Mustafa Munir

September 29
th
, 2014
History of the Subcontinent
The Rise and fall of Mughal Empire (1526-
1707)

1. The Origins of Mughal Empire:
Babur founded the Mughal Empire. When Babur conquered India, the Mughal
Empire started. He founded the Mughal Empire in 1526.
2. The Foundation 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 Chagatai, the second son of the Mongol ruler Genghis Khan, on his mother's
side.
3. India under Mughal Emperors:
When India was under the Mughal Emperors they developed a strong and stable
economy, they also had commercial expansion and economic development.
There was free expansion of religion Akbar allowed that. Akbar also resolved
social-political and cultural differences; he did this by establishing a new
religion, Din-I-Illahi, with strong characteristics of a ruler cult. Akbar was able to
extend the empire in all directions and controlled almost the entire Indian
subcontinent north of the Godavari River.
4. Babur (1526 1530):
Babur was a direct descendant of Genghis Khan through Timur and was the
founder of the Mughal Empire after his victories at the Battle of Panipat (1526)
and the Battle of Khanwa.
5. Humayun (1530 1556):
Reign interrupted by Suri Dynasty. Youth and inexperience at ascension led to
his being regarded as a less effective ruler than usurper, Sher Shah Suri.
6. Akbar (1556 1605):
He greatly expanded the Empire and is regarded as the most illustrious ruler of
the Mughal Empire as he set up the empire's various institutions; he married
Mariam-uz-Zamani, a Rajput princess. One of his most famous construction
marvels was the Lahore Fort.
7. The Great Jehangir (1605 1627):
Jahangir set the precedent for sons rebelling against their emperor fathers.
Opened first relations with the British East India Company. Reportedly was an
alcoholic, and his wife Empress Noor Jahan became the real power behind the
throne and competently ruled in his place.
8. Shah Jehan (1627 1658):
Under him, Mughal art and architecture reached their zenith; constructed the Taj
Mahal, Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Jahangir mausoleum, and Shalimar Gardens in
Lahore. Deposed by his son Aurangzeb.
9. Aurangzeb (1658-1707) <The Paragon of Stability> The Master
Builder:
He reinterpreted Islamic law and presented the Fatawa-e-Alamgiri; he captured
the diamond mines of the Sultanate of Golconda; he spent the major part of his
last 27 years in the war with the Maratha rebels; at its zenith, his conquests
expanded the empire to its greatest extent; the over-stretched empire was
Mustafa Munir
September 29
th
, 2014
History of the Subcontinent
controlled by Mansabdars, and faced challenges after his death. He is known to
have transcribed copies of the Qur'an using his own styles of calligraphy. He died
during a campaign against the ravaging Marathas in the Deccan.
10. The Crisis of Mughal Empire:
After Aurangzeb died; it became hard to manage all the areas he had
conquered. It was hard to control all of the areas. The rulers after
him were not that successful and had trouble. They could not run such a
huge area.
11. Mughal Commercial System:
Both Akbar and Jahangir were interested in the foreign trade by sea, and the
Mughals welcomed the foreign trade and had a very low custom duty. The
expansion of local industry resulted in a many exportable goods. Indian exports
consisted of manufactured articles, with cotton cloth in great demand. Spices,
opium, sugar, textiles, yarn, asafetida, salt, beads, wax, and drugs of various kinds
were also exported. The main imports were gold, silver, platinum, horses, and
luxuries like raw silk, coral, amber, precious stones, drugs, china goods, and
European wines.
12. Mughal Art and Architecture:
The Mughals loved craftsmanship andmaking models. They developed various
structures, for example thebadshahi mosque. Shah Jahan also made the Taj
Mahal.