Mughal Empire

Mughal Empire. “It was all a dream, I use to read word up magazine” - Akbar.

Called themselves mughals also called mongols Claimed to be descendants of Timur the Lame Invaded India Gupta Empire fell in 600 A.D. Muslim tribes formed small kingdoms in Northwestern India.

1494- At 11 years old inherited the throne. Region of kingdom – Uzbekistan and Tajikistan..

Not the elephant Babar…. BABAR. Babur. It was all a dream….

Swept down to India and began the Mughal empire..

Strong, Sensitive leader. Wrote poetry and loved art and gardens Brilliant general: defeated an army of 100,000 with an army of 12,000.

After Babur’s death, his incompetent son, Humayun , lost most of the territory Babur gained. Regains some territory but will later fall down a flight of steps and die..

Akbar means “Great One” Babur’s 13 year old grandson. Ruled India with wisdom and tolerance from 1556 to 1605..

Muslim but strongly defended religious freedom. Got rid of the Jizya tax – tax on Hindus. Married two hindus , a christian , and a muslim . Genius of cultural blending..

“A monarch should ever be intent on conquest, otherwise his neighbors rise in arms against him”.

Akbar the Great. A military Conqueror: Military was the root of strength. His army was equipped with: - Cannons - Elephants - Guns - Composite bows.

Combination of military power and political wisdom, Akbar was able to unify a land of almost 100 million people..

Welcomed many cultures and ideas. Akbar spoke Persian but the common language was Hindi. Soldiers language – Urdu was formed from the ranks of Akbar’s army. Literally means “from the soldier’s camp”.

Flourished under Akbar. Akbar period architecture developed under his reign..

Jahangir succeeded his father Akbar in 1605. Opposite of his father Poor monarch and warrior but good at maintaining the status quo..

Jahangir married Nur Jahan . She became the real ruler of the empire until the death of her husband..

Shah Jahan succeeded his father in 1627. - Better ruler than Jahangir. - Restored the efficiency of government. - Recovered territories. - Maintained peace - Foreign traders were allowed into India and trade increased considerably. - The empire was expanded..

Shah Jahan built it in honor of his wife who died during childbirth. Took over a decade to build and it nearly bankrupted the empire. Video: 7-9.

Aurangzeb ascended the throne after disposing his father and beating out his two brothers. Despot - severely persecuted Hindus of Northern India. Empire declines under his reign He removed the tax-free status for Hindus Restored Jizya tax - Destroyed Hindu temples - Crushed semi-autonomous Hindu states Primary Interest - Promote Islam vs. tolerance.

Very old when he took the throne The empire was already fragmented by this point. Easy target for invasion – Persians and British. The death of Aurangzeb and the short reign of his son led to the end of the Mughal empire and the beginning of British Rule..