The Mughal Empire (1526-40) and (1555-1857) | IBPS PO Prelims & Mains Preparation - Bank Exams PDF Download

Introduction

• The Mughal emperors were descendants of two prominent Central Asian and Mongolian ruling families.
• Understanding the Mughal Empire's foundation requires examining the lineage of its founder, Babur. Babur, who established the Mughal rule in India, was related to Timur through his father and to Genghis Khan through his mother.

Babur was facing financial difficulties, concerns about a potential Uzbek invasion of Kabul, and an invitation from Rana Sanga to invade India, which prompted his shift of focus towards India.

Emperors of the Mughal Dynasty

Babur (1526 - 1530 AD)

•  Defeated  Ibrahim Lodi at Panipat in 1526.
• Was a  descendant of Timur on his father's side and of Genghis Khan on his mother's side.
• Umar Shaikh Mirza was his  father  .
• After defeating Ibrahim Lodi, he won a decisive victory against the  Afghans.
• In 1528, he captured Chanderi from Rajput chief Medini Rai. A year later, he defeated the Afghan chiefs under Mahmud Lodi in the  Battle of Ghagra in Bihar.
• A detailed record of Babur's career is found in his autobiography  —Tuzuk-i-Baburi or Baburnamah—which he wrote in his mother tongue (Turki).

Significance of Babur's Advent into India

• Babur created  Char-Baghs and designed gardens.
• Mosques were constructed by Babur in Panipat and Sambhat in Rohilkhand.
• Notable literary contributions include the  Tuzuk-i-Baburi  (Babarnama) and Masnavi by Babur.
• Kabul and Gandhar were incorporated as integral parts of the expanding  Mughal Empire.
• Babur laid the foundations for the Mughal Empire, which would later enjoy nearly two centuries of stability under his successors.
• Babur played a key role in popularising the use of gunpowder, cavalry, and artillery in India.
• Introducing a new mode of warfare, Babur significantly influenced military strategies in India.
• By defeating Sangha and Lodi, Babur disrupted the balance of power and laid the foundation for a unified empire in India.
• Babur assumed the title of  Padshah during his reign.

Humayun (1530-40 & 1555-56)

• Humayun became the emperor in Agra on December 29, 1530 CE.
• He divided large parts of his father's empire among his three brothers and two cousins.
• Askari got Sambhal, while Hindal was given Alwar and Mewat.
• His first important military action was taking Kalinjar, which was vital for his control over northern India.
• In 1532 CE, he defeated the Afghans at the Battle of Daur.
• After being defeated by Sher Shah Suri, Humayun spent nearly fifteen years in exile, but the Mughal dynasty continued.
• After regaining his empire, Humayun died in an accident shortly after.

Sher Shah Suri (1540-1545)

• Background:  Sher Shah Suri was the founder of the Suri dynasty, which succeeded the Lodhi dynasty in India. His reign lasted for five years, from 1540 to 1545.
•  Administrative Continuity: Sher Shah retained the central administration structure of the earlier Sultanate period. Key officials included:
  •  Diwan-i-Wizarat/Wazir:  Responsible for revenue and finance.
  •  Diwan-i-Ariz:  In charge of the army.
  •  Diwan-i-Rasalat:  Foreign minister.
  •  Diwan-i-Insha:  Responsible for communications.
  •  Barid:  In charge of intelligence.
•  Administrative Division:  Sher Shah divided his empire into administrative units called "sarkars." Each sarkar was further divided into  Parganas, and the smallest unit was the  Mauza  (village).
•  Local Administration:  Each sarkar was managed by a Chief Shiqdar (responsible for law and order) and a Chief Munsif (judge). Revenue officers, known as  Amils and  Qanungo, were responsible for tracking revenue records.
•  Land Revenue System:  Sher Shah implemented a detailed land revenue system, which included a survey of land and a schedule of crop rates. Cultivable land was classified into three categories: good, middle, and bad. The state’s share of the produce was one-third, paid in cash or crops. New practices such as  Patta  (peasant payment) and  Qabuliyat  (deed of agreement) were introduced.
•  Currency:  Sher Shah introduced new silver coins called "Dam," which were used in various forms across different regions until after 1835.
•  Trade Routes:  He established the Shahi Road, later known as the Grand Trunk (GT) Road, which connected Calcutta and Peshawar. This road was equipped with  Sarais  (lodging places) that served as post offices and eventually developed into market towns.
•  Military Practices:  Sher Shah adopted horse branding practices from Alauddin Khalji and maintained a personal royal force known as  Khasa Kail.

Akbar (1556-1605)

• Akbar's Coronation - Akbar was crowned as the emperor at Kalanaur.
• Hemu's Conquest - Shortly after Akbar became emperor, Hemu, the minister of Muhammad Adil Shah, seized control from Bayana to Delhi, including Agra, and declared himself Vikramaditya.
• Second Battle of Panipat - In November 1556, Akbar's forces, led by Bairam Khan, defeated Hemu in this decisive battle, securing Delhi for the Mughals.
• Bairam Khan's Regency - From 1556 to 1560, Bairam Khan acted as Akbar's guardian and Prime Minister, holding significant power.
• Bairam Khan's Downfall - His concentration of power and arrogant behaviour led to his removal in 1560.

Conquests 

•  Malwa was taken from  Baz Bahadur in  1561.
• In  1562, the  Ain Marwar fortress was seized after a short siege.
•  Chandrasen, the ruler of  Marwar, surrendered to Akbar in  1563.
• Akbar led the assault on  Chittor fort in  1567, which fell in  1568  after strong resistance.
• Forts at  Ranthambhor surrendered in  1569, followed by  Marwar and  Bikaner in  1570.
• The  Battle of Haldighati took place in  1576  between  Akbar and  Rana Pratap Singh.
• Akbar led an expedition to  Gujarat in  1572, culminating in the siege of  Surat in  1573.
•  Bihar and  Bengal were taken by  Daud in  1574-75  .
• After  Muhammad Hakim died in  1586,  Kabul was annexed.
•  Kashmir was annexed in  1586, and  Sindh in  1593  as a step towards conquering  Kandahar.
•  Kandahar was taken from  Persia in  1594.
•  Asirgarh fort was taken in  1601  and  Khandesh was added to the empire.

His Liberal Measures 

• In  1562, Akbar ordered that during wars, Hindu non-combatants and families of combatants should not be captured, enslaved, or forced to convert to  Islam.
• He abolished the pilgrim tax in  1563.
•  Jeziyah was eliminated in  1564.
• Akbar set up a translation department to convert works from  Sanskrit and other languages into  Persian.
• He banned the use of beef and later prohibited the killing of certain animals on specific days in  1583.

 Religious Movements 

•  Dadu's Movement: A non-sectarian movement in  Gujarat by  Dadu, emphasizing the oneness of the Supreme Reality without aligning with  Hindus or  Muslims.
•  Satnami Movement: Founded by  Birbhan, this sect in  Punjab rejected the caste system and idol worship while upholding high moral standards.
•  Narayanian Movement: Initiated by  Haridas in  Maharashtra, this movement focused on the worship of one God,  Narayan.
•  Dharma Movement: A movement in  Maharashtra worshipping  Vithoba and rejecting the caste system.
•  Sufi Movement: Promoted by  Dara Shikoh, this movement emphasized  Tauhid, the unity of God.
•  Reactionary Movements: Led by  Raghunandan of  Navadwipa in  Bengal among orthodox  Hindus, and by  Shaikh Ahmad Sarhindi among orthodox  Muslims.
•  Sikh Guru Arjan's Martyrdom: The fifth  Sikh Guru faced persecution under  Jahangir for political reasons, leading to his death.
•  Jahangir's Military Expeditions: The first military action was against  Rana Amar Singh of  Mewar to address ongoing conflicts.
•  Jahangir's Diplomacy with England:  Captain Hawkins and  Sir Thomas Roe represented  King James I  of  England, visiting Jahangir's court to secure favourable trade concessions for  English merchants.
•  Nur Jahan's Influence: Nur Jahan's family, especially her father, was elevated to high positions in the court due to her influence.

Jahangir (1605-1627)

•  Art and Architecture:  Jahangir was famous for a technique called  Pietra Dura  , where he decorated walls with intricate floral patterns made from semi-precious stones. He built the  Moti Masjid in Lahore and created beautiful gardens like the  Shalimar and  Nishant gardens in Kashmir. Jahangir also introduced the use of halo lights, which were divine lights placed behind the king's head in paintings.
•  Succession and Early Reign:  After the death of  Akbar, Prince Salim became king in 1605, taking the name Jahangir, meaning  Conqueror of the World.
•  Revolts and Political Influences:  Jahangir faced a revolt from his son  Khusrau, who was eventually defeated and imprisoned.  Guru Arjun, the fifth Sikh Guru and a supporter of Khusrau was executed during this time.
•  European Interactions:  During Jahangir's reign, British traders visited  Machilipatnam.  Captain Hawkins and  Thomas Roe also visited Jahangir's court, with Roe receiving a  Farman  (royal decree) to establish an English factory at  Surat, which was later approved by  Shah Jahan.
•  Nurjahan's Influence:  Jahangir's wife,  Nurjahan, wielded significant power and influence over government affairs during his reign.
•  Justice and Military Affairs:  Jahangir set up the  Zanjir-i-adal at  Agra Fort, a system for people seeking royal justice. Military general  Mahtab Khan revolted against Jahangir during his reign.
•  Literary Contribution:  Jahangir authored his autobiography,  Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri, in Persian, detailing his life and reign.
•  Military Expeditions:  Jahangir faced significant challenges from  Malik Amber during military campaigns in  Ahmednagar.
•  Administrative Modification:  He introduced the du-aspah-sih-aspah system, a modification of the  Mansabdari system that allowed nobles to maintain large numbers of troops without increasing their  zat ranks.

Shah Jahan (1628-1658)

• Shah Jahan was in the Deccan when Jahangir died in October 1627.
• His early reign faced challenges from uprisings by the Bundela Chief Juhar Singh and Khan Jahan Lodi.
• In 1632, Shah Jahan expelled the  Portuguese from Hugli and took control of the area.
• The  Nizam Shahi Kingdom of Ahmadnagar was incorporated into the Mughal Empire during his reign.
• In 1636, Shah Jahan appointed his son Aurangzeb as the  Mughal viceroy in the Deccan, dividing the territories into four subahs: Khandesh, Berar, Telangana, and Ahmadnagar.
• In 1639, Ali Mardan Khan, the Persian Governor of Kandahar, surrendered the fort to the Mughals without a fight.
• Shah Abbas II of Persia reclaimed Kandahar from the Mughals in 1649.
• The  Siege of Golconda and Bijapur occurred in 1656 and 1657.
• When Shah Jahan fell ill in September 1657, his sons were in different regions: Dara in Agra, Shuja in Bengal, Aurangzeb in the Deccan, and Murad in Gujarat.
• Foreign visitors, including Frenchmen Bernier and Tavernier and Italian adventurer Manucci, recorded detailed accounts of India during Shah Jahan's reign.

Aurangzeb (1658 -1707)

• Aurangzeb positioned himself as the champion of  Sunni orthodoxy.
• In 1659, he enacted several laws to reinstate the  Muslim code of conduct based on the teachings of the Quran.
• He stopped the practice of inscribing the  Kalima on coins and abolished the celebration of New Year’s Day (nauroz).
• Muhtasibs were appointed in all major cities to enforce Quranic law and eliminate practices that were forbidden.
• He also ended the tradition of weighing the emperor on his birthdays and the practice of  Jharokadarshan.
• In 1668, the celebration of Hindu festivals was banned.
• In 1679-1680, the  Jat peasantry from Mathura revolted under the leadership of Gokala.
• In 1672, the Satanami peasants in Punjab and the Bundelas led by Champat also rose up.

Important Facts about Akbar and His Time

• Akbar's foster mother was  Maham Anaga.
• He successfully put down a rebellion by  Uzbek nobles.
• The new capital of Rana Pratap was not  Chavand, but  Chittorgarh.
•  Chandrasen, the ruler of Marwar, fought against Akbar using guerrilla tactics.
• During Akbar's reign, important texts like the  Singhasan Battisi, the  Atharva Veda, and the  Bible were translated into Persian.
• At the beginning of the 17th century, India's population was about  125 million.
• The  Rajputs were the largest group of Hindu nobility during Akbar's rule, with the  Kachhwahas being the most notable clan.
• In  Aurangzeb's time, Hindus made up  33%  of the nobility, with the  Marathas being more than half of the Hindu nobles.
•  Jahangir was known for starting the fashion of wearing expensive earrings after piercing the ears.
• The  Chettis were a trading community from South India in Mughal India.
• Prohibited taxes during the Mughal era were called abwabs.
• At  Shah Jahan's court,  Jagannath and  Janardan Bhatta were famous musicians.
•  Bihari Lal, a poet in Shah Jahan's time, wrote  Satsai, a collection of  700 dohas and sortas.
• An important historical work from Shah Jahan's era is the  Amal-i-Salih by  Mohammad Salih.
•  Mirza Hossain Ali composed songs in Bengali to praise  Goddess Kali.
•  Amir Khusrau  famously said, "If there is an  Eden of Bliss  on earth, it is this, it is this, none but this."

Women of the Mughal Family

• Gulbadan Begum  was the sister of  Humayun  .  Noor Jahan, also known as  Meherunnisa, was the wife of  Jahangir and the daughter of Ghiyas Beg, who was called  Idmat-ud-Daula.
•  Mumtaz Mahal, whose real name was  Anjumand Banu Begum, was the wife of  Shah Jahan and the mother of  14 children.
•  Jahan Ara was the daughter of  Shah Jahan.
•  Rabiaul-Daurani, also known as  Dilras Banu Begum, was the first wife of  Aurangzeb.

 Mughal Buildings & Builders 

•  Humayun's Tomb in  Delhi was built by  Bega Begum.
• The  Buland Darwaza in  Fatehpur Sikri was commissioned by  Akbar.
•  Shalimar Bagh  in  Srinagar  was created by  Jahangir.
•  Akbar's Tomb in  Sikandara, Agra was started by  Akbar and completed by  Jahangir.
• The  Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula in  Agra was built by  Nur Jahan.
• The  Tomb of Jahangir in  Shahdara Bagh, Lahore was constructed by  Shah Jahan.
• The  Taj Mahal in  Agra was built by  Shah Jahan.
• The  Red Fort in  Delhi was constructed by  Shah Jahan.
• The  Shalimar Gardens in  Lahore were created by  Shah Jahan.
•  Bibi Ka Maqbara  in  Aurangabad  was built by  Azam Shah  .
•  Salim Chisti's Tomb in  Fatehpur Sikri was commissioned by  Akbar.

 Name of the Book Author 

•  Tuzk-e-Baburi was written by  Babur.
•  Humayun Namah  was authored by  Gulbadan Begum  .
•  Akbarnama and  Aini Akbari were written by  Abul Fazi.
•  Tuzk-i-Jahangiri  was penned by  Jahangir .
•  Shah Jahan Namah  was written by  Inayat Khan.
•  Padshah Namah, which is about  Shah Jahan, was authored by  Abdul Hamid Lahori.
•  Alamgirnama, which is about  Aurangzeb, was written by  Mirza Muhammad Kazim.

 Battles Fought Between 

•  1st Battle of Panipat (1526): Babur vs Ibrahim Lodhi 
•  Battle of Khanwa (1527): Babur vs Rana Sanga 
•  Battle of Chausa  (1539):  Sher Shah Suri vs Humayun 
•  2nd Battle of Panipat (1556): Akbar vs Hemu 
•  Battle of Haldighati (1576):  Raja Maan Singh (Mughal army) vs  Rana Pratap 
•  Battle of Samugarh (1658):  Aurangzeb vs Dara Shikoh 
•  Battle of Khanwa (1659):  Aurangzeb  vs  Shah Shuja  (brother)
•  Battle of Karnal (1739):  Nadir Shah vs Muhammad Shah  (Mughal)