Mughal Empire

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THE MUGHALS:

-claimed to be the descendants of Genghis Khan (ruler of the Mongol tribe)

-fifth generation descendants of Timur (attacked Delhi in 1398)
-followed Timurid tradition (inheritance of the throne is shared between brothers)
-left room for conflict between brothers

IMPORTANT MUGHAL RULERS

BHAJSA- Black Hat And Jam Sold Atlast

B-BABUR

1526-1530

ascended throne at Farghana (small principality in Transoxiana) in 1494

and the age of 12

thrown out of hometown by Uzbeks

carved out a fresh territory in Kabul, India for himself in 1504

Sikandar Lodi’s Death and invitations from Daulat Khan Lodi (governor
of Punjab) encouraged him to attack India

defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the Battle of Panipat and established Mughal

rule

defeated Rana Sanga of Mewar and chieftains in and around Delhi and
Agra at the battle of Khanwa in 1527

In 1528 he defeated the Rajputs and Chanderi

H-HUMAYUN

1530-1556

did not command the respect and esteem of the nobility

had to fight Afghans from east and west to maintain imperial power and
hegemony

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 had to face hostilities from own brothers

Afghans united under Sher Khan and captured Gaur (the capital of
Bengal) and besieged Mahmud Shah (ruler of Bengal)

Sher Khan defeated him first at the Battle of Chausa and then at Kanauj

He fled from India and sought refuge in Persia

With the help of Shah Tahmasp, he conquered Kabul and Kandahar and
captured Delhi and Agra

He re-established the Mughal empire at 1555

Died at 1556

A-AKBAR

2 major sources of information (both written by Abdul Fazl)

1. Akbarnama

The first part dealt with Akbar’s ancestors

The second part dealt with the events in Akbar’s reign

2. Ain-i-Akbari

13 years at the time of Humayun’s death

His tutor Bairam Khan took over as a regent

Bairam Khan became the wakil of the kingdom and was titled Khan-i-
Khanan

His major achievements are:

1. The defeat of Hemu (wazir of the Sur Dynasty)

2. The defeat of the Afghan forces in the 2nd Battle of Panipat

Akbar’s Policies
ADMINISTRATIVE: Akbar's administrative policy

EXPANSION: not taken

RELIGIOUS:

(AKBAR)

built new capital of Mughal Empire at Fatehpur Sikri

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 sponsored a series of debates at his court between the
representatives of various religions:

Christians

Hindus

Zoroastrians

Jains

For this he built Ibadatkhana (hall of prayer)

realised that the difference between people were created by

religious bigots for their own interests

led him to develop the idea of Sulh-i-kul (universal peace)

secular in outlook

no discrimination

honesty

justice

peace

made it a part of the state policy

was followed by Jahangir and Shahjahan

J-JAHANGIR

He came to the throne after Akbar died in 1605

Known for impartial justice to citizens irrespective of their religious

beliefs

Continued Akbar’s policies.

Earned respect from all aspects of society

He was noted for political stability, beautiful paintings, brisk economic

activities and monumental buildings.

By the 17th century, the Mughals had acquired unparalleled military

strength and economic prosperity.

POLITICAL TRIUMPHS

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 Submission of Rana Amar Singh of Mewar

Capturing the fort of Kangra

Annexation of a part of Ahmednagar

Malik Ambar ceded Balaghat

Guru Arjan Dev was martyred, alienating the Sikh society

Rebelling of Prince Khurram (Shahjahan).

European traders arrived in India.

William Hawkings (representative of the EIC) arrives in India in 1608

Thomas Roe - first ambassador to the Mughal court - 1615

Was able to secure trading facilities for his countrymen.

The first English trading post was established in Surat

S-SHAHJAHAN

Ascended the throne in 1628.

Best known for Deccan and foreign policies.

2 major revolts:

1. Khan Jahan Lodi

2. Jujuhar Singh (Bundelkhand)

Famine and Plague in a large part of Gujarat, Khandesh and Deccan

Abdul Hamid Lahori - describes strategies adopted by Shahjahan to

control these situations

POLITICAL ACHIEVEMENTS

The Deccan Sultanate of Bijapur and Golconda accepted his

supremacy in 1636

Nizam Shahi Dynasty of Ahmedabad was brought under the control

of the Mughals in 1633

He reconquered Qandahar in 1638

He routed the Uzbeks at Balkhan in 1647

Annexed Kamarupa in Assam

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 He shifted the capital from Agra to Delhi and ruled from the Red Fort

A -AURANGZEB

Killed his 3 brothers and imprisoned his father and crowned himself in
Delhi with the title of Alamgir.

Ruled for 50 years

Died in February 1707, in Ahmednagar.

Bijapur and Golconda surrendered under his rule (1687)

Marathas continued to fight for some time.

Devoted his last 26 years to a relentless Deccan campaign.

He moved his court to Deccan for this reason

Under his rule, borders spread out farther than ever before.

He had to face rebellions from:

1. Marathas led by Shivaji

2. Sikhs

3. Jats

4. Satnamis

Could not stop the decline of the Mughal Empire though he lived much
longer than his predecessors

100% decline after his death because his sons were not trained to rule

He was not a religionist

Chief architectural achievements: Badshahi Mosque at Lahore (largest

mosque in the world at that time)

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIALS

Chief Diwan (diwan-i-kul) - responsible for revenue and finance - had to

submit a report on the state finances daily

Mir Bakshi

passed the orders of appointments of mansabdars

mansabdar’s salary papers were approved by him

in charge of the military

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 personally supervised branding of horses (dagh) and checked the
muster-roll (chehra) of soldiers

assisted by other bakhshis

Mir Saman

in-charge of royal karkhanas

supervised purchases and manufacture of all articles

Sadr-us Sudur - protected the laws of shari’at

Qazi-ul-quzzat - head of judiciary

Subadar

governer of a suba

directly appointed by the emporer

Job time - around 3 yrs

looked after the welfare of the people and army

maintained law and order in the suba

Assisted by:

Bakshi - military paymaster

Sadr - in charge of religious and charitable patronage

Fujdars - military commanders

Kotwal - town police commander

Central level finances - Diwan

Mughal rulers frequently visited subas to make sure all was in order

The changing of officials every 3 yrs helped the Mughals in checking the
officials

DECLINE OF MUGHALS
EVERYTHING IN PAGE 28 (MUGHAL EMPIRE IN CRISIS) IN THE BOOK

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