The Mughal Empire in India Early History of

The Mughal Empire in India

Early History of the Mughals • 1000 - after 300 years of clashes, Turks invade India – Delhi becomes capital of Turkish warlords – Sultans treated Hindus as conquered people

Babur Founds an Empire • Babur– 11 year old – Inherited Uzbekistan and Tajikistan- taken away by elders – Babur goes south and builds an army- takes India and sets stage for Mughal empire

Babur Founds an Empire • Babur leads 12, 000 troops and defeats over 100, 000 troops of the sultan of Dehli • Takes over India

Akbar Takes Over Babur’s grandson 13 when he takes over Strong military- heavy artillery Smart- appoints potential enemies and captured people as officers in his military, creating allies • Unifies a land of over 100 million people • •

Akbar’s Rule • Religious freedom – Married a Hindu princess, cuts taxes on Hindus, hires Jesuit to tutor his son • Anyone could rise to high office in the government • Introduces a graduated income tax – Based on percentage of peasant’s crops – Because it was fair and affordable, more people paid it

Blended Cultures • Akbar’s court spoke Persian • Commoners spoke Hindi (most of India speaks this today) • Army spoke Urdu (now official language of Pakistan) • Arts expanded greatly with outside influence

Jahangir • “Grasper of the World” • Wife, Nur Jahan, actually did most of the ruling – Ruled with iron fist – Sees son Khusrau as key to future power

Khusrau Rebels • Rebels against father- Nur Jahan moves to next son • Khusrau turns to Sikhs for shelter- nonviolent religious group similar to Hinduism and Sufism (Islamic mysticism)

Jahangir’s Response • Pushes Islam but tries to stay other religions • Sikh leader, Guru Arjun, Khusrau • Arjun is arrested and tortured death tolerant of shelters – Ends religious tolerance shown by Jahangir to

Shah Jahan • Assassinated all his possible rivals • Loved 2 things– Architecture and his wife, Mumtaz Mahal • Mahal died in 1631 while giving birth to her 14 th child • Jahan has the Taj Mahal built as a tomb for her

Shah Jahan • The country suffers while he builds these great monuments – Famine hits – Farmers need roads, tools and irrigation, but get taxes instead

Shah Jahan • Falls sick in 1657 • His 4 sons scramble for power – 3 rd son, Aurangzeb, kills his older brother and has his father put in prison – Shah Jahan dies later in prison – Find a mirror in his room angled so he could see the reflection of the Taj Mahal

Aurangzeb’s Reign • Expanded Mughal empire to its greatest size • Oppressed his people by strictly enforcing Islamic laws – Outlawed drinking, gambling, appointed censors to make sure people prayed • Returned tax on Hindus and removed them from positions in his government

Hindus Rebel • Aurangzeb defeats them but never completely • His number of enemies continued to increase the longer he ruled

The Empire’s Decline • Aurangzeb drained the empire of its resources • As the central state weakened, local lords grew • Mughal empire became a figurehead rather than actual ruler • European traders start moving in and developing power