The Mughal Empire was founded in 1526 by Babur and dominated India for over 200 years until the mid-1800s. It prospered under the first six emperors, known as the Great Mughals, including Akbar who greatly expanded the empire. However, the empire declined under the sixth emperor Aurangzeb due to wars and revolts. The Taj Mahal, built by Shah Jahan in the 1600s, stands as an architectural marvel reflecting the empire's height.