Mughal Dynasty: Foundation and Early Rulers

Foundation and Early Rulers

• The Mughal dynasty was founded in India in the early 16th century.
• Babur, the first Mughal ruler, crossed Afghanistan and reached the Punjab plains in 1526 AD.
• Babur was born in Fergana in 1483 and ascended the throne at a young age.
• Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat.
• Humayun succeeded Babur in 1530 and divided his inheritance equally among his brothers as per Babur's will.
• Humayun started the construction of Purana Qila but could not finish it.
• Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun, forcing him to flee to Iran.
• Humayun died in 1556 due to an accident on the staircase.

Akbar's Reign

• Akbar, Humayun's young son, succeeded him in 1556.
• Akbar expanded the kingdom from Kabul to Bengal.
• In 1571, Akbar built the walled city of Fatehpur Sikri.
• The nine courtiers (Navratnas) held important positions in Akbar's court.
• Akbar started a new religion called Din-i-Ilahi.
• The Second Battle of Panipat crushed Afghan power, leading to the reoccupation of Delhi and Agra.
• Akbar's policy towards the Rajputs aimed to win them over through marriage alliances and friendship, not force with all except Rana Pratap.
• Akbar secured alliances with Rajput states like Amber, Bikaner, Ranthambore, Chanderi, and Jaisalmer.
• Akbar conquered Gujarat in 1578, which increased revenue through trade.

Jahangir and Shah Jahan

• Jahangir succeeded Akbar in 1605.
• Jahangir was the first emperor to open relations with the British East India Company in India.
• Jahangir's Empress, Nur Jahan, wielded significant power behind the throne.
• Shah Jahan, Jahangir's third son born in Lahore in 1592, was a great connoisseur of art and architecture.
• Shah Jahan built monuments such as the Taj Mahal, the Jama Masjid, and the Shalimar Gardens in Srinagar.
• The Peacock Throne was created during Shah Jahan's time.

Aurangzeb and the Decline

• Aurangzeb was the last major emperor to sit on the Mughal throne in 1658.
• Aurangzeb was an autocratic ruler who adhered strictly to Islamic law (Sharia).
• The Mughal Empire reached its zenith during Aurangzeb's rule.
• Revolts by subsidiary rulers challenged the empire's integrity, and by the 17th century, the Mughal Empire had lost its glory.
• Aurangzeb's Deccan policy and imposition of taxes on non-Muslims (Jizya) led to rebellions and instability.

Ancestry and Babur's Early Life

• The Mughals were descendants of two great lineages: Genghis Khan (mother's side) and Timur (father's side).
• Mughals preferred to be known for their Timurid ancestry rather than Mongol.
• Babur inherited the small Central Asian kingdom of Fergana at age 11.
• Babur was driven out by an Uzbek tribe and failed to conquer Samarkand.
• Babur conquered Kabul in 1504.

Babur's Invasion and Conquest of India

• Babur was fascinated by India's wealth and was invited by Daulat Khan Lodi.
• Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the Battle of Panipat in 1526.
• Babur occupied Delhi and made Agra his capital.
• Babur defeated the combined forces of Rana Sanga of Mewar and his allies at Khanwa in 1527.
• Babur conquered Gwalior, Dholpur, and defeated the chief of Chanderi in 1528.
• Babur defeated Afghan chiefs of Bengal and Bihar in 1529, acquiring territories from Indus to Bihar and from the Himalayas to Gwalior within four years.
• Babur died in 1530 and was initially buried in Agra, but his remains were later moved to Kabul.
• Babur was educated in Persian and Arabic and wrote his autobiography, Baburnama, in Turkish.

Humayun's Reign and Struggles

• Humayun struggled to maintain his kingdom and fought with Sher Shah Suri of Bihar and Bahadur Shah of Gujarat.
• Humayun was defeated by Sher Shah at Chausa and Kannauj, becoming a king without a kingdom.
• Humayun wandered in Sindh, Rajasthan, and Persia seeking shelter and help.
• Akbar was born in Amarkot, Sindh, while Humayun was in exile.
• In 1555, Humayun reoccupied Delhi and reestablished his empire in India.
• Humayun died in 1556 due to an accidental fall from the stairs of his library in Purana Qila.

Sher Shah Suri's Administration

• Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun twice and became the Sultan of Delhi.
• Sher Shah was the son of an Afghan jagirdar from Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh.
• Sher Shah's kingdom stretched from Jhelum to Brahmaputra and from the Himalayas to Narmada.
• Sher Shah improved the administration of his territories and had a large standing army and continued the practice of branding horses.
• Sher Shah respected the cultivators and ordered that soldiers not cause injury to standing crops.
• Sher Shah established a monarchical system of government divided into provinces (Subas), Sarkars, Parganas (districts), and villages (Willets).
• The Parganas were under a Shiqdar (law and order) and an Amil or Munsif (revenue collection).
• An efficient spy system kept Sher Shah informed of happenings in his empire.
• Sher Shah was tolerant towards other religions.
• Sher Shah built roads, including the Grand Trunk Road connecting Lahore to Multan and Agra to Jodhpur.
• Sher Shah's revenue system assessed revenue based on land fertility, with the state receiving one-third of the produce.
• Sher Shah aided trade with "sarays", these "safe rest houses" encouraged merchants to travel extensively.
• Sher Shah introduced a new rupee coin called Rupiah.
• Sher Shah's history was written by Abbas Khan in 1579, detailing his administration.
• Sher Shah died in 1545 from a gunpowder explosion while laying siege to the fort of Kalinjar in Bundelkhand.

Akbar's Early Life and Education

• Akbar was born in 1542 in Amarkot when his father, Humayun, was in exile.
• Akbar's tutor was Mullah Asad, and he never learned to read and write but enjoyed hearing others read.
• Akbar was appointed governor of Punjab at age 13 but was more interested in shooting and hunting.
• Abul Fazl wrote Akbamama, of which Ain-i-akbari is a part.
• Ain-i-akbari is an administrative manual providing information about Akbar’s government.

Explore the establishment of the Mughal dynasty in India during the 16th century. Learn about Babur's reign, his victory at Panipat, and Humayun's challenges and succession. Discover Akbar's expansion of the kingdom and his religious innovations.