The Mughal School of Miniature Painting originated during the reigns of emperors like Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan in the 16th-17th centuries. They patronized artists who created paintings blending Islamic, Persian, and Indian styles. Many miniatures were made for the emperors depicting nature, portraits, and scenes based on their commissions. Artists lived and worked separately in the palaces, producing art that reflected Mughal tastes and culture.

1. Mughals
History
Grade 5

2. Medieval
Age

3. Mughal Era-1556C.E to 1857

4. Time Line
Defeated
Ibrahim Lodi
Babur
Son of Babur
Humayun
Defeated Rana Pratap
at the Battle of
Haldighati
Akbar
Jahangir
Wife Nur Jahan
Aurangzeb
Decline of the
Mughal Empire
Built the Taj
Mahal
Shah Jahan

5. Timeline
Table
1526-1530
1530-1556
1556-1605
1605-1627
1627-1658
Babur
Humayun
Akbar
Jahangir
Shah Jahan
1658-1707
1707-11712 followed by numerous rulers
Aurangzeb
Bahadur Shah Zafar
Did not follow
primogeniture
Bahadur Shah 1
1837-1857 Last Ruler of the Mughal Dynasty

6. Mughals
Mughal history in India spans from
1526 CE to 1857 CE. With a firm
foundation for its administration, the
Mughals were able to establish a solid
economy and flourishing trade. The
Mughal Empire in India was
established by Babur.
Ruling a large territory as the Indian subcontinent
involving such a diversity of people and cultures was
an extremely difficult task to accomplish in the Middle
Ages. However, in contrast to their predecessors, the
Mughals created an empire and accomplished what
had before seemed possible for only short periods of
time. From the latter half of the 16th century, they
expanded their kingdom from Agra and Delhi, going
on to control nearly all of the subcontinent in the 17th
century. They imposed structures of administration
and ideas of governance that outlasted their rule. It
left a political legacy, which the succeeding rulers of
the subcontinent could not ignore.

7. Babur
Establishes the Mughal Empire
01

8. Babur
Defeats Ibrahim
Lodi
Captures Delhi
The battle that followed, now
known as the First Battle of
Panipat, marked the fall of the
Delhi Sultanate. With superior
tactics and firepower, Babur
crushed Lodi's army, killing the
sultan and 20,000 of his men.
In March 1527 at the
Battle of Khanwa,
Babur's army managed
to deal the Rajputs a
huge defeat.
Zahir-ud-din Muhammad, nicknamed "Babur" or "Lion," was born into the
Timurid royal family in Andijan, now in Uzbekistan, on February 14, 1483. His
father Umar Sheikh Mirza was the Emir of Ferghana. In 1521, a perfect
opportunity for southern expansion presented itself to Babur. The sultan of
the Delhi Sultanate, Ibrahim Lodi, was hated and reviled by his citizens. After
just four years of Lodi's rule, the Afghan nobility was so fed up with him that they
invited the Timurid Babur to come to the Delhi Sultanate and depose him.

9. Humayun
Regains the Mughal Empire from Sher Shah Suri
02

10. Humayun
Defeated by Sher
Shah
Captures Delhi
• In 1540, in the Battle of Bilgram
or Ganges also known as Battle
of Kanauj, Humayun was forced
to fight with Sher Khan alone
and after losing his kingdom,
Humayun became an exile for
the next fifteen years.
With the help of the Safavid
ruler, he defeated his brothers
Kamran and Askarin and
defeated the Afghans and
recovered the Mughal throne.
Nasiruddin Muhammad Humayun was the second Mughal Emperor.
He ruled Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of northern India from 1530 to 1540.
In 1532, Humayun and Sher Shah Suri clashed on the battlefield. In 1534,
Humayun defeated Bahadur Shah and captured Gujrat. Sher Shah meanwhile
regrouped and defeated Humayun, at Chausa in 1539 and at Kanauj the next
year (1540).
Humayun was forced to go to Persia in exile, for 15 years. In 1555, Humayun
returned to India and defeated the successor of Sher Shah, Islam Shah and
regained India.

11. Akbar
Fortifies the Mughal Empire and the dynasty
03

12. Akbar
Akbar’s position was in danger when he succeeded his father Humayun as Delhi was seized
by the Afghans.
•In 1556, in the second battle of Panipat, Akbar defeated Hemu and the army of Hemu fled
which made the victory of Mughal decisive.
•During the first 5 years of Akbar’s reign, Bairam Khan acted as his regent.
The military conquests of Akbar were extensive.
In 1576, the Mughal Army defeated Rana Pratap Singh in the battle of Haldighati, following
the defeat of Mewar, other leading Rajput leaders surrendered to Akbar and accepted his
suzerainty.
Akbar’s policy towards Rajput was combined with broad religious toleration.
•Akbar’s biography is called Akbarnama and was written by Abul Fazl in Persian.
•Emperor Akbar had brilliant men in his court and the most prominent of them were called
navaratnas (nine jewels). Some of them were Birbal, Raja Todal Mal, Abul Fazl, Tansen, etc.
•In the military, Akbar brought many innovations and sought the help of Ottomans and
Europeans in this regard. He encouraged the use of firearms in his military. He also modernized
cannons and fortifications and used elephants in warfare.
•His government encouraged traders and protected them. Akbar’s reign is marked by economic
and religious harmony and he is hence called ‘Akbar the Great’.
•Akbar died of an illness that followed dysentery in 1605. His tomb is at a mausoleum at
Sikandra in Agra. He had reigned for 49 years.
•He was succeeded on the throne by his son Jahangir.

13. Akbar Akbar’s Religious Policy
•It’s Akbar’s religious policy that made way to his name in the history pages.
•In 1562, he abolished jiziya.
•He did not like the intrusion of the Muslim Ulemas in political matters.
•In 1579, he delivered the “Infallibility Decree” and proclaimed his religious
powers.
•In 1582, he propagated a new religion called Din Ilahi or Divine Faith.

14. Jahangir
Fortifies the Mughal Empire and the dynasty
04

15. Jahangir
Prince Salīm was the eldest son of the emperor Akbar, who early marked
Salīm to succeed him. Impatient for power, however, Salīm revolted in 1599
while Akbar was engaged in the Deccan. Akbar on his deathbed confirmed
Salīm as his successor. The new emperor chose the Persian name Jahāngīr
(“World Seizer”) as his reign name.
In Jahāngīr’s court, being the favourite wife was no small privilege. Nūr
Jahān’s father, now known as Iʿtimād al-Dawlah, and her brother, Āṣaf
Khan, were granted prominent positions at court; together, the three
formed a kind of “junta” that heavily influenced Jahāngīr in political
matters. As Jahāngīr’s hard-partying ways were no secret (he was a heavy
drinker and opium eater), many historians theorize that Nūr Jahān became
the Mughal Empire’s de facto empress. Eventually she even minted coins in
her name and issued royal decrees—two powers typically reserved for
sovereigns, not wives.

16. Shah Jahan
Built the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and the Taj Mahal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhsTExu60
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05

17. Shah Jahan
•Shah Jahan was born in Lahore, Pakistan to Prince Salim (who later
became Emperor Jahangir) and his Rajput wife from Marwar Princess Jagat
Gosaini. Her official Mughal name was Bilqis Makani. Shah Jahan’s
grandfather was Mughal Emperor Akbar.
•Although initially named Prince Khurram, he assumed the regnal name
Shah Jahan later. He was Jahangir’s third son and considered the ablest
and competent to be king. After Jahangir’s death, he overthrew his rivals to
the throne and emerged victorious. He was crowned on 14 February 1628
in Agra.
•He was educated in martial arts and a variety of fine arts. He was brought
up chiefly by Akbar’s first wife, the childless Empress Ruqaiya Sultan
Begum.
Shah Jahan – Later Life
When Shah Jahan became ill in 1658, Dara Shikoh (Mumtaz Mahal’s eldest
son) assumed the role of regent in his father’s stead, which swiftly incurred
the animosity of his brothers. Aurangzeb, the third son, gathered a well-
trained army and became its chief commander. He faced Dara’s army near
Agra and defeated him during the Battle of Samugarh. Although Shah
Jahan fully recovered from his illness, Aurangzeb declared him incompetent
to rule and put him under house arrest in Agra Fort.
Shah Jahan died on 22 January 1666 aged 74 years.

18. Shah Jahan
Reign as the Emperor of the Mughal Empire
•Shah Jahan was an able military commander. While still a prince, he was
able to obtain the submission of the Rajput state of Mewar which Akbar had
not been able to defeat. Mewar then became a vassal of the Mughal
Empire.
•On becoming the emperor, Shah Jahan executed many of his former rivals
including his own brother Shahryar, imprisoned many more and
consolidated his power.
•As king, Shah Jahan expanded the military and promoted the production of
arms. He annexed several territories.
•Shah Jahan married multiple times as was the custom. His favourite was
said to be Arjumand Banu Begum who is better known as Mumtaz Mahal.
She died during childbirth in 1631 and Shah Jahan was said to be
depressed. He got the Taj Mahal built in her honour and perhaps, he is
most famous for this architectural feat.
•He also created many other architectural marvels including the Pearl
Mosque at Agra, the Red Fort, the Jama Masjid at Delhi, the Shalimar
Gardens and some other buildings in present Pakistan. He also got the
famous Peacock Throne built.

19. Aurangzeb
Fortifies the Mughal Empire and the dynasty
06

20. Aurangzeb
On 3 November 1618, Aurangzeb was born in Dahod, Gujarat to Mughal
Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
•Aurangzeb was the third son of Shah Jahan. He had three brothers and
two sisters. He assumed the title of Aurangzeb Alamgir after he took the
Mughal throne.
•In 1636, Aurangzeb was appointed the Viceroy of the Deccan. He had
successful military campaigns there for his father. He was also appointed
the governor of Gujarat, and later of Balkh, Multan and Sindh.
•Shah Jahan had designated his eldest son Dara Shikoh as his heir, and so
there was a rivalry between Dara and Aurangzeb who also nurtured dreams
of becoming the emperor. There was no system of primogeniture among
the Mughals and it was customary for sons to fight for the throne after the
father’s death.
•When Shah Jahan became ill, there was a tussle for power among his four
sons. Aurangzeb managed to succeed and he usurped the throne by
putting his own father in prison at Agra Fort.
•He was crowned the king in 1659 at Delhi. The first ten years of his rule
are chronicled in Alamgir Nama written by Muhammad Kazim.
•He reversed many of Akbar’s policies towards non-Muslims. He
reintroduced the Jizya or the tax on non-Muslims. He is said to have
destroyed many Hindu temples.
•Under his reign, the Mughal Empire expanded. He had a massive army
and the empire reached its zenith under him in terms of area.

21. Aurangzeb
•Aurangzeb also banned the use of alcohol, gambling and music from his
empire. The textile industry flourished under him.
•In 1667, he gave permission to the French for setting up a factory at Surat.
•During his reign, he had to deal with many rebellions such as by the Jats
around Mathura, the Marathas under Shivaji and Sambhaji, many Rajputs,
the Sikhs and the Pashtuns.
•Though the Mughal Empire reached its territorial heights during
Aurangzeb’s time, it was also beginning of the end in many ways.
Aurangzeb’s successors were not able to maintain the vast empire’s
territorial integrity and many new states were formed out of former Mughal
vassals.
•Aurangzeb died in Ahmednagar in February 1707 of old age and illness at
the age of 88. He was in the middle of a Deccan campaign then. He had
reigned for 49 years. His son Azam Shah ascended the throne thereafter
but was soon defeated by his half-brother Shah Alam. Shah Alam then
succeeded to the Mughal throne assuming the title, Bahadur Shah I.

22. Bahadur Shah Zafar
The last ruler of the Mughal dynasty
07

23. Descendants of two great lineages of rulers-Genghis Khan
(died 1227), the Mongol ruler who ruled over parts of China and
Central Asia from mother’s side-successors of Timur (died
1404), the ruler of Iran, Iraq and modern-day Turkey from
father’s side-Mughals did not like to be called Mughal or Mongol
as Genghis Khan’s memory was associated with the massacre
of innumerable people-it was also linked with the Uzbegs, their
Mongol competitors-they were proud of their Timurid ancestry
because their great ancestor had captured Delhi in 1398.
Did not follow primogeniture

24. Monuments
What Great Buildings did the Mughals Create?
Some of the most famous buildings created during Mughal era are given below.
1.Taj Mahal – It was built by Shah Jahan between 1632 and 1653, in memory of his wife
Mumtaz Mahal. The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation
(UNESCO) recognized Taj Mahal as a World Heritage Site in 1983. It is located in Agra.
2.Red Fort – UNESCO designated it as the World Heritage Site in 2007. It was built by Shah
Jahan, when he decided to move the capital from Agra to Delhi. It was the residence of
Mughal rulers.
3.Shalimar Gardens – It is a 40 acre garden built by Shah Jahan in 1642. It was declared a
World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1981.
4.Jama Masjid – Built by Shah Jahan. The construction was completed in 1656.
5.Badshahi Mosque – At the time of completion in 1673, it was the largest mosque in the
world. It was built during the reign of Aurangazeb.
6.Humayun’s Tomb – It was built in 1570 in memory of Emperor Humayun, it was declared as
the world heritage site in 1993.

25. Art
Where did the Mughal School of Miniature-Painting originate?
Answer:
Since the Time or Famous rulers such as Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan, the Mughal
School of Miniature Paintings has essentially originated.
•In Mughal paintings, Mughal emperors including Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan
developed or created artists.
•People can observe mixture of Islamic, Persian and Indian art in Mughal paintings.
•Numerous paintings were made for Mughal emperors by artists like Abdus Samad.
•These artists painted pictures of trees, plants, miniatures, and so on., based on the
desires of emperors.
•In the ruling decades of Shah Jahan and Akbar, artists were kept separately to draw their
dreams in their palaces.