Mughal Empire: History and Administration

Founding and Expansion

• Founded by Babur in 1526 after defeating the last ruler of the Lodi dynasty, Ibrahim Lodi, in the First Battle of Panipat
• Expanded rapidly under Babur's successors, particularly Akbar the Great (1556-1605), who conquered much of northern India
• Empire reached its peak during the rule of Shah Jahan (1628-1658) and Aurangzeb (1658-1707)

Administrative and Military Organization

• Subahs: The empire was divided into provinces, each governed by a subahdar (governor) responsible for administration, taxation, and military command
• ** Mansabdari system**: A hierarchical system of rank and salary for nobles and officials, with mansabdars holding military and administrative positions
• Ahadi and Du-Aspah systems: A system of military organization, with cavalrymen and infantrymen organized into units and brigades

Economy and Culture

• Agriculture: The Mughal Empire was an agrarian economy, with a strong emphasis on agriculture and irrigation systems
• Trade and commerce: The empire was a major center of trade, with trade routes connecting India to Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe
• Architecture and art: The Mughals developed a distinct style of architecture, blending Indian, Persian, and Islamic influences, as seen in the Taj Mahal and Red Fort
• Literature and education: The Mughals patronized scholars and poets, with a focus on Persian, Arabic, and Urdu literature

Decline and Legacy

• Mughal-Maratha Wars: A series of conflicts with the Maratha Empire (1680-1707) weakened the Mughal Empire
• British East India Company: The company's growing influence and territorial expansion further eroded Mughal power
• Legacy: The Mughal Empire left a lasting legacy in Indian politics, architecture, art, literature, and cuisine

Founding and Expansion

• Babur founded the Mughal Empire in 1526 after defeating Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat
• The empire expanded rapidly under Babur's successors, particularly Akbar the Great who conquered much of northern India from 1556 to 1605
• The empire reached its peak during the rule of Shah Jahan from 1628 to 1658 and Aurangzeb from 1658 to 1707

Administrative and Military Organization

• The empire was divided into provinces called subahs, each governed by a subahdar responsible for administration, taxation, and military command
• The mansabdari system was a hierarchical system of rank and salary for nobles and officials, with mansabdars holding military and administrative positions
• The Ahadi and Du-Aspah systems were used for military organization, with cavalrymen and infantrymen organized into units and brigades

Economy and Culture

• The Mughal Empire was an agrarian economy, with a strong emphasis on agriculture and irrigation systems
• The empire was a major center of trade, with trade routes connecting India to Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe
• The Mughals developed a distinct style of architecture, blending Indian, Persian, and Islamic influences, as seen in the Taj Mahal and Red Fort
• The Mughals patronized scholars and poets, with a focus on Persian, Arabic, and Urdu literature

Decline and Legacy

• The Mughal-Maratha Wars weakened the Mughal Empire from 1680 to 1707
• The growing influence and territorial expansion of the British East India Company further eroded Mughal power
• The Mughal Empire left a lasting legacy in Indian politics, architecture, art, literature, and cuisine