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1526
Babur (1526-1530) The First of the Mughals
Babur was a direct descendant of the Turkish Ghengis Khan and Timur from Tamerlane.
Defeated the Delhi Sultanate & established the Mughal Empire.
Gunpowder, a skilled commander, trained soldiers on horses contributed to the victory
Gained control of the whole northern India
Made Agra capital
He reigned for 4 short years and died at age 47 in 1530.
Did not enact new laws or organization in the empire due to early his death
Positive -
Period: 1530 to 1556
Humayun 1530 - 1556
After Babur died, he was succeeded by his son Humayun in 1530. Humayun was 23 years old.
He was not a soldier and unlike his father, neither skilled nor a wise leader.
Inherited a disunited and disorganized empire.
He was exiled but later regained power in 1555.
Humayun died in 1556 after falling down the steps of his library; he is known as “the luckless one”.
Negative -
1540
Loss of an Empire
In 1540, Sher Shah of Bengal defeated Humayun and took over the Mughal Empire. The Empire was lost from 1540-1545. Negative -
1556
Akbar 1556 - 1605
New ruler at age 14. Regent & his mother ruled in his name for 4 years was a noble commander
Largest army Helped conquer nearly all of modern-day northern India & Pakistan. Centralized government delegated 15 provinces each under a governor & each province into districts & each district was further subdivided into smaller sections. known for tolerance of his subjects Ridded poll taxes on Hindus
Made own faith call Din-I Ilahi a mixture of the other religions Akbar had studied. Positive -
Jehangir 1605 - 1627
Succeeded father in 1605.
Poor monarch and warrior, but maintained status quo.
Continued many of Akbar’s policies. Freedom of worship. Fair treatment of Hindus. Continued alliance with Rajputs. Allowed foreigners into India for trade. Married Nur Jahan. She became ruler of the empire until Jehangir death. Under the influence of his wife & others, he wasn't an able ruler. He loved to drink and enjoy himself. Suppressed many rebellions. Important posts were given to family and friends. Neutral -
Period: to
•Shah Jehan 1627 - 1658
Shah Jehan succeeded his father in 1627.
Better ruler than Jehangir. Restored the efficiency of government.
Recovered territories. Maintained peace. Foreign traders were allowed into India & trade increased. Empire was expanded.
•Was a patron of arts Built many great architecture, the Taj Mahal & the Peacock Throne.
Taj Mahal. Built in honor of his wife who died during childbirth.
Took over a decade to build & it nearly bankrupted the empire.
Positive -
Dispute
Shah Jehan became seriously ill and a dispute over the succession of the throne ensued between his three sons. -
Aurangzeb 1658 - 1707
Aurangzeb ascended the throne after disposing his father and beating out his two brothers. Despot. severely persecuted Hindus of Northern India. Empire declines under his reign Removed the tax-free status for Hindus Destroyed temples Crushed semi-autonomous Hindu states over expanded the empire and strained his resources.
Large sums of money and manpower were lost. He lost the support of the Hindu people. The over expansion of his empire weakened his administration.
Negative -
Jehan Disposed
Aurangzeb disposed Shah Jehan in a coup d’etat in 1658. Shah Jehan was imprisoned in the Octagonal Tower of the Agra Fort from which he could see the Taj Mahal. He died in 1666 and was buried next to his wife in the Taj Mahal. -
Bahadur Shah
Bahadur Shah succeeded Aurangzeb. Bahadur was so old by the time he ascended the throne, he only managed to live a few more years. But at this point in time, the government was so unstable and so weak, the empire become an easy target of invasion and exploitation, first by the Persians, and then by the British.
The death of Aurangzeb and the short reign of his son led to the end of the Mughal empire and the beginning of British Rule. Negative
