The document provides biographical information on several Mughal emperors who ruled India from the 16th to 18th centuries, including Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb. It discusses their major military campaigns and territorial expansions. It also describes their contributions to art, architecture, and religious policies. The decline of the Mughal Empire is linked to Aurangzeb's religious intolerance and overexpansion through constant warfare, which drained imperial resources and weakened centralized authority.

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Assignment
 Name:
 Subject: Pak Studies
 Semester : BS I
 Department of chemistry
 Topic: “Decline of Mughal Empire”
date of submission: Jan 4,2020

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EMPEROR ZAHEERUDDIN BABAR:
Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur (February 14, 1483 – December 26, 1530) was a Turko-Mongol Muslim
conqueror from Central Asia who, following a series of setbacks, finally succeeded in laying the basis for
the Mughal dynasty in South Asia. He was a direct descendant of Timur through his father, and a descendant
also of Genghis Khan through his mother. Babur identified his lineage as Timurid and Chaghatay-Turkic,
while his origin, milieu, training, and culture were steeped in Persian culture and so he was largely responsible
for the fostering of this culture by his descendants, and for the expansion of Persian cultural influence in
the Indian subcontinent, with brilliant literary, artistic, and historiographical results. Conquest of the Lodhi
Empire, first Battle of Panipat and batrles against Rajputs were some highlights of his reigning period.
EMEPROR HUMAYUN:
Nasir ud-din Muhammad Humayun (7 March 1508– 17 January 1556) was the second Mughal Emperor who
ruled present day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of norther India from 1530–1540 and again from 1555–
1556. Like his father,Babur, he lost his kingdom early, but with Persian aid, he eventually regained an even
larger one. On the eve of his death in 1556, the Mughal empire spanned one million square kilometers.
He succeeded his father in India in 1530, while his half-brother Kamran Mirza, who was to become a rather
bitter rival, obtained the sovereignty of Kabul andLahore, the more northern parts of their father’s empire. He
originally ascended the throne at the age of 22 and was somewhat inexperienced when he came to power.
Humayun lost Mughal territories to the Pashtun noble, Sher Shah Suri, and, with Persian aid, regained them 15
years later. Humayun’s return from Persia, accompanied by a large retinue of Persian noblemen, signaled an
important change in Mughal court culture, as the Central Asian origins of the dynasty were largely
overshadowed by the influences of Persian art, architecture, language and literature and also there are many
stone carved and Persian language In India from the time of Humayun also thousands of Persian manuscript
in India.
Subsequently, in a very short time, Humayun was able to expand the Empire further, leaving a substantial
legacy for his son, Akbar. His peaceful personality, patience and non-provocative methods of speech earned
him the title Insan-i-Kamil, among the Mughals.

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EMPEROR AKBAR:
Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Akbar, also known as Shanshah Akbar-e-Azam or Akbar the Great (14 October 1542
– 27 October 1605), was the third Mughal Emperor. He was of Timurid descent; the son of
Emperor Humayun, and the grandson of the Mughal Emperor Zaheeruddin Muhammad Babur, the ruler who
founded the Mughal dynasty in India. At the end of his reign in 1605 the Mughal empire covered most of the
northern and central India. He is most appreciated for having a liberal outlook on all faiths and beliefs and
during his era, culture and art reached to zenith as compared to his predecessors.
Akbar was 13 years old when he ascended the Mughal throne in Delhi (February 1556), following the death of
his father Humayun. During his reign, he eliminated military threats from the powerful Pashtun descendants
of Sher Shah Suri, and at the Second Battle of Panipat he decisively defeated the newly self-declared Hindu
king Hemu. It took him nearly two more decades to consolidate his power and bring all the parts of northern
and central India into his direct realm. He influenced the whole of the Indian Subcontinent as he ruled a greater
part of it as an emperor. As an emperor, Akbar solidified his rule by pursuing diplomacy with the
powerful Hindu Rajput caste, and by marrying Rajput princesses.
Akbar’s reign significantly influenced art and culture in the country. He was a great patron of art and
architecture He took a great interest in painting, and had the walls of his palaces adorned with murals. Besides
encouraging the development of the Mughal school, he also patronised the European style of painting. He was
fond of literature, and had several Sanskrit works translated into Persian and Persian scriptures translated in
Sanskrit apart from getting many Persian works illustrated by painters from his court. During the early years of
his reign, he showed intolerant attitude towards Hindus and other religions, but later exercised tolerance
towards non-Islamic faiths by rolling back some of the strict sharia laws. His administration included
numerous Hindu landlords, courtiers and military generals. He began a series of religious debates
where Muslim scholars would debate religious matters
with Hindus, Jains, Zoroastrians and Portuguese Roman Catholic Jesuits. He treated these religious leaders
with great consideration, irrespective of their faith, and revered them. He not only granted lands and money for
the mosques but the list of the recipients included a huge number Hindu temples in north and central India,
Christian churches in Goa. It is reported that he even formed his own religion, known as DIN E ILLAHI,
which consisted of concepts from all faiths embedded into one. However, he eventually himself gave up
practicing his religion and reverted back to Islam.
EMPEROR JAHANGIR:
Born as Prince Muhammad Salim, he was the third and eldest surviving son of Mughal Emperor Akbar.
Akbar's twin sons, Hasan and Hussain, died in infancy. His mother was the Rajput Princess of Amber,
Jodhabai (born Rajkumari Hira Kunwari, eldest daughter of Raja Bihar Mal or Bharmal, Raja of Amber,
India).

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Jahangir was a child of many prayers. It is said to be by the blessing of Shaikh Salim Chisti (one of the revered
sages of his times) that Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar's first surviving child, the future Jahangir, was born. He
was born at the dargah of the Shaikh Salim Chisti, within the fortress at FatehpurSikri near Agra. The child
was named Salim after the darvesh and was affectionately addressed by Akbar as Sheikhu Baba.
Akbar developed an emotional attachment with the village Sikri (abode of Chishti). Therefore, he developed
the town of Sikri and shifted his imperial court and residence from Agra to Sikri, later renamed as
FatehpurSikri.Akbar ensured that his son received the best education possible. Salim started his studies at the
age of four and was taught Farsi, Turkish, Arabic, Urdu, history, arithmetic, geography and other sciences by
important tutors like Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan, a renowned soldier and scholar.
Jahangir was responsible for ending a century long struggle with the state of Mewar.The campaign against the
Rajputs was pushed so extensively that the latter were made to submit and that too with a great loss of life and
property.Jahangir also thought of capturing the fort of Kangra, which Akbar had failed to do so. Consequently
a siege was laid, which lasted for fourteen months, and the fort w
He health of H.M Jahangir was completely shattered due on account of too much of drinking. He was trying to
restore it by visiting Kashmir and Kabul. He went from Kabul to Kashmir but returned to Lahore on account of
severe cold.
H.M Jahangir died on the way in 1627 and buried in a tomb garden at Shahdara-Lahore, Pakistan.H.M
Jahangir was succeeded by his third son, Prince Khurram who took the title of Shah Jahan. H.M Jahangir's
elegant mausoleum is located in the Shahdara, Lahore now its become a popular tourist attraction in Lahore.
EMPEROR SHAH JAHAN:
Born On: January 5, 1592
Died On: January 22, 1666
He was the Founder of the magnificent monument Taj Mahal, Also associated with the Red Fort of Delhi,
Jama Masjid of Delhi, Section of Agra Fort, the Wazir Khan Mosque and the Moti Masjid in Lahore, Pakistan
Shah Jahan, his name along with the name of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, being synonymous with the existence
and ever growing popularity of Taj Mahal, was a Mughal Emperor of the Southern Asia who reigned from
1627 to 1658. Born as Prince Shihab-ud-din Muhammad Khurram in the Lahore, Pakistan of 1592, Shah Jahan
was the son of Emperor Jahangir. His name Khurram, which means "joyful" in Persian, was given to him by
his grandfather Akbar the Great. Displaying great military skills at an early age against numerous enemies
including Mewar, the Lodi in the Deccan, and Kangra, impressed his father so much that Shah Jahan received
the title "Shah Jahan Bahadur" from him. He wasn't just a sharp military leader, but also had an exceptional
talent for building and proved it by re-designing buildings within the Agra fort. Among many titles he had
earned, "The Builder of the Marvels" was one that was about to be proved the most deserving in the time to
come.
The most significant part of Shah Jahan's life history began in 1607 when he was 15 and was betrothed to
ArjumandBanu Begum, the granddaughter of a Persian noble and was just 14 at that time. After they got

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married in 1612, Arjumand became the unquestioned love of his life. Khurram, upon finding her appearance
and character elect among all the women of the time, bestowed her with the title of Mumtaz Mahal, meaning
"Jewel of the Palace". Although Mumtaz was one among the few wives Shah Jahan had had, according to the
official court chronicler Qazwini, the relationship with his other wives "had nothing more than the status of
marriage. The intimacy, deep affection, attention and favor which His Majesty had for the Cradle of
Excellence (Mumtaz) exceeded by a thousand times what he felt for any other". She was his inseparable
companion, accompanying him even on military ventures, a trusted confidante and their relationship was
intense.
After she died in 1631 while giving birth to their 14th child, Shah Jahan undertook the work of constructing
world's most beautiful monument in her memory. This monument, which entombs Mumtaz Mahal as well as
Shah Jahan, came to be known as "Taj Mahal", the building of which took 22 years and 22000 laborers. It was
in 1657 that Shah Jahan fell ill, and Dara, Mumtaz Mahal's eldest son assumed responsibility of his father's
throne. His other son, Aurangzeb, accompanied by his younger brothers Shuja and Murad marched upon Agra
to in order to claim their share. They defeated Dara's armies and declared their father Shah Jahan incompetent
to rule and put him under house arrest in Agra Fort. After Shah Jahan died in 1666 in captivity, his body was
taken quietly by two men and was laid beside Mumtaz. Apart from the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders
of the World, the Red Fort of Delhi, Jama Masjid of Delhi, Section of Agra Fort, the Wazir Khan Mosque and
the Moti Masjid in Lahore, Pakistan, are some of the noble structures associated with the name of Shah Jahan,
meaning "King of the World" in Persian.
EMPEROR AURANGZEB:
Aurangzeb was the third son of the fifth emperor Shah Jahan and ArjumandBanu Begum (also known as
Mumtaz Mahal). After a rebellion by his father, part of Aurangzeb's childhood was spent as a virtual hostage at
his grandfather Jahangir's court.
From the start of his reign up until his death, Aurangzeb engaged in almost constant warfare. He built up a
massive army, and began a program of military expansion along all the boundaries of his empire.Aurangzeb
pushed into the north-west — into the Punjab and what is now Afghanistan. He also drove south, conquering
Bijapur and Golconda, his old enemies. He attempted to suppress the Maratha territories, which had recently
been liberated by ChhatrapatiShivaji.
But the combination of military expansion and religious intolerance had far deeper consequences. Though he
succeeded in expanding Mughal control, it was at an enormous cost in lives and to the treasury. And, as the
empire expanded in size, the chain of command grew weaker.The Sikhs of the Punjab grew both in strength
and numbers in rebellion against Aurangzeb's armies. When the now weakened Muslim kingdoms of Golconda
and Bijapur fell beneath Aurangzeb's might, the Marathas waged a war with Aurangzeb which lasted for 27
years.Even Aurangzeb's own armies grew restive — particularly the fierce Rajputs, who were his main source
of strength. Aurangzeb gave a wide berth to the Rajputs, who were mostly Hindu. While they fought for
Aurangzeb during his life, on his death they immediately revolted against the Empire, an essential after-effect
of Aurangzeb's Islamic fundamentalist policies.
With much of his attention on military matters, Aurangzeb's political power waned, and his provincial
governors and generals grew in authority.From the start of his reign up until his death, Aurangzeb engaged in

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almost constant warfare. He built up a massive army, and began a program of military expansion along all the
boundaries of his empire.
Aurangzeb pushed into the north-west — into the Punjab and what is now Afghanistan. He also drove south,
conquering Bijapur and Golconda, his old enemies. He attempted to suppress the Maratha territories, which
had recently been liberated by ChhatrapatiShivaji.But the combination of military expansion and religious
intolerance had far deeper consequences. Though he succeeded in expanding Mughal control, it was at an
enormous cost in lives and to the treasury. And, as the empire expanded in size, the chain of command grew
weaker.The Sikhs of the Punjab grew both in strength and numbers in rebellion against Aurangzeb's armies.
When the now weakened Muslim kingdoms of Golconda and Bijapur fell beneath Aurangzeb's might, the
Marathas waged a war with Aurangzeb which lasted for 27 years.Even Aurangzeb's own armies grew restive
— particularly the fierce Rajputs, who were his main source of strength. Aurangzeb gave a wide berth to the
Rajputs, who were mostly Hindu. While they fought for Aurangzeb during his life, on his death they
immediately revolted against the Empire, an essential after-effect of Aurangzeb's Islamic fundamentalist
policies.
With much of his attention on military matters, Aurangzeb's political power waned, and his provincial
governors and generals grew in authority.Although his father's rule was generally peaceful, the empire was
experiencing challenges by the end of his reign. Shah Jahan reversed this trend by putting down a [Islamic]
rebellion in Ahmednagar, repulsing the Portuguese in Bengal, capturing the Rajput kingdoms of Baglana and
Bundelkhand to the west and the northwest beyond the Khyber Pass. Shah Jahan's military campaigns drained
the imperial treasury.[citation needed] Under his rule, the state became a huge military machine and the nobles
and their contingents multiplied almost fourfold, as did the demands for more revenue from the peasantry. It
was however a period of general stability — the administration was centralised and court affairs systematised.
Historiography and the arts increasingly became instruments of propaganda, where beautiful artworks or
poetry expressed specific state ideologies which held that central power and hierarchical order would create
balance and harmony. The empire continued to expand moderately during his reign but the first signs of an
imperial decline were seen in the later years.
Many subjects rebelled against Aurangzeb's policies, among them his own son, Prince Akbar.In 1667, the
Yusufzai Pashtuns revolted near Peshawar and were crushed.In 1669, the Jats around Mathura revolted and led
to the formation of Bharatpur state after his death.In 1670, ChhatrapatiShivaji had opened the war against the
Mughals. He opposed Aurangzeb with full strength and stopped him from entering the Deccan.
In 1672 the Satnamis, a Kabirpanthi sect concentrated in an area near Delhi, staged an armed revolt, taking
over the administration of Narnaul, and defeating Mughal forces in an advance on Delhi. Aurangzeb sent an
army of ten thousand, including his Imperial Guard, and put the rebellion down.Soon afterwards the Afridi
Pashtuns in the north-west also revolted, and Aurangzeb was forced to lead his army personally to Hasan
Abdal to subdue them.When Maharaja Jaswant Singh of Jodhpur died in 1679, a conflict ensued over who
would be the next Raja. Aurangzeb's choice of a nephew of the former Maharaja was not accepted by other
members of Jaswant Singh's family and they rebelled, but in vain. Aurangzeb seized control of Jodhpur. He
also moved on Udaipur, which was the only other state of Rajputana to support the rebellion. There was never
a clear resolution to this conflict, although it is noted that the other Rajputs, including the celebrated
Kachhwaha Rajput clan of Raja Jai Singh, the Bhattis, and the Rathores, remained loyal. On the other hand,
Aurangzeb's own third son, Prince Akbar, along with a few Muslim Mansabdar supporters, joined the rebels in
the hope of dethroning his father and becoming emperor. The rebels were defeated and Akbar fled south to the
shelter of the Maratha ChhatrapatiSambhaji, ChhatrapatiShivaji's successor.

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Aurangzeb ruled India for 48 years. He was the only Mughal emperor to be seen at par with the Ottoman
emperors in wealth and power. He brought a larger area under Mughal rule than ever before. He is generally
regarded as the last Great Mughal ruler. His constant wars, however, left the empire dangerously overextended,
isolated from its strong Rajput allies, and with a population that (except for the orthodox Sunni Muslim
minority) was resentful, if not outright rebellious, against his reign. His last twenty five years were spent
fighting in the Deccan till his death in 1707.H.M Aurangzeb Alamgir led an extremely simple and pious life.
He followed Muslim precepts with his typical determination, and even memorized the entire Qur'an. He
knitted Haj caps and copied out the Qur'an throughout his life and sold these anonymously. He used only the
proceeds from these to fund his modest resting place. He died in Ahmednagar on Friday, February 20 1707 at
the age of 88, having outlived many of his children. His modest open-air grave in Khuldabad expresses his
strict and deep interpretation of Islamic beliefs.His reign saw several rebellion movements like the SIKH
REBELLION AND THE PASHTUN REBELLION. War against the MARAHTAS was also one of the most
significant events of his reign.
REASONS FOR THE DECLINE OF
THE MUGHAL EMPIRE:
The Mughal Empire which had reached its zenith, began to decline after the reign of Aurangzeb.
There were many causes for the downfall of the Mughal Empire.
Aurangzeb’s responsibility: Aurangzeb was largely responsible for the downfall of the Mughal
Empire. His predecessors did a lot to win over the loyalty of his subjects, but Aurangzeb being a
Fanatic could not tolerate the non-Muslims. He imposed jaziya and forbade the celebrations of
Hindu Festivals. He thus lost friendship and loyalty with the Rajputs. His execution of the Sikh
guru and his enmity with the Marathas forced them to raise forces against him. His excessive
obsession with the Deccan destroyed Mughal army, treasure and also affected his health.
Aurangzeb being a Fanatic Sunni Muslim, could not even tolerate the Shias. He laid too much of
stress on simplicity and was against singing, dancing and drinking which were common habits of
the Muslim nobles. Aurangzeb, thus ‘himself gave a green signal to the forces of decay’. After
the death of Aurangzeb, the mighty empire disintegrated into smaller states.
Weak successors: The successors of Aurangzeb were both weak and incompetent. They spent
more time on their harems and pleasure and soon lost control of the state,

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No Definite Law of Succession: There was no definite law of succession during the Mughal
Empire. After the death of every Emperor, there ensued a bloody war of succession amongst his
sons. Each one, used nobles and members of the royal household to get the throne. This created
anarchy. This made the Mughal power weak and vulnerable.
Poor Economy: The Economic condition of the Mughal Empire was ruined because of constant
wars. They spent money lavishly on buildings and monuments. Finally the foreign invasions
completely shattered the economy.
Moral Degradation of Soldiers: The Mughal soldiers had wealth and luxury, which made them
lazy, corrupt and inefficient. They were pleasure-giving and easygoing. Often they were also
disloyal. They sometimes fought only for money and easily got succumbed to bribes.
Rise of New Powers: New Powers such as the Sikhs, the Jhats and the Marathas came onto the
scene. They broke off from the Mughal domination and established their independent states.
Coming of Europeans: The Europeans, especially British played a major role in putting an end
to the Mughal Empire. They obtained a firman to trade with India. Gradually, the started
interfering with Indian politics, gradually the established a British Empire in India which lasted
for about 200 years.
Foreign Invasions: The invasions of Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali proved fatal to the
Mughal Empire. India also became an easy prey for foreign rulers.

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