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May 26, 1526
First Battle of Panipat
First Battle of Panipat, Babur defeats Ibrahim Lodhi, Sultan of Delhi, and founds Mughal Empire. This battle was unique because it was one of the earliest battles involving gun powder firearms and field artillery. -
Dec 26, 1530
Death of Emperor Babur
Babur dies, and is succeeded by son Humayan. Emperor Babur was known for being able to successfully invade India using advanced calvary tactics that he learned from the Ottomans. His victory in the Battle of Panipat his army was outnumber 10:1 but he still came out victorious. -
Jan 17, 1556
Death of Humayan
Humayan falls down stairs and dies, and is succeeded by 13-year-old son Akbar, later to be known as Akbar the Great. During his reign Humayan captured Lahore (now in Pakistan) in February 1555, and, after defeating Sikandar Sūr, the rebel Afghan governor of the Punjab, at Sirhind, he recovered Delhi and Agra that July, because of his efforts the Indian Islam culture spread throughout the Middle East. -
Nov 5, 1556
Second Battle of Panipat
The Second battle of Panipat fought in 1556 between Akbar and Hemu. The battle ended the rule of Afghan dynasty in India. The battle re-established the Mughal rule in India and made Akbar the ruler of India. It was Akbar who had expanded the Mughal Empire and laid solid foundation of Mughal Empire in India. He also developed such institutions which lead Mughals to rule in India for centuries. -
Akbar the Great Dies
Akbar's reign significantly influenced the course of Indian history. During his rule, the Mughal Empire tripled in size and wealth. He created a powerful military system and instituted effective political and social reforms. Thus, the foundations for a multicultural empire under Mughal rule were laid during his reign. Akbar was succeeded as emperor by his son, Prince Salim, later known as Jahangir. -
Sir Thomas Roe, travels to the Mughal court
The East India Company received the royal charter to trade with India from the British monarch Elizabeth I in 1600. Even though he obtained only trading rights for the British, this was the first step at the beginning of the British control of the Indian subcontinent. Sir Thomas Roe experienced a totally different culture which intrigued him. He traveled to the Mughal Empire during the month of Ramadan and was fascinated by how they would fast from sunrise to sunset. -
Taj Mahal is built
Shah Jahan designs and begins building Taj Mahal as a tomb for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is widely considered one as one of the most beautiful buildings ever created. The structures is made out of marble and is located in Agra, India. It is also an eternal testament to the artistic and scientific accomplishments of a wealthy Islamic empire. -
Aurangzeb imprisons his father, Shah Jahan
To occupy the throne of India Aurangzeb arrested his father Shah Jahan and imprisoned him at Agra Fort. Naturally he is condemned for this. No doubt imprisoning one’s father is a condemnable act. This is significant because this one of the first example of an Islamic leader doing something highly looked down upon. In the Islamic culture respect for ones parent's is deeply valued and Aurangzeb imprisoned his father causing lots of backlash within the community. -
Aurangzeb expands Mughal Rule
Aurangzeb expands Mughal rule to more than 3.2 million square km, including Assam, the Deccan plateau, and parts of southern India. Aurangzeb was the last effective emperor of the Mughal empire. In the Pakistani narrative, Aurangzeb is presented as a hero who fought and expanded the frontiers of the Islamic empire. He is depicted as a pious Muslim who reintroduced Islamic laws by banning music and levying jizya (yearly tax). -
Badshahi Mosque is built
Aurangzeb orders construction of the Badshahi Mosque at Lahore, which is now in modern day Pakistan. Aurangzeb had the mosque built in order to commemorate his military campaigns against the Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji. After only two years of construction, the mosque was opened in 1673. The mosque has a whopping capacity of 100,000 people making it one of the largest mosque in the world. -
Emperor Shah Alam II dies
Emperor Shah Alam II dies, marking the end of effective leadership from Mughal Dynasty. He was succeeded by hapless son Akbar Shah II, who was just a puppet of the British. This event is significant because it marks beginning of the end of the Mughal Empire. -
Sepoy Munity Erupts
Use of pork and/or beef fat on army cartridges sets off the Sepoy Mutiny or Indian Revolt. This is because in the Islamic-Indian culture pork and beef are not to be consumed and cows are highly valued in their culture, so this was a huge sign of disrespect. -
Fall of Mughal Dynasty
British use Indian Revolt of 1857 as the pretext to exile last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah II, to Rangoon, Burma, this then officially ends the Mughal Dynasty.
