18.3 – The Mughal Empire

Beginnings• Descendants of Genghis Khan & Tamerlane

• ~1000: Turkish armies invade India & establish the Delhi Sultanate– Treat Hindus as conquered

peoples– Rule from Delhi for nearly

400 years• 1398: Tamerlane destroys

the city• 1494: Babur establishes

foundation for Mughal Empire– Excellent general

Akbar • Known as the “Great”– Rules for almost 50

years

• Military: Aggressive commander– Used artillery to conquer

many walled cities

• Political: Appointed rajputs as officers = allies & unification– Empire of 100 million

people

Akbar (cont.)• Allowed religious

freedom– Married Hindus w/o

conversion– Abolished the tax for non-

Muslims

• Everyone could rise to a high government post– Leads to quality leadership– Ex: fair income tax system

= massive wealth

• Land policies prevented development of a feudal system

Culture • Welcomed emissaries from all over the world = cultural diffusion– Languages: Persian, Hindi,

& Urdu

• Books & miniature paintings flourished

• Revival in Hindu literature– Poem of Ramayana

• Architecture: Massive, intricate stone structures– Akbar period architecture

Successors• Jahangir, Akbar’s son, let wife rule state affairs = an iron hand– Princess Nur Jahan

• Brilliant politician & real ruler of India

• Dispute with Khusrau (son) leads to religious conflict– Turns to the Sikhs

(nonviolent religious group)

– Target of Mughal hatred

Shah Jahan

• Successor to Jahangir• Assassinated all political

rivals• Passion for buildings &

his wife, Mumtaz Mahal• 1631: Mahal dies giving

birth• Commissions a beautiful

tomb to be built for her = the Taj Mahal

Suffering• People suffer greatly

under Jahan’s rule– Famine & high taxes

to facilitate ruler’s lifestyle

• 1657: Jahan becomes ill and a civil war b/w his sons erupts over power

• Aurangzeb kills oldest brother & imprisons father

Aurangzeb • Master strategist & builder

• Expands empire to greatest size

• Empire’s power weakens = oppressive– Outlawed many activities

& appointed censors– Brings back tax on non-

Muslims• Outraged Hindus =

rebellion– Birth of Marathas

• Levies high taxes to pay for war = more problems w/ more territory gained

Mughal Empire (c. 1700)

Decline & Decay• Empire drained of

resources• 2 million+ die from

famine• Power shift: Local rulers

gain power• War of succession upon

Aurangzeb’s death– Mughal Emperor now rules

a patchwork of independent states

• European traders establish posts in India– Aurangzeb gives them the

port of Bombay