Chapter 8 The Muslim Empires Section 3 The Grandeur of the Moguls

Chapter 8Chapter 8The Muslim EmpiresThe Muslim Empires

Section 3Section 3

The Grandeur of the MogulsThe Grandeur of the Moguls

The Mogul DynastyThe Mogul Dynasty• Babur founded the Babur founded the

Mogul Empire.Mogul Empire.• He inherited some of He inherited some of

Timur Lenk’s empire.Timur Lenk’s empire.• Seized Kabul in 1504.Seized Kabul in 1504.• Always outnumbered, Always outnumbered,

but had advanced but had advanced weapons, including weapons, including artillery.artillery.

• Captured Delhi vs. an Captured Delhi vs. an army 10x his size.army 10x his size.

• Died in 1530 at 47. Died in 1530 at 47.

The Reign of AkbarThe Reign of Akbar

• Babur’s grandson Akbar Babur’s grandson Akbar came to the throne at came to the throne at 14.14.

• By 1605 he brought By 1605 he brought Mogul rule to most of Mogul rule to most of India.India.

• Used heavy artillery for Used heavy artillery for his military success.his military success.

• The Moguls were also The Moguls were also good negotiators.good negotiators.


• Akbar’s great empire was a collection of Akbar’s great empire was a collection of semi-independent states held together by semi-independent states held together by the emperor's power. the emperor's power.

• Akbar was known as a humane ruler.Akbar was known as a humane ruler.

• He was a Muslim that tolerated other He was a Muslim that tolerated other religions.religions.

• One of his wives was Hindu.One of his wives was Hindu.

• Also had Christian Jesuits as advisers at his Also had Christian Jesuits as advisers at his court.court.


• Upper ranks of the administration Upper ranks of the administration were filled with non-native Muslims, were filled with non-native Muslims, but lower-ranking officials were but lower-ranking officials were generally Hindus.generally Hindus.

• Local officials were known as Local officials were known as zamindarszamindars..

• They collected taxes and were quite They collected taxes and were quite powerful in their regions. powerful in their regions.


• Reign was progressive.Reign was progressive.

• Al peasants paid 1/3 of their harvest Al peasants paid 1/3 of their harvest to the state.to the state.

• Taxes were reduced or suspended if Taxes were reduced or suspended if weather was unfavorable to farming.weather was unfavorable to farming.

• Trade & manufacturing flourished Trade & manufacturing flourished due to the peace and stability.due to the peace and stability.

Decline of the MogulsDecline of the Moguls

• Akbar’s son, Jahangir, Akbar’s son, Jahangir, succeeded him in 1605.succeeded him in 1605.

• At first he strengthened At first he strengthened the governments the governments control.control.

Decline of the MogulsDecline of the Moguls• His grip weakened under His grip weakened under

the influence of one of the influence of one of his wives.his wives.

• She used her influence She used her influence to enrich her family.to enrich her family.

• Her neice married her Her neice married her husband’s third son, who husband’s third son, who became his successor, became his successor, Shah JahanShah Jahan


• Shah Jahan ruled from 1628 to 1658.Shah Jahan ruled from 1628 to 1658.

• Expanded the empire through Expanded the empire through successful campaigns in the Deccan successful campaigns in the Deccan Plateau and against the city of Plateau and against the city of Samarkand.Samarkand.


• Shah Jahan failed to deal with the Shah Jahan failed to deal with the growing domestic problems.growing domestic problems.

• War & building projects strained the War & building projects strained the treasury, and he raised taxes.treasury, and he raised taxes.

• Majority of his subjects lived in Majority of his subjects lived in poverty.poverty.


• Shah Jahan became Shah Jahan became ill, and his two sons ill, and his two sons struggled for power.struggled for power.

• Aurangzeb killed his Aurangzeb killed his brother and brother and imprisoned Shah imprisoned Shah Jahan, and assumed Jahan, and assumed power.power.


• Aurangzeb tried to rid India of its Aurangzeb tried to rid India of its social ills:social ills:– Hindu practice of Hindu practice of suttee suttee (cremating a (cremating a

widow on her husband’s funeral pyre)widow on her husband’s funeral pyre)– Levying illegal taxesLevying illegal taxes– GamblingGambling– Drinking alcohol.Drinking alcohol.– Banned building new Hindu temples and Banned building new Hindu temples and

forced them to convert to Islamforced them to convert to Islam


• His policies led to domestic unrest.His policies led to domestic unrest.

• 1739 – Persians sacked and burned 1739 – Persians sacked and burned Delhi.Delhi.

The British in IndiaThe British in India

• British trading posts were established British trading posts were established at Surat, Fort William (Calcutta) and at Surat, Fort William (Calcutta) and Chennai.Chennai.

• British shipped cotton goods, trading British shipped cotton goods, trading them for spices.them for spices.

• French tried to suppress British trade French tried to suppress British trade in India.in India.


• British were saved British were saved by Sir Robert Clive.by Sir Robert Clive.

• Became the chief Became the chief representative of the representative of the East India Company.East India Company.

• French were beaten French were beaten and restricted to and restricted to holding one fort & a holding one fort & a handful of small handful of small territories.territories.


• Clive consolidated British control in Clive consolidated British control in Bengal, where Fort William was located.Bengal, where Fort William was located.

• 1757, British defeated a Mogul army in 1757, British defeated a Mogul army in the Battle of Plassey.the Battle of Plassey.

• The E.I. Co. received the right to collect The E.I. Co. received the right to collect taxes from lands surrounding Calcutta.taxes from lands surrounding Calcutta.

• They also moved inland and became They also moved inland and became rich and were in India to stay.rich and were in India to stay.

Society & Daily Life in Mogul Society & Daily Life in Mogul IndiaIndia

• Due to the mix of Muslims & Hindus Due to the mix of Muslims & Hindus in India, ordinary life was in India, ordinary life was complicated.complicated.

• This is shown by the treatment of This is shown by the treatment of Mogul women.Mogul women.

Mogul WomenMogul Women

• Mogul tribal society:Mogul tribal society:– Had an active political role.Had an active political role.– Sometimes fought in wars.Sometimes fought in wars.

• Mogul India:Mogul India:– Aristocratic women often received Aristocratic women often received

salaries.salaries.– Owned landOwned land– Took part in business.Took part in business.

Mogul WomenMogul Women

• Lived under the restrictions of Islamic Lived under the restrictions of Islamic law.law.

• Suttee continued despite efforts to Suttee continued despite efforts to eradicate it.eradicate it.

• Also the Hindu custom of child Also the Hindu custom of child marriage continued.marriage continued.

Mogul SocietyMogul Society

• Wealthy nobility and merchant class Wealthy nobility and merchant class emerged.emerged.

• Many prominent Indians had ties with Many prominent Indians had ties with foreigners such as the British.foreigners such as the British.

• Outside cities, people lived in mud Outside cities, people lived in mud huts and had few, paltry possessions.huts and had few, paltry possessions.

Mogul CultureMogul Culture

• Blended Persian and Indian styles in Blended Persian and Indian styles in a beautiful, new architecture.a beautiful, new architecture.

• The Taj Mahal in Agra, built by Shah The Taj Mahal in Agra, built by Shah Jahan exemplifies this style.Jahan exemplifies this style.


• Painting also flourished in the Mogul Painting also flourished in the Mogul period.period.

• Akbar established a state workshop for Akbar established a state workshop for artists, who created the Mogul school artists, who created the Mogul school of painting called the “Akbar style.”of painting called the “Akbar style.”

• Portrayed humans in action.Portrayed humans in action.

• Encouraged use of European devices, Encouraged use of European devices, such as Renaissance perspective & such as Renaissance perspective & lifelike portraits.lifelike portraits.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Meister_des_Rasikapriy%C3%A2-Manuskripts_001.jpg


• Because Mogul emperors were Because Mogul emperors were dedicated patrons of the arts, many dedicated patrons of the arts, many artists went to India.artists went to India.

• The emperors would reward a poet The emperors would reward a poet with their weight in gold.with their weight in gold.

End of Chapter 8End of Chapter 8

Documents

Chapter 8 The Muslim Empires Section 3 The Grandeur of the Moguls