra Fort.
- In 1631-32 he defeated the Portuguese.
- Built Jama Masjid and Red Fort of Delhi and laid foundation of Shahjahabad. These were made of red sandstone.
- Jagannath Pandit was the poet of his court.
- Constructed Peacock Throne (1628-1635).
- Foreign travelers who visit his court were Bernier from France and Manucci from Italy.
Aurangzeb (1658-1707)
- Full name of Aurangzeb was Muihiuddin Muhammad Aurangzeb.
- Aurangzeb means- Suitable for the throne.
- Aurangzeb was the third son of Mumtaz Mahal.
- He took the title of Alamgir.
- He was also called the Zinda Pir, The living saint.
- He ended the festival Navroz.
- Jaziya was re-introduced.
- He ended Jharokha darshan.
- Built Moti Majsid in Red Fort of Delhi.
- He also built the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore.
- Aurangzeb built Bibi ka Maqbara similar to Taj Mahal in Aurangabad.
- Aurangzeb ordered the arrest and execution of the ninth Sikh Guru Teg Bahadur in AD 1675.
- He attacked Golconda and Bijapur to contain Marathas.
- Though Aurangzeb defeated them but it removed the only boundary between Marathas and Mughals.
- Prohibited drinking and use of bhang and drugs.
- Stopped the celebration of Muharram.
- Discontinued the celebration of Dussehra.
- Guru Govind Singh died at Nanded, on the way to meet Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb had died earlier.
This page contains:
The Mughals, Medieval History Mughals, Mughal Emperors, Mughal Empire, List of Mughals emperors, Concise notes on Mughals, Mughal Dynasty,
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