The Mughal Empire ruled most of northern India between the 16th and 18th centuries. It was founded in 1526 by Babur and reached its peak under Akbar and Jahangir in the 16th-17th centuries. However, religious intolerance under Aurangzeb in the late 17th-early 18th centuries weakened the empire and led to its decline.

1. Indian empire that ruled for
more than 300 years (1526
to 1858), except for a brief
period under the Sur sultans
(1540-1555).

2. • Founded in 1526.
• Dominated India between
17th
and 18th
centuries.
•Descended from Mongolian
ancestors around Pakistan.
• Population at height:
between 110 and 130 million
people.
• Sophisticated, mixed Indo-
Persian culture.

3. •Empire founded in 1526 by Emperor Babur.
•Only 11 when he inherited a small kingdom
in southern Russia
•Gunpowder introduced
•Related to Genghis Khan and Tamerlane
Emperor Babur
The Mughals brought Muslim cultural traditions

4. Babur was succeeded by his eldest son Humayun. He was
not a strong authority.
What did he inherit?
1.An empire with a host of troubles
2.Afghan nobles
3. Rajputs
4. worst of all, his three treacherous brothers.
Following his father's advice, Humayun treated his brothers
kindly and appointed them to high positions.
In return, his brothers hindered him at every step.
.
•.

5. Humayun almost lost the empire his father had fought so hard
to bequeath him.
In the first ten years of his rule, he faced challenges from the
Afghan General Sher Shah Suri who had served under Babur.
Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun in the battles in 1540.
This defeat was the first setback to the infant Mughal Empire.

6. The next 15 years of his life, from 1540 to 1555, self-exiled
in Persia.
He was finally able to re-ascend the throne at Delhi and
Agra .
After recovering his throne, Humayun devoted himself to
the kingdom; improving the system of government.
Later on, during the reign of Akbar, a fusion of Persian and
Indian style of painting took place.
Unfortunately, after recovering his empire, Humayun was
not destined to rule for long.
In January 1556, a tragic end by slipping down a stair case.
After him his eldest son Akbar took over the rule of the
empire.

7. Humayun's heir, Akbar, was born in exile and was
only 13 years old when his father died.
Akbar was the ruler who actually fortified the
foundations of the Mughal Empire.
After a series of conquests he managed to subdue most
of India.
3rd
Emperor AKBAR:
THE GREATEST
OF THE MUGHAL
EMPERORS

8. Akbar the Great
 1562 throwing opponent over balcony
 Rajputs controlled land routes to western
coast, took high tolls from caravans,
disrupted business of empire.
 Marries Rajput Hindu princess, defeats
them in battle, Akbar accommodates their
fierce pride

9. Akbar the Great
 Administration: several officials share
responsibility for each province
 Forced to collaborate and look after other’s
work
 All ministers report to their superior at
Moghul court
 Mansabdars: like knight, overpaid to
maintain a cavalry.
 When a Mansabdar died
Property was seized by royal
Treasure (no hereditary
Nobility)

10. Agricultural reforms of Akbar
 Careful surveys of land for fair tax of each
plot. Sympathetic to the poor! (only had to
give up 1/3)
 Extortion meant severe punishment
 Increased productivity and prosperity

11. Akbar’s Theory of Kingship
 Ended discrimination of non-Muslims
 No more enslavement & forced conversion
of Hindus
 Ended Jizya or poll tax for being non-
muslim
 No longer “defender of Islam” but offered
equal protection to all

12. Akbar’s Theory of Kingship
 Ended discrimination of non-Muslims
 No more enslavement & forced conversion
of Hindus
 Ended Jizya or poll tax for being non-
muslim
 No longer “defender of Islam” but offered
equal protection to all

13. Akbar’s “New Religion”
 1578 spiritual crisis after hunting.
 Meditates alone then holds discussions on
religion
 “Truth is found everywhere”, why should
Truth be restricted to one religion like
Islam?
 Divine Faith: elements of many sects
 Akbar like a divine king – sacred cow,
deferred to Hindus so now death penalty!
 Ends upon his death (age 63 ruled 45
years) Moghul king now semi-divine

14. Jahangir
 Akbar’s son Salim took the name
Jahangir, or “World-Seizer”
 Alcohol, opium, pleasure,
feasting (food put in his mouth by
others)
 Wife is real power, major
decisions to keep empire togther
 She hand picks Shah Jahan to
claim throne after death of
Jahangir

15. Shah Jahan
 Goal to restore prestige of
Moghul Empire
 Tough on peasants as expansion
and building takes place
 Murders all male cousins and
nephews
 Taj Mahal dedicated to memory
of his wife Mumtaz Mahal who
died in 1631 having 14th
child
 Built Red Fort in Delhi 124 acres

16. 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)

17. 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”

18. 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

19. • 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

20. • 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.

21. • 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.

22. • Kurta ~ an informal
dress worn by Mughal
men and women.
• Sometimes sewn with
gold or silver threads.
• Traditional wear
in Afghanistan,
Bangladesh,
India, Pakistan,
and Sri Lanka.
•THE END!