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Apr 21, 1526
The Battle of Panipat
The First Battle of Panipat, on 21 April 1526, was fought between the invading forces of Babur and the Lodi Empire. It took place in north India and marked the beginning of the Mughal Empire. This was one of the earliest battles involving gunpowder firearms and field artillery in India. -
Dec 26, 1531
Babur's death
Due to instability within the empire, Babur's death in 1531 leads to difficulties with his son Humayun's succession. -
Jan 25, 1540
Sher Shah Suri .
The leader of the rival Sur dynasty , drives Humayun out of India and seizes poqer in 1540 . Humayun Takes refuge with Safavid rulers in Persia , which serves to create a strong bond with the two dynasties . -
Jul 23, 1555
Humayun ( army )
On July 23, 1555, Humayun takes advantage of the deaths of both Sher Shah Suri and his son and successor, Islam Shah, to march an army provided by his Persian allies back to India . -
Jan 27, 1556
Humayun's Son ( Akbar )
On January 27, 1556, shortly after retaking power, Humayun stops for daily prayer in the middle of carrying books down a flight of stairs and trips.He is fatally injured and dies three days later .Humayun's son,Akbar succeeds him under a regent , Bairman Khan the general who had won victory for his father . -
Nov 5, 1556
Khan the Mughak army defeats the Surs .
On November 5, 1556 under Bairam Khan the Mughal army defeats the Surs and solidifies Akbar's control. -
Jan 31, 1561
Khan death and Akbar full control .
On January 31 , 1561, under the guidance of his mother and other supporters, Akbar strips Bairam Khan of the regency , and Khan is assassinated on a journey to Mecca. Akbar is now in full control of the empire. He is known for developing trade with Europe, developing a strong system of administration and growing the economy. He is able to acquire flintlock guns from Europe, wchich give him a huge military advantage. -
Akbar's oldest son .
Though Jahangir, Akbar's oldest son, is the declared successor, he impatiently leads a revolt against his father in 1599 while Akbar is occupied in a foreign military campaign . While he is defeated, he still has enough political support from the women in Akbar's harem, including Akbar's mother, to retain his role as successor. -
Jahangir manipulated by rival factions .
1605 Jahangir succeeds as emperor, Jahangir succeeds as emperor, thanks to the immense support of the harem women. His eldest son, Khusrau Mirza, unsuccessfully rebels against him , Jahangir is addicted to opium and alcohol and so neglects his role as ruler, allowing him to be manipulated by rival factions. -
Jahangir Death
In 1628 , Jahangir dies on his way back from a visit to Kashmir and is succeeded by his third son , Shah Jahan. It is during this period that the court's opulence becomes more expensive than its value. -
Taj Mahal
In 1632 Shah Jahan begins construction on the Taj Mahal in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal.The white marble mausoleum is recognized by many as the finest example of Mughal architecture . -
Shah Jahan fall .
Shah Jahan falls ill in 1658, and his eldest son, Dara Shikon, becomes regent for him. However ,due to his liberal politics, his younger brother, Aurangzeb, allies with conservative Islamic factions to oppose him . -
Aurangzeb defeats Dara Shikoh
In 1659 Aurangzeb defeats Dara Shikoh and has him executed, Though Shah Jahan recovered by this point, Aurangzeb declares him unfit for rule and has him imprisoned . Aurangzeb goes on to expand the empire, but his harsh religious conservatism undermines the stability of the empire. This marks the beginning of the decline o the Mughal's power . -
British East India Company .
By 1858 the British East India Company has become the protector of the Mughal Empire , using it to solidify their claim on trade with India. Bahadur Shah Zafar, the final Mughal ruler , leads a revolt against them, although he is in reality little more than a figurehead. The revolt is defeated and the Mughals deposed by the East India Company, which assumes formal control over the country and ends the Mughal Empire .
