Mughal Empire: Jahangir and Nur Jahan

• Jahangir, son of Akbar, called himself "Grasper of the World"
• Jahangir left the affairs of state to his wife for most of his reign
• Jahangir still held India in a powerful grasp through his wife

Persian Princess Nur Jahan

• Jahangir's wife, Nur Jahan, was a Persian princess
• Nur Jahan was a brilliant politician who understood the use of power
• Nur Jahan viewed Jahangir's Khusrau's son as her ticket to future power
• Nur Jahan installed her father as prime minister in the Mughal court
• Nur Jahan removed Khusrau when he rebelled against his father and shifted her favor to another son

Rejection of Khusrau

• Jahangir promoted Islam in the Mughal state but was tolerant of other religions
• When Khusrau rebelled, Jahangir turned to the Sikhs
• The rejection of Khusrau affected the political future of the empire and was the basis of a religious conflict
• The Sikhs are a nonviolent religious group whose doctrines blended Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sufism

Religious Conflict

• Guru Arjun, the leader of the Sikhs, sheltered and defended Khusrau
• Mughal rulers arrested Arjun and tortured him to death
• The Sikhs became the target of the Mughals' hatred

Shah Jahan

• Shah Jahan, son and successor of Jahangir, had a great passion for beautiful buildings and his wife Mumtaz Mahal
• Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal's marriage was for political reasons, but Shah Jahan genuinely fell in love

Taj Mahal

• To enshrine Mumtaz Mahal's memory, Shah Jahan ordered that the Taj Mahal be built as beautiful as she was
• The Taj Mahal is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the world
• In 1631, Mumtaz Mahal gave birth to her 14th child and died at age 39
• Fine white marble and jewels were gathered from many parts of Asia to build the Taj Mahal

The People Suffer

• There was famine in the land, and farmers needed tools, roads, and irrigation
• The people received taxes to support the building of monuments, extravagant living, and war
• Shah Jahan's country was suffering while he was building monuments

Aurangzeb

• When Shah Jahan became ill in 1657, his four sons scrambled for the throne
• Aurangzeb, the third son, moved first and most decisively
• Aurangzeb executed his older brother, who was his most serious rival, in a bitter civil war
• Aurangzeb arrested his father and put him in prison, where he died several years later

Aurangzeb's Reign

• Aurangzeb was a master of military strategy and an aggressive empire builder
• Aurangzeb ruled from 1658-1707
• Aurangzeb expanded the Mughal holdings to their greatest size
• The power of the empire weakened during Aurangzeb's reign

Oppression of People

• Aurangzeb rigidly enforced Islamic laws, outlawing drinking, gambling, and other activities viewed as vices
• Aurangzeb appointed censors to police his subjects' morals and ensure they prayed at the appointed times
• The loss of power under Aurangzeb was largely due to the oppression of the people
• Aurangzeb tried to erase all the gains Hindus had made under Akbar like bringing back the tax and removing Hindus from high government positions
• These actions outraged the Hindus

Rebellion

• The Hindu Rajputs, whom Akbar had converted from potential enemies to allies, rebelled
• The militant Hindus called Marathas founded their own state in the southwest
• The Sikhs transformed themselves into a militant brotherhood
• Aurangzeb defeated the Hindu Rajputs repeatedly, but never completely
• Aurangzeb captured the Marathas' leader but could never conquer them

Desperate Situation

• Aurangzeb levied oppressive taxes to pay for wars against the increasing numbers of enemies and doubled the taxes on Hindu merchants
• The more territory Aurangzeb conquered, the more desperate his situation became

Consequences

• Over 2 million people died in a famine under Aurangzeb and most of his subjects felt little or no loyalty to him
• By the end of Aurangzeb's reign, he had drained the empire of its resources
• After Aurangzeb's death, his sons fought a war of succession, and the power of local lords grew

Western Foothold

• The Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach India, followed by the Dutch, French, and English
• As the Mughal Empire rose and fell, Western traders slowly built their own power in the region
• The Mughal emperors did not feel threatened by the European traders
• Aurangzeb built trading posts and handed the port of Bombay to the European traders
• This gave India's next conquerors their first foothold in a future empire

Explore the reign of Jahangir and the influence of his wife, Nur Jahan, a Persian princess and brilliant politician. Nur Jahan's rise to power, her father's appointment as prime minister, and the rejection of Khusrau. Also, the religious conflicts during the Mughal Empire.