HISTORY CHAPTER 4 The Mughal Empire Mughal is

HISTORY CHAPTER 4 The Mughal Empire

• Mughal is the Persian word for Mongols. • Taking the advantage of absence of a strong central power, Babur established the Mughal rule in Delhi. • The Mughal ruled in Delhi for around 250 years. • The Mughal empire expanded to almost the whole of the Indian subcontinent.

• THE EARLY MUGHALS : • Babur ( 1526 - 1530 CE): Babur was born in 1483 CE. His full name was Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur. He was the descendant of Timur and Chengiz Khan. He was invited by King Rana Sanga of Mewar and Daulat Khan Lodi, the Governor of Punjab. • The First Battle of Panipat ( 1526 CE): Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi. Babur combined his artillery( branch of army using heavy guns) with his cavalry to win battles. Indian soldiers were familiar with big guns, but not the artillery and muskets.

• The Battle of Khanua (1527 CE): Rana Sanga and Babur met at the Battle of Khanua near Fatehpur Sikri. Rana Sanga was defeated. Babur also defeated the Afghans on the bank of the river Ghagra (1529 CE). His empire was spread from Kabul to Bihar. • Babur’s Children : Humayun, Kamran Mirza, Hindal Mirza, Askari Mirza and Gulrukh Begum.

• Babur’s Character: We know about Babur from Baburnama. Babur was a scholar, a shrewd( having sharp power of judgement) observer and a poet with a sensitive understanding of the fine arts. He looked upon the Hindus as non-believers: but unlike some of his successors, he never persecuted ( ill treatment)them.

• Humayun ( 1530 -1540 CE) and 1555 -1556 CE: • Humayun came to power in 1530 CE. Humayun tried to enlarge his empire by annexing present-day Gujarat, parts of Rajasthan and Bihar. He had face strong opposition from his own brothers, the Afghan nobles and Bahadur Shah of Guajarat.

• Sher Khan was the Afghan governor of presentday Bihar. In 1539 CE, Sher Khan defeated Humayun in the Battle of Chausa. In 1540 CE, again Humayun was defeated in the Battle of Kannauj. Humayun fled to Sind, and then to Persia, where he remained in exile for 15 years. His son Akbar, was born during this exile in Sind. • In 1555 CE, Humayun captured Lahore and occupied Delhi and Agra. He died in 1556 CE after a sudden fall from the stairs of his library in Delhi. • Sons: Akbar, Mirza Muhamad Hakim, Al-aman Mirza and Farrukh- Fal Mirza.

• Sher Shah Suri ( 1540 - 1545 CE): Sher Khan ( Farid Khan) assumed the title of Sher Shah Suri. He ruled for five years. • He was a good administrator. He brought crime under control. He built the Grand Trunk Road ran for 3000 km from East Bengal to Peshawar, passing through Agra, Delhi and Lahore. He had powerful central army. Sher Shah introduced the silver rupee called the rupiya. Gold coins called mohur and copper coins called dam were minted. He died while fighting the Chandelas in Kalinjar. He was 75. The rule of one of the best ruler ended. India enjoyed peace and stability during the reign of Sher Shah Suri.

• Akbar ( 1556 - 1605 CE) : Akbar was born in 1542 Ce in Amarkot. He was only 13 years old when he was crowned emperor in 1556 CE. Bairam Khan took care of the empire upto 1561 CE. • Adil Shah’s ( Sher Shah Suri’s nephew) general Hemu occupied Delhi and Agra. In the Second Battle of Panipat in 1556 CE, Hemu was defeated. Akbar shifted his capital to Agra.

• Conquests: By 1601 CE, the Mughal Empire stretched from Afghanistan to Bengal and from Kashmir to the Deccan. He had a strong administrative system. He also followed a policy of religious tolerance, got support from the Rajputs and the Sikhs. • Administration: The emperor was helped by the cabinet. Wazir was the principal advisor. Diwan was the incharge of revenue and finance. Mir bakshi was the pay master of army. Qazi was the highest judicial head and looked after education. Sadr- i- sudar was in charge of religious endowments.

• Provinces: There were 15 provinces or subas. Head was governor or subedar. Provinces – sarkars- paraganas- several villages. There was uniformity in all the provinces. • Military : Mansabdari system( mansab means rank)- Jagir- piece of land was given according to zat or rank. Maintained horses for the emperor’s use. Size of the jagir depended on zat and savar ( how many horses were kept). He also did the branding of horses.

• Land Revenue: Raja Todar Mal was the chief revenue officer. • Tax was different for different quality land ( four types). • Revenue was paid yearly. • One-third of the average production. • Paid in cash or kind. • Tax was collected forcibly if not paid in time.

• Rajput Policy: To be accepted as the monarch in India, the support of the Rajput was important. He gave important posts to the Rajputs and other Hindus. Raja Todar Mal, Raja Birbal, Raja Bihari Mal, his son Bhagawan Das and grandson Man Singh were present in Akbar’s court. Akbar gave complete freedom to the Rajputs for religion, build temples, celebrate festivals and follow their traditions. • Religious Policy: Akbar abolished the religious tax on the non-Muslims, the jaziya. Married Hindu princes. Mariam-uz-Zamani ( Hira Kunwari, Harkha Bai, Jodha Bai) the daughter of Raja Bihari Mal or Bharmal of Amber ( Jaipur) was married by Akbar. Their son Salim became emperor Jahangir. In 1575 CE, Akbar opened the Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri. Akbar founded his own religion Din-i-Ilahi or ‘Divine faith’. It stressed belief in one god.

• Art and Culture: Akbar was a great patron of art. In his court were the navaratnas or ‘nine jewels’. Mian Tansen, Abul Fazal, Birbal ( Mahesh Das) , Todar Mal, Man Singh, Mulla Do- Piyaza, Shaik Faizi, Fakir Aziao-Din and Abdul Rahim Khan-IKhana. Abul Fazal wrote Akbarnama. • Architecture: Akbar was a prolific ( plentiful) builder. At the new capital Fatehpur Sikri we can see the beautiful blend of Indian, Persian and Central Asian styles of architecture. • Death of Akbar: on 27 October 1605, Akbar died of dysentery. • Akbar’s Children: Jahangir, Murad Mirza, Daniyal Mirza, Hussain, Hassan

• Jahangir ( 1605 - 1627 CE): Prince Salim , the eldest son of Akbar assumed the title of Jahangir and ascended the throne of Delhi as the fourth Mughal ruler. He had to control his rebellious son Khusrau. • The fifth Guru Arjan Dev aided Khusrau. Jahangir executed ( carry out a sentence of death) Arjan Dev. The Struggle between the Sikhs and the Mughals lasted for long. • Children: Khusrau Mirza, Bahar Banu Begum, Shah Jahan, Shahryar Mirza, Parviz Mirza

• FOREIGN INFLUENCES AND INTERACTIONS: • Number of Europeans came to India namely the Portuguese, the British and the Dutch. The Portuguese started attacking Mughal ships. Jahangir supported the British and the Dutch. In 1608 CE, Captain William Hawkins arrived at Surat with a letter from King James I of Great Britain seeking permission for trade. He stayed in Jahangir’s court for three years. In 1614 CE, Sir Thomas Roe was sent by James I as the British ambassador to the court of Jahangir. He stayed on till 1618 CE. Sir Thomas Roe laid the foundation for the British East India Company’s trade.

• Nur Jahan : In 1611 CE, Jahangir married Mihrunnisa, the widow of Sher Afghan Jagirdar of Bengal. She was the chief queen and gave her the title of Nur Jahan ( light of the world). She exerted her authority in all matters including coins issued in her name. • THE ISSUE OF COINS: Jahangir issued many silver and gold coins. Some having his image and some his and his wife’s.

• The last days of Jahangir: Jahangir wrote his autobiography called Tuzuk-i- Jahangiri. In 1622 CE, his health declined and the usual war of succession began amongst his three surviving sons ( Prince Khurram , Khusrau Mirza, Shahryar Mirza, Parviz Mirza, Jahandar Mirza). Shah Jahan became the next ruler.

• Shah Jahan ( 1628 - 1658 CE): Prine Khurram took the title Shahabuddin Mohammed Shah Jahan. He was born in 1592 CE to princess Manmati of Marwar. In 1612 CE , Shah Jahan married Mumtaz Mahal. • Campaigns: Started campaigns against Mewar, Kangra and Deccan Kingdoms. In Bengal more than 10, 000 Portugese were killed and many imprisoned. Tried to capture Kandahar and Balkh, but could not. • There was famine and plague in Deccan, Gujarat and Khandesh. Shah Jahan helped the people.

• Architecture: Mumtaz Mahal died in 1631 CE, Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal. • Administration: Continued the mansabdari system. • European visitors: French travellers Barnier and Travernier, Italian traveller Nicolas Menucci and English visitors visited the court of Shah Jahan. • The End of Shah Jahan’s Rule: In 1657 CE, Shah Jahan fell seriously ill. His four sons Dara Sikoh, Shuja, Murad and Aurangzeb battled for the throne. Aurangzeb won. The Agra fort was surrendered to Aurangzeb and he made his father a prisoner for life. Shah Jahan died in 1666 CE at the age of 74.

• Aurangzeb ( 1658 -1707 CE): Aurangzeb was the third son of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. • His empire was the biggest anyone had ever ruled in India. He was always at war. First half in the northern territory and second half trying to annex the Deccan. • Religious Policy: Discontinued the policy of religious tolerance. He reimposed the jaziya. Many revolts in Delhi, Gujarat and Burhanpur. The Marathas, Jats, Satnamis, and Rajputs also rose in protest at his discriminatory policy.

• Rajput policy: Aurangzeb tried to annex Rajput kingdoms and waged several battles against them. He lost the loyalty and support of the Rajputs and money, time and many of his generals. • Deccan policy: He spent 26 years to control Deccan, but could not control. Developed the hostile situation with the Marathas Shaji and Shivaji. Aurangzeb won Bijapur in 1681 CE and Golkonda in 1687 CE. But Aurangzeb suffered heavy loss of soldiers and money.

• Conflicts elsewhere: Assam, Cooch Bihar, the Afghans, the Jats, the Satnamis and the Bunddal troubled Aurangzeb. The execution of the ninth Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur by him made the Sikhs take up arms against him. Under Guru Gobind Singh, Sikhs fought bitterly with Aurangzeb. • Character: Strictly followed Quran. Prayers and fasting strictly followed. Suspicious, cunning and cold in temperament. His ability as a general declined in later years.