The Great Mughal Empire declined under Emperor Aurangzeb from 1658-1707. Aurangzeb overextended the empire through wars and strained resources, losing support from Hindu people. He was an intolerant Muslim who faced rebellions from Hindu groups like the Marathas. Aurangzeb's death in 1707 left the empire weak and unstable, making it vulnerable to invasion and allowing the British to eventually gain control of India.

1. The Great Mughal Empire
(Aurangzeb)
Presented by;
Samim Ahmady
Najeebullah
Md.Ashraf
Somveer Sheoran

2. Introduction
 Under the Mughals, India was the heart of a great Islamic empire
and a prolific center of Islamic culture and learning.
 Dynasty was the greatest, richest and longest lasting Muslim
dynasty to rule India.
 Mongol Descendents
 The Great Mughal Emperors were:
 Babur (1526-1530) The First of the Mughals
 Humayun (1530-1556) The Luckless Leader
 Akbar (1556-1605) The Great
 Jehangir (1605-1627) The Paragon of Stability
 Shah Jehan (1627-1658) The Master Builder
 Aurangzeb (1658-1707) The Intolerant

3. Aurangzeb 1659 - 1707
Empire declined under the 6th emperor,
Aurangzeb. Why?
1. Wars of succession with his brothers
2. Orthodox, intolerant Muslim.
Response?
3. Rise of nationalist, independence movements.
Marathas – devout Hindus;Lived in
northern Deccan Plains, proud military ;
Rebellion against Aurangzeb
Shivaji – master of guerilla warfare (tiger
claws story)

4. AurangzebAurangzeb over expanded the empire and strained
his resources.
 Large sums of money and manpower were lost.
 He lost the support of the Hindu people.
 The over expansion of his empire weakened his
administration.
Aurangzeb died in 1707
s son Bahadur Shah succeeded him. Bahadur was so old by
the time he ascended the throne, he only managed to live a
few more years. But at this point in time, the government
was so unstable and so weak, the empire become an easy
target of invasion and exploitation, first by the Persians, and
then by the British.
The death of Aurangzeb and the short reign of his
son led to the end of the Mughal empire and the
beginning of British Rule.

5. Aurangzeb’s Architectural Legacy
Bibi ka Maqbara, Aurangbab 1678
Aurangzeb
Taj Mahal, Agra 1631-1652
Shah Jehan
Built nearly 50 years apart, the Taj Mahal and the Bibi la Maqbara are very
similar in architectural style. Aurangzeb’s other architectural legacy included:
• Moti Masjid (Delhi Fort), Delhi (1659)
• Buri-I-Shamali (Delhi Fort), Delhi
• Badshahi Mosque, Lahore (1674)

7. Mughal Art
 The Mughal Empire and the Great Mughals will
always be remembered as a great influence on the
artistic and cultural life of India. Their architectural
style can still be seen today such as the Taj Mahal
built by Shah Jehan and the buildings at Fatehpur
Sikri.
 The remarkable flowering of art and architecture
under the Mughal Empire is due to several factors.
 The empire provided a secure framework within which
artistic genius could flourish. Both Hindu and Muslim
artists collaborated to produce some of the best Indian
art.
 The empire commanded wealth and resources that
were unparalleled in Indian history.
 The Mughal emperors were themselves patrons of art
whose intellectual ideas and cultural outlook were
expressed in the architecture.

8. • Known for manuscripts and Persian
miniature paintings.
• Very symbolic.
• Involved a lot of nature (birds, flowers,
animals, etc.)
• Very colorful and detailed.
•In 1680 Emporer Shah Jahan banned
music and painting from his court, but he
allowed architectural art, such as the Pearl
Mosque and the Taj Mahal.

9. • Nearly 400 monuments have survived a
time-span of 132 years.
•White marble and red sandstone was
favored.
•Semi-precious gemstones were popular
(jade, crystal, etc.)
• Used arches sparingly.
• Symmetry and balance stressed.
• Used octagons a lot.

10. • Kurta ~ an informal
dress worn by Mughal
men and women.
• Sometimes sewn with
gold or silver threads.
• Cut in long, flowing
panels for comfort;
about knee-length.
• Traditional wear in
Afghanistan, Bangladesh,
India, Pakistan, and Sri
Lanka.

11. The Sikhs
Is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th
century in the Punjab.
 Sikhs – changed from peace loving
to militant due to Aurangzeb’s
persecutions; Gurus killed; letter “K”
long hair, short pants, a comb, a
dagger, an iron disk.
 Surname Singh means “Lion”

12. Effect of Aurangzeb
Imposed Jizya or poll tax again
Trampled all who protested
25 year military campaign to stop rebels
Drained national treasury
1707 death, bitter old man who regretted
the destruction he had caused
Persians sweep in 1739;
1862 last Mughal dies in British prison

13. • Centralized government
system.• Persian art/culture merged
with native Indian art/culture.
• New trade routes with Arabs and
Turks.
• New architectural style.
• Landscape gardening.
• Urdu language
developed from the
fusion of Indian and
Islamic culture.• Urdu = Persian + Arabic +
Turkish