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The Creation of an Empire

• The First Battle of Panipat in 1526 marked the conclusion of the Delhi Sultanate and ushered in Mughal dominance in India.
• The Mughal Empire governed India for over three hundred years, introducing significant transformations in administration, society, economy, and culture across the nation.

The Mughals

• The Mughals were the successors of the Turkic-Mongol invaders Timur and Genghis Khan.
• Babur, the initial Mughal ruler, gained control of Fargana in Central Asia at a very young age of 12.
• Driven by the ambition to establish an empire comparable to Timur's, Babur first seized Kabul in 1504 CE.
• He then directed his focus towards India, enticed by its wealth and resources.

Babur (1526-1530):

• Babur led an army against Ibrahim Lodi in 1524. Despite having a smaller force, Babur's use of advanced weaponry and military tactics led to his victory at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526.
• He further solidified his rule by defeating Rana Sanga at the Battle of Khanwa in 1527, marking the establishment of Mughal authority in India.
• Babur's conquests extended from Kabul to present-day Bihar, with victories over the Afghans at the Battle of Ghaghra in 1529.
• Tragically, Babur passed away in 1530, shortly after ascending the Delhi throne, before fully enjoying the fruits of his triumphs.

 Humayun (1530-1540)

• Humayun, Babur's son, became the ruler after his father. He inherited a large kingdom that was not completely under Mughal control.
• He faced opposition from Bahadur Shah of Gujarat, his own brothers, and Sher Khan, the Afghan leader in Bihar.
• Humayun conquered Gujarat and Malwa by defeating Bahadur Shah. He then moved east to confront Sher Khan.
• Sher Khan defeated Humayun in the battles of Chausa (1539 CE) and Kannauj (1540 CE).
• After these defeats, Humayun had to flee, first to Kabul and then to Persia, where he stayed for 15 years (1540-1555 CE).

Sher Shah's Reign 

• Sher Shah, who ruled from 1540-1545, took over Delhi after defeating Humayun.
• During his five-year rule, he concentrated on strengthening his empire, which spanned from Brahmaputra to Bengal in the east and the Indus River in the west.
• Sher Shah, an adept administrator, used his formidable army to enforce law and order and boost trade.

His key accomplishments included:

• Extending the Sadak-i Azam (Grand Trunk Road) from Bengal to Afghanistan.
• Constructing inns (sarais), planting trees, and digging wells along roads for travelers' convenience.
• Revamping the currency system by introducing silver (rupiya), gold (mohur), and copper (dam) coins, replacing older mixed metal coins.
• Sher Shah was also renowned for his architectural projects and support for art. He passed away in 1545 while besieging Kalinjar.

The Mughal Emperors

Humayun (1555-1556)

• Humayun regained the throne of Delhi in 1555 after Sher Shah's death but tragically died in 1556 from a fall in his library. Akbar succeeded him.

Jahangir (1605-1627)

• Jahangir, Akbar's son, continued the Mughal Empire's expansion, ending conflicts with Mewar and bringing Ahmudnugor under Mughal control. He promoted religious tolerance but had strained relations with the Sikhs. Jahangir was known for his patronage of architecture and nature studies, documented in Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri. He died in 1627.

Shah Jahan (1627-1658)

• Shah Jahan, Jahangir's son, became emperor in 1627. He expanded the Mughal Empire's territories, patronized literature, art, and architecture. His conquests included victories against Ahmadabad, Bijapur, Golconda, and the suppression of Portuguese power in Bengal. His attempts to conquer Balkh and Kandahar were unsuccessful. Shah Jahan was succeeded by his son Aurangzeb in 1658.

Aurangzeb (1658-1707)

• Aurangzeb, the final ruler of the Great Mughals, governed for 49 years.
• He excelled as a military leader and a diligent monarch.
• However, Aurangzeb held strict religious views, differing from his predecessors' tolerant stances.
• His shift away from accommodating policies led to the discontent of various groups like the Jats, Sikhs, Marathas, and Satnamis, who eventually rebelled.
• During the last 25 years of his rule, Aurangzeb dedicated his efforts to conquering the Deccan region.
• Consequently, the royal treasury suffered a continuous decline.
• His prolonged absence from the capital empowered nobles to conspire against him.
• Aurangzeb was compelled to divide his attention between quelling uprisings and expanding his realm's boundaries.

Decline of the Mughal Empire

• The decline of the Mughal Empire began after Aurangzeb's death in 1707 CE.
• Reasons for the decline:
  • The Empire had grown too large, making it difficult to administer effectively.
  • Wars under Aurangzeb had drained the treasury, leading to financial difficulties and a weakened army.
  • Nobles in Delhi gained power during Aurangzeb's prolonged absences, controlling later Mughal rulers.
  • Later Mughal rulers were weak, allowing provinces to assert independence.
• In 1857, the British exiled the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, to Burma, marking the end of the Mughal Empire.