WORLD HISTORY READERS Level 5 THE MUGHAL EMPIRE

WORLD HISTORY READERS Level 5 -③ THE MUGHAL EMPIRE

The Beginnings How long did the Mughal Empire last? Why was the Mughal Empire special? It lasted for almost 350 years. Map of the Mughal Empire It was one of the greatest empires India has ever seen. The Mughal Empire united many tribes in India. The Mughals oversaw India’s greatest flourishing of art, culture, architecture, and imperial strength, especially in the 16 th and 17 th centuries. Where does the Mughal Empire get its name? Three different Indian religions together: Muslim, Sikh, and Hindu Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, was descended from the Mongol emperor Genghis Khan and the Mongol-Turkish emperor Timur. It is from this connection that the Mughal Empire gets its name. In Persian, Mughal means Mongolian. Babur of India

Babur (1483 -1530) How did Babur expand the Mughal Empire? Babur wanted to control Samarkand, but he could not. So he turned his attentions to other places. In 1504, Babur captured the city of Kabul in modernday Afghanistan. From his base in Kabul, he moved south into India. Modern-day Kabul, Afghanistan What happened in India? A Rajput horseman As he moved south into India, Babur defeated the Lodi army using skillful strategies against a much larger army. Victory at the Battle of Panipat brought Babur the prized cities of Delhi and Agra. However, the Lodi army of Delhi was not his only enemy. The Rajput army also wanted to control Delhi. Babur defeated the Rajputs at Khanwa in March 1527. Over the next three years, Babur occupied most of northern India. What happened after Babur died? His son Humayun became emperor.

Akbar (1542 -1605) Who became emperor after Humayun? Humayun’s son Akbar became emperor in 1556. What did Akbar do? Akbar won back and secured much of the land his grandfather Babur had won. Akbar also expanded the empire. Akbar of India Akbar greeting some Rajputs at his court How did Akbar expand the empire? What was special about Akbar’s empire? He united his empire with that of the Rajputs by marrying a Rajput princess and changing some laws to make Hindus and Muslims more equal. It was the largest in India’s history since the time of Asoka some 1, 300 years previously. It made Akbar the most successful of the Mughal emperors.

Akbar’s Architectural Style What is Akbar known for? He is known for his marvelous palaces. He created his own style of architecture and used craftsmen from all over the region with their different talents. § His most famous palace was in the town of Fatehpur Sikri near Agra. This palace was built from the red stone found there. Fatehpur Sikri served as Akbar’s capital from 1571 -1585. Then it was abandoned for lack of fresh water. § His intelligence is shown in the construction of the Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience). It is a room specifically built so the emperor can speak to someone in private, but people below can hear as well. Fatehpur Sikri near Agra, India A closer look at some of the architecture in Fatehpur Sikri Diwan-i-Khas

Jahangir (1569 -1627) Who became emperor after Akbar? After Akbar’s death in 1605, his son, Jahangir, became emperor. A miniature of a lady What did Jahangir do? Jahangir receiving a guest, 1616 He spent his time advancing the arts. One of the greatest artistic advances in this period was the development of “miniatures. ” These are small paintings that combined Persian and Mughal painting styles.

Shah Jahan (1592 -1666) Who came to power next? Jahangir’s third son, Shah Jahan, became emperor next. Was Shah Jahan’s rule peaceful? What was special about Shah Jahan’s time as emperor? No, he changed Akbar’s policies of equality and tolerance in the empire. He ordered a stricter interpretation of Islam and destroyed many Hindi temples. The Red Fort Agra Fort The Taj Mahal The Shah Jahan period was considered the finest for Mughal architecture. § Among his greatest achievements was moving the Mughal capital to Delhi. There he built the Red Fort, which was the centerpiece of the empire for 200 years. § Shah Jahan also built the Agra Fort and many mosques and gardens. § Shah Jahan’s most famous building was the Taj Mahal. It was built as a tomb for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

Aurangzeb (1618 -1707) Who became emperor after Shah Jahan died? Aurangzeb attacking the city of Golconde in southcentral India Shah Jahan’s son Aurangzeb was the next emperor. What did he want to do? He wanted to expand the Mughal Empire south into the territory of southern India. Was he successful? Aurangzeb on his horse Yes, he expanded the empire greatly, but his control was weak. He had to fight many battles to keep the lands he captured. He also made enemies of the Hindu princes by imposing strict Islamic rule. As a result of his weakness, much of India broke into small semi-independent territories controlled by local officials or landowners.

Nadir Shah Who was Nadir Shah? Koh-i-Noor diamond He was the greatest threat to Aurangzeb’s empire. Nadir Shah became the emperor of Persia in 1736. Nadir Shah on the Peacock Throne Nadir Shah at the capture of Delhi What did Nadir Shah do? In 1739, he took Kabul, the city that had been held by the Mughals since the time of Babur. After this success, Nadir Shah moved south and took Delhi. Many warriors were killed on both sides. From Delhi, he took many jewels and two of the most important possessions of the Mughal emperors: The Peacock Throne and the Koh-i-Noor diamond. He also took many skilled artists and builders as well as thousands of elephants, horses, and camels.

Europeans Battle for India Who took advantage of this? What happened after Aurangzeb died? The empire fell into chaos and continued to get weaker. The British and French British Indian money What did they do? They played one Indian prince off against another to win control for themselves. . What did the British East India Company do? It gained power and influence by offering military support to powerful Indian states. What happened in 1748? The ruler of Hyderabad died. Because of this, the British and French forces fought for control. The British won. Why was this significant? It helped the British gain importance and power. It also lowered the prestige of the French in India.

The End of the Mughal Empire What happened over the next hundred years? The British East India Company expanded to control much of India. British East India Company soldiers defending Delhi, 1857 The Gateway to India, built by the British Raj When did the British East India Company close down? It closed down after the Indian Mutiny in 1858. What happened after the British East India Company closed down? Britain took direct control of India from London. This was called the British Raj (Rule). It was the end of the Mughal Empire. Can we still see the influence of the Mughal Empire in India today? Yes, we can see it everywhere, especially in northern India. Many of India’s most impressive forts and buildings date back to this time. The Mughal Empire left us with a wealth of art, culture, and traditions, all of which form the complex and exciting world we find in modern India.

Vocabulary v architecture n. the art of planning, designing, and constructing buildings v be descended from v. phr. to be born into the family of

Vocabulary v chaos n. a state of utter confusion v diamond n. a hard, bright, precious stone which is clear and colorless

Vocabulary v fort n. a strong building or place made secure enough to be defended during a war v intelligence n. the ability to learn, understand, and make judgments or have opinions that are based on reason

Vocabulary v oversee v. to watch a job or an activity to make sure that it is done correctly v tolerance n. the act of accepting the ways, beliefs, and customs of others