The document summarizes Mughal architecture, art, and music between 900-1707 AD. It states that Mughal architecture reached its peak under Shah Jahan, incorporating elements of Persian, Indian, and Islamic styles. Constructions included forts, mosques, tombs, and palaces built with marble and ornamentation. Painting flourished most under Akbar and Jahangir, who invited artists from across India and Persia. Music was greatly patronized by emperors like Akbar, but declined under Aurangzeb's rule when poets and singers were banished. Famous buildings from this period include the Taj Mahal, Red Fort, and Jama Masjid of Delhi.

1. First BA History
Subject: History
Title of the Paper: History of India(From 900 AD to 1707 AD)
Second Semester
Fifth Unit-ART AND ARCHITECTURE UNDER MUGHALS
Dr.T.Kaliappan
Associate Professor of History
Vivekanada College
Tiruvedakam West, 625234
22-04-2020

2. ART AND ARCHITECTURE UNDER MUGHALS
Although all the Mughal rulers except Aurangzeb took great
interest in architecture, yet Shah Jahan surpasses all in the
field of architecture.
There is no doubt that architecture reached the pinnacle of
its glory during the period of Shah Jahan.

3. Main features of Mughal Architecture:
 Mughal architecture incorporates Indian elements, Persian
and Islamic elements.
 Variety of buildings: The Mughal rulers built magnificent
gates, forts, Mausoleums, Mosques, Palaces, public
buildings and tombs etc.,
 Synthesis of Persian and Indian style
 Large bulbous onion domes, sometimes surrounded by
four smaller domes
 Use of white marble and red stones

4.  Use of delicate ornamentation work, including costly
decorations. Pachin kari decorative work and jail – latticed
screens.
 Monumental buildings surrounded by gardens on all four
sides
 Mosques with large courtyards
 Persian and Arabic Calligraphic inscriptions, including verses
from the Quran
 Large gate ways leading up to the main building

5. Development of architecture under
different Mughal rulers:
Babur:Babur was not impressed by Indian architecture.He
constructed several buildings but only two mosques – one at
Panipat and other at Sambhal have survived. A mosque in
Kabul Bagh and Jami Masjid at Sambhal, have survived to
express his love towards architecture.
Jami Masjid at Sambhal

6.  Humayun and architecture: His mosques of Agra and
Fatehabad are the only specimens of his love towards
architecture.
Humayun Mosque - Fatehabad

7. Akbar
Akbar showed keen interest in architecture and built a large
number of buildings
 He favoured Hindu style in his palaces
 Humayun’s tomb, palaces at Fatehpur Sikri, Jama Masjid,
Buland Darwaza, Mausoleum of Shaikh Salim Chisti,
Panch Mahal and residential palaces of various officials and
queens are his famous building.
 His architecture seems to speak for his statesmanship aiming
at Hindu-Muslim unity.
 Unfortunately many of his monuments were pulled down by
his grandson ShahJahan.
 Akbar used Red stone in the construction of Fatehpur Sikri

8.  The most magnificent of Emperor Akbar’s architectural
undertakings was new capital city of Fatehpur Sikri City of
Victory.
 Several beautiful and spacious buildings could be seen here
even today.
 Among the most famous are: the Buland Darwaza, Jama
Masjid, Diwn-i-Am, Diwan-i-Khas, Panch Mahal, Jodha Bai
palace and the Dargah of Shiek Salim Chisti.
 Fatehpur Sikri is situated about 40 km away from Agra

9.  Buland Darwaza – was built in 1575-76 AD to
commensurate the conquest of Gujarat by Akbar. It is 176
feet high and is still the highest gateway in India.
Buland Darwaza

10.  Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti: Sheikh Salim Chisti was a saint
patron of Akbar. The Tomb is a marble building.
Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti

11.  Panch Mahal: It is an unusual five storied structure of open
pavilion, one upon other, with pillar and roofs. It has a
pyramidal design with the biggest pavilion of 84 pillars at
the base and the top most with only four pillars as the
numbers diminish with each upper storey and each pillar is
of a different design.
.
Panch Mahal

12.  Jahangir: Jahangir was not much interested in
architecture. He liked paintings most. Two important
buildings were raised. One was tomb of Akbar at
Sikandara and other was the Tomb of Itmad-ul-Daula
by Nurjahan over the grave of her father.
Tomb of Akbar at Sikandara

13.  Shah Jahan: Mughal architecture reached its zenith during
the reign of Shah Jahan.
 He made extensive use of marble in his buildings.
 Shah Jahan’s period is usually called the “Golden Age of
Mughal Architecture” – and earned the title prince among
the Builders”.
 His most important and impressive buildings are the Taj
Mahal, Red Fort and Jama Masjid.

14. Taj Mahal (Agra)
The Taj Mahal stands as a creation of superb beauty and
magnificence in Indian architecture. The charmful
Mausoleum, built in pure and white marble was erected by
the emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his beloved wife
Mumtaz Mahal. According to Travenier about 20,000 men
took about 22 years to complete it. The principal architect
was Ustad Isha who was assisted by a number of Hindu
architects.

15. Taj Mahal

16.  Moti Masjid or Pearl mosque at Agra is regarded as “the
purest and novelist house of prayer”
Moti Masjid

17.  Jama Masjid built at Delhi was constructed with red
stone for the use of the royal family.
Jama Masjid delhi

18.  Red fort and some important buildings in it: In the first
among the important buildings are Diwan-i-Khas; the
Rang Mahal, Nahar Bahisti and Diwan-i-Am
Red Fort Delhi

19.  Peacock Throne: This throne, a celebrated work of art
was used for sitting in the court by Shah Jahan.
 The throne had an enamelled canopy supported by 12
pillars, each of which have two peacocks inlaid with
gems.
Peacock Throne

20. Aurangazeb:
The accession of Aurangazeb proved harmful to all arts. He
built only a few buildings and those too were not fine
specimens of architecture.
 Tomb of Rabia-ud-Daurani is the only building worth
mentioning which was constructed by Aurangazeb for his
wife Rubia.
 Aurangazeb built Shahi Masjid at Lahore

21. Tomb of Rabia Daurani

22. Paintings:
The art of painting had not been encouraged by the
Muslim rules of the pre-Mughal period. It was revived
by the Mughal rulers.
 Babur inherited love for painting from his ancestors. He
was a great lover of beauty. He delighted in flowers,
running streams and building springs.
 Humayun: developed a taste for painting when he was
in exile in Persia

23. Mughal painting during Akbar:
 During the reign of Akbar painting made a notable
progress
 He invited painters from every part of India and even
from outside.
 Abdul Samad, Farrukh Beg, Jamshed, Daswant,
Basawan, Sanwal das, Tarachand, Jagannath, Lal,
Mukand, HaHarivansh etc., were among the most
famous painters of the time of Akbar.

24. Miniature painting ~ Emperor Akbar receiving Abdul rahim

25. Akbar

26. Jahangir:
Loved painting very much. Jahangir’s time, the art of painting
reached its climax.
 He established a gallery of painting in his own garden.
 Abul Hasan, Nadir-uz-Zaman, Mansur, Aga Raza,
Muhammad Nadir, Muhammed Murad, Bishan Das,
Manohar, Madhav, Tulsi and Goverdhan were prominent
painters during the reign of Jahanhir.
 After the death of Jahangir painting began to decline.
Because Shah Jahan was interested more in architecture
than in painting.
 Painting declined during the reign of Aurangazeb as it was
prohibited in Quran.
 At the same time Rajput painting flourished in some of the
provinces.

27. Painting of Jahangir

28. Music during the Mughal period:
 The Mughals were great patrons of music
 Babur was very fond of music
 Humayun patronized good musicians
 Akbar was a great patron of music and musicians
 Tansen was famous musician of India, flourished in
Akbar’s time.
 The other famous musicians of Akbar’s reign were – Babu
Ram Das, Baiju Bawra and Sur Das.
 Emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan were also a great
lovers of music
 Aurengazeb banished the poets and singers from the
court.

29. Surdas
Tansen