Mughal Empire
(1526- 1857)
Rise: The rise of the Mughal empire began in1526 when Babur, a leader who claimed to be a descended from Genghis Khan but was very much Muslim, invaded northern India and quickly defeated the Delhi sultanate. Babur quickly established a new empire, known as the Mughal Empire, which dominated the Indian subcontinent for the next 300 years.
Economy: Taxes were a major source of income for the Mughal Empire. There were a lot of trading, mostly manufactured cotton textiles, gold, and silver was traded for other goods. Europe desired these manufactured textiles.
Religion: The Mughal Empire was tolerant of religion until after Akbar. Religion tolerance was ended. The Muslim government began to resent the jizya; Hindu temples were destroyed.
Mughal Science and technology: While there appears to have been little concern for theoretical astronomy, Mughal astronomers continued to make advances in observational astronomy and produced nearly a hundred Zij treatises. Humayun built a personal observatory near Delhi. The instruments and observational techniques used at the Mughal observatories were mainly derived from the Islamic tradition.
Economy: Taxes were a major source of income for the Mughal Empire. There were a lot of trading, mostly manufactured cotton textiles, gold, and silver was traded for other goods. Europe desired these manufactured textiles.
Religion: The Mughal Empire was tolerant of religion until after Akbar. Religion tolerance was ended. The Muslim government began to resent the jizya; Hindu temples were destroyed.
Mughal Science and technology: While there appears to have been little concern for theoretical astronomy, Mughal astronomers continued to make advances in observational astronomy and produced nearly a hundred Zij treatises. Humayun built a personal observatory near Delhi. The instruments and observational techniques used at the Mughal observatories were mainly derived from the Islamic tradition.
Important Rulers:
Babur: Babur was a conqueror from Central Asia who, following a series of setbacks, finally succeeded in laying the basis for the Mughal dynasty in the Indian Subcontinent and became the first Mughal emperor.
Akbar (the great): Babur’s grandson who ruled from 1556 to 1605. He was able to unify much of India by governing under a policy of religious tolerance. He eliminated the jizya, the head tax placed on Hindus. The "classic period" of the empire started in 1556 with the ascension of Akbar the Great to the throne.
Shah Jahan: grandson of Akbar who ruled from 1628-1658); unable to create as unified as an empire as Akbar; increased taxes to support military campaigns; spent heavily on Taj Mahal (tomb for his wife with white marble and domes etched with artistic patterns and encrusted with gold, silver and jewels).
Aurangzev: Son of Shah Jahan who ruled from 1658-1707. Expanded to included almost all of India; his policies contributed to the decline of the empire; to get rid of debt he did away with gov’t sponsored art, architecture and history; attacked Hindus and Sikhs and reinstated non-Muslim tax.
Babur: Babur was a conqueror from Central Asia who, following a series of setbacks, finally succeeded in laying the basis for the Mughal dynasty in the Indian Subcontinent and became the first Mughal emperor.
Akbar (the great): Babur’s grandson who ruled from 1556 to 1605. He was able to unify much of India by governing under a policy of religious tolerance. He eliminated the jizya, the head tax placed on Hindus. The "classic period" of the empire started in 1556 with the ascension of Akbar the Great to the throne.
Shah Jahan: grandson of Akbar who ruled from 1628-1658); unable to create as unified as an empire as Akbar; increased taxes to support military campaigns; spent heavily on Taj Mahal (tomb for his wife with white marble and domes etched with artistic patterns and encrusted with gold, silver and jewels).
Aurangzev: Son of Shah Jahan who ruled from 1658-1707. Expanded to included almost all of India; his policies contributed to the decline of the empire; to get rid of debt he did away with gov’t sponsored art, architecture and history; attacked Hindus and Sikhs and reinstated non-Muslim tax.