Mughal Period | History(Prelims) by UPSC Toppers PDF Download

Mughal Period

Babur 

• The foundation of the Mughal rule in India was laid by Babur in 1526.
• According to famous historian Lavepool, Babur was just a soldier of fortune and not an empire builder.
• He was a descendant of Timur (from the side of his father) and Chengiz Khan (from the side of his mother).
• Babur was invited by Daulat Kahna Lodi and Alam Khan Lodi against Ibrahim Lodi
• Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodhi in the first battle of Panipat on April 21, 1526 and established Mughal dynasty which lasted till the establishment of British rule in India.
• In 1527, he defeated Rana Sanga of Mewar at Khanwa.
• In 1528, he defeated Medini Rai of Chaneri at Chanderi.
• In 1529, he defeated Muhammad Lodhi (uncle of Ibrahim Lodhi) at Ghaghra.
• In 1530, he died at Agra. His tomb is at Lahore. The tomb of only two Mughal emperors are outside India i.e. Babur and Bahadur Shah Zafar
• He adopted Tughluma and flanking party system and first to use gunpowder and artillery in India.
• Two gun masters Mustafa and Ustad Ali were in his army
• He wrote his autobiography Tuzuk-i-Baburi in Turki in which he gives an excellent account of India and his empire.
• Tuzuk-i-Baburi was translated in Persian (named Baburnama) by Abdur Rahim Khan-e-khana and in English by Madan Bebridge.
• He compiled two anthologies of poems, Diwan (in Turki) and Mubaiyan (in Persian). He also wrote Risal-i-Usaz or letters of Babur.

Humayun (1530-40 and 1555-56)

• Humayun was one of the very few monarchs in the history of the world who during the lifetime lost a vast empire and later on was able to recover the same.
• He was the son of Babur and ascended the throne in 1530. His succession was challenged by his brothers Kamran, Hindal and Askari alongwith the Afghans.
• Bahadur Shah of Gujarat was also one of the rival
• In 1532 he established Tabl-e-adl at Agra
• He fought two battles against Sher Shah at Chausa (1539) and at Kannauj/Bilgram (1540) and was completely defeated by him.
• In battle of Chausa near Buxar Humayun adopted a faulty strategy placing river Karmansa at his back
• He escaped to Iran where he passed 12 years of his life in exile.
• After Sher Shah’s deat Humayun invaded India in 1555 and defeated his brothers the Afghans. He once again became the ruler of India.
• He died while climbing down the stairs of his library (at Din Panah) in 1556 and was buried in Delhi.
• Abul Fazal calls him Insan-e-Kamil.
• His sister, Gulbadan Begum wrote his biography Humayunama.
• He built Din Panah at Delhi as his second capital.

Sur Empire (Second Afghan Empire) 1540-55

Sher Shah: 1540-45

• He was the son of Hasan Khan, the Jagirdar of Sasaram.
• Matrimonial alliances played a major role in ascendency of Sher Shah
• When ruler of Bihar died the power passed into the hands of his widow Dudu, Sher Shah became the guardian
• When commandant of the fort of Chunar, Taj Khan was defeated his wife Lad Malika married Sher Shah
• Bibi Fateh Mallika from Bahloli dynasty came to Sher Shah
• In 1539, he defeated Humayun in the battle of Chausa and assumed the title Sher Shah as emperor.
• As an emperor, he conquested Malwa (1542), Ranthambhor (1542), Raisin (1543), Rajputana-annexation of Marwar (1542), Chittor (1544) & Kalinjar (1545). He died in 1545 while conquesting Kalinjar.
• Purana Quila was built during his reign
• During his brief reign of 5 years he introduced a brilliant administration, land revenue policy and several other measures to improve economic conditions of his subjects.
• He issued the coin called Rupiah and fixed standard weights and measures all over the empire.
• He also improved communications by building several highways. He built the Grand Trunk Road (G.T. Road), which runs from Calcutta to Peshawar. The other roads built during his reign were:

1. Agra to Mandu
2. Agra to Jodhpur and Chittor
3. Lahore to Multan

• He set up cantonment in various parts of his empire and strong garrison was posted in each cantonments.
• He built 1700 sarais (rest house) at a distance of 2 kos. These sarais acted as the postal department too.
• A custodian Sahana was appointed at each Sarai.
• The local Zamindars and headmen were held responsible if the theft or any other crime took place in their respective areas
• To promote trade he gave strict instructions that local state officials should not injure the traders and merchants.
• According to Abul Fazal the empire of Sher Shah was divided into 63 sarkars or districts.
• The various administrative units and their head were as: 

• Land was measured and 1/3rd of the average was fixed as land tax. The peasant was given a patta (title deed) and a qabuliyat (deed of agreement) which fixed the peasant’s rights and taxes.
• The unit of land measurement was “bihga”
• The rate list was called “Rai”
• The additional tax of 2.5 kg per bigha was collected as an emergency tax for famine
• He like Allauddin Khalji introduced Dagh and Chera in the army
• Zamindars were removed and the taxes were directly collected.
• He was buried in Sasaram.

Successors of Sher Shah

• Sher Shah was succeeded by his son, Jamal Khan who became ruler as Islam Shah
• Islam Shah shifted the capital from Agra to Gwalior
• He also brought treasury of Sher Shah from Chunar to Gwalior
• The most important event during his reign was codification of Islamic laws
• After the death of Islam Shah the Afghan Empire was divided into three parts

Akbar

• Akbar, the eldest son of Humayun, ascended the throne under the title of Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar Badshah Ghazi at the young age of 14.
• His coronation took place at Kalanaur.
• Second Battle of Panipat (5 Nov., 1556) was fought between Hemu (the Hindu General of Muhammad Adil Shah) and Biram Khan (the regent of Akbar). Hemu was defeated, captured and slain by Bairam Khan.
• In the initial years of his rule Akbar was first under the influence of his reagent Bairam and then under her mother Maham Anga.
• The period of influence of Maham Anga on Akbar i.e. form 1560-62 is known as the period of Petticoat government.
• The Rajputa kingdom of Mewar put up a fierce resistance to the expansion of Mughal Empire under Rana Uday Singh (1537-72) and his son Rana Pratap (1572-97).
• The following are the list of annexations made in Mughal Empire during Akbar’s reign
• Akbar entered into matrimonial alliance with various Rajput kingdoms like Amber, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur

The landmark events that took place during the reign of Akbar

 Other major reforms made by Akbar

1. Age of marriage for boys and girls was increased to 16 years and 14 years respectively
2. Monogamy was made law
3. Sati was prohibited

• In his 24^th year Akbar introduced Dashala system for the collection of land revenue by the state. The following were the features of this system:

1. Under this system the land revenue was based upon the average production of last ten year
2. One third of this was fixed as the share of the state

• The Mansabdari system under Akbar, divided the Mansabdars into 66 categories. This system fixed the following service conditions:

1. Rank and status
2. Salary
3. Number of sawars (horsemen)

• As a revolt against the orthodoxy and bigotry of religious priests, Akbar proclaimed a new religion, Din-i-Ilahi, in 1581.
• The new religion was based on a synthesis of values taken from several religions like Hindusim, Islam, Jainism and Christianity. It did not recognize the Prophet, Birbal was the only Hindu who followed this new religion.
• Din-i-Ilahi, however, did not become popular.
• Kazi of Jaunpur issued fatwa against Akbar
• Akbar built Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort, Lahore Fort and Allahabad Fort and Humayun’s Tomb at Delhi. Fatehpur Sikri, place near Agra-it said that Akbar had no son for a long time. Sheikh Salim Chisti, a Sufi saint blessed Akbar with a son who was named Salim/Sheikho Baba (Jahangir). In honour of Salim Chisti, Akbar Shifted his court from Agra to Fatehpur Sikri.
• Tulsidas (author of Ramcharitmanas) also lived during Akbar’s period.
• When Akbar died, he was buried at Sikandara near Agra.
• Birbal was killed in the battle with Yusufzai Tribe (1586).
• Abul Fazl was murdered by Bir Singh Bundela (1601).
• Akbar gave Mughal India one official language (Persian).

 Jahangir (1605-27)

• Salim, son of Akbar, came to the throne after Akbar’s death in 1605.
• Earlier he revolted in Allahabad
• Man Singh was his maternal uncle while Aziz Koka was his father-in-law
• In 1602 he issued 12 ordinances.
• He established Zanjir-i-Adal (i.e. Chain of Justice) at Agra Fort for the seekers of royal justice.
• In 1611, Jahangir married Mihar-un-nisa, widow of Sher Afghan, a Persian nobleman who was sent on expedition to Bengal. Later on she was given the title Nurjahan.
• Nurjahan excercised tremendous influence over the state affairs. She was made the official Padshah Begum.
• Jahangir issued coins jointly in Jurjahan’s name and his own.
• Jahangir also married Jodha Bai of Marwar, and a Kachhawaha princess.
• In 1608, Captain William Hawkins, a representative of East India Company came to Jahangir’s court. He was given the mansab of 400. In 1615 Sir Thomas Roe, an ambassador of King James I of England also came to his court. Though initially Jahangir resisted, later on he granted permission to the English to establish a trading port at Surat.
• A political triumph during Jahangir reign was the submission of Rana Amar Singh of Mewar (1615).
• Jahangir captured the strong fort of Kangara (1620).
• The Deccan policy of Jahangir was not based on expansion but to retain the area that was conquered under Akbar
• A part of Ahmadnagar was also annexed. Malik Amber ceded back to the Mughal the territory of Balaghat (Maharashtra).
• His reign was marked by several revolts. His son Khusrau, who received patronage of 5th Sikh Guru Arjun Dev, revolted against Jahangir (1605). Arjun Dev was later sentenced to death for his blessing to the rebel prince (1606).
• During his last period, Khurram (Shanjahan), son of Jahangir, and Mahavat Khan, military general of Jahangir also revolted (Khurram: 1622-25 and Mahavat Kha : 1626-27).
• He wrote his memories Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri in Persian.
• He was buried in Lahore.

Shah Jahan                                 

• His real name was Khurram, he was born to Jodha Bai (daughter of Raja Jagat Singh).
• Shahjahan ascended the throne in 1628 after his father’s death.
• The first thing that he had to face was revolts in Bundelkhand (Jujhar Singh and Champat Rai the Bundelas of Orchha : 1628-35) and the Deccan (Khan-i-Jahan Lodhi, the governor of Deccan : 1629-31)
• Three years after his accession, his beloved wife Mumtaj Mahal (original name- Arzumand Bano) died in 1631. To perpetuate her memory he built the Taj Mahal at Agra in 1632-53.
• In 1631-32, he defeated Portuguese.
• He continued applying tika (tilak) on the fore-head
• He introduced the Char-Taslim in the court
• He introduced a new department for Muslim conversion
• In addition to Jahangir’s empire, Nizam Shahi’s dynasty of Ahmadnagar was brought under Mughal control (1633) by Shahjahan.
• The Deccan Sultanate of Bijapur and Golconda accepted his suzerainty in 1636.
• He sent his army to Balkh in order to secure the defence of North-Western India (1647).
• Shajahan who had recovered Kandhar (Afghanistan) in 1638 from the Iranians lost it again in 1647 despite three campaign under prince Murad, Aurangzeb and Dara.
• Shahjahan’s reign is described by French traveler Bernier and Tavernier and the Italian traveler Nicoli Manucci. Peter Mundi described the famine that occurred during Shahjahan’s time.
• Shahjahan’s reign is said to have marked the pinnacle of the Mughal dynasty and empire. He is known for the promotion of art, culture and architecture during his time.
• The Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Taj Mahal are some of the magnificent structures built during his reign.
• Shahjahan’s failing health set off the war of succession among his four sons in 1657.
• Aurangzeb emerged the victor who crowned himself in July 1658. Shahjahan was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb in the Agra Fort where he died in captivity in 1666. He was buried at Taj (Agra).

Aurangzeb

• The war of succession took place in the later stage of the Shah Jahan reign.
• His four sons Dara Shikoa, Aurangzeb, Shah Shuja and Murad were in the state of war for the throne.
• His daughters also supported one son or the other in the tussle for throne

1. Janah Ara supported Dara
2. Roshan Ara supported Aurangzeb
3. Guhara supported Murad.

• Aurangzeb was coroneted twice, he was the only Mughal king to be coroneted twice
• Barnier was the foreign visitor who saw the public disgrace of Dara after he was finally deafeated in war at Deorai.
• During the first 23 years of the rule (1658-81) Aurangazeb concentrated on North India. During this period the Marathas under Shivaji rose to power and were a force to reckon with.
• Highest numbers of Hindu Mansabdars were there in the service of Mughals during the reign of Aurangzeb. However these Hindus consist of Marathas and not Rajputs.

• Aurangzeb captured Guru Teg Bahadur, the 9th Guru of Sikhs in 1675 and executed him when he refused to embrace Islam.
• The 10^th and last Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, son of Guru Teg Bahadur, organized his followers into militant force called Khalsa to avenge the murder of his father.
• Guru Gobind Singh was, however murdered in 1708 by an Afghan in Deccan. Banda Bahadur, the militant successor of Guru Gobind Singh continued the war against Mughals.

Religious policy of Aurangzeb

• He was called Zindapir or living saint
• Muhatasibs were appointed for regulation of moral conduct of the subjects
• He forbade singing in the court, but allowed musical instruments. He himself played Veena
• He ended Jhoraka darshan started by Akbar
• He ordered that no new Hindu temples were to be built. Old temples were allowed to be repaired
• The Viswanath temple at Kashi and the Keshav Rai temple of Bir Singh Bundela at Mathura were destroyed
• In 1679 he re-imposed Jaziyah tax

Deccan Policy of Aurangzeb

Deccan policy of Aurangzeb can be divided into three phases:

• First Phase (1658-68): The aim of the Deccan policy was to gain from Bijapur, the areas given to them by the treaty of 1636. As a result Kalyani and Bedar were secured.
• Second Phase (1668-84): The aim of the policy was to deal and defeat Marathas with the help of Bijapur and Golconda.
• The aim of the policy was to deal and defeat Marathas with the help of Bijapur and Golconda.
• Third Phase (1684-1707): It was realized that annexation of Bijapur and Golconda is essential to defeat Marathas. In 1686, Bijapur was annexed and in 1687, Golonda was annexed.
• Shivaji was the most powerful Maratha king and an arch enemy of Aurangzeb.
• When Aurangzeb could not eliminate him, he conspired with Jai Singh of Amber, a Rajput, to eliminate Shivaji in 1665.
• On the assurance given by Jai Singh, Shivaji visited Aurangzeb’s court. Shivaji was imprisoned by Aurangzeb but he managed to escape and in 1674 proclaimed himself an independent monarch.
• Shivaji died in 1680 and was succeeded by his son Sambhaji, who was executed by Aurangzeb in 1689. Sambhaji was succeeded by his brother Rajaram and after his death in 1700, his widow Tarabai carried on the movements.

Mughal administration

Mansabdari system during Mughals

• It was introduced in 1577 as a military and civil services. It was a means to integrate the nobility as well the army.
• Each Mughal officer was assigned a mansab (rank), there were 66 categories of Mansabdars
• The Mansabdars had to maintain a fixed quota of men, horses, elephant etc.
• Jahangir introduced Du-Aspah-Sih-Aspah system whereby the specific noble was to maintain double the number of horsemen
• Shah Jahan introduced Jama-Dami or Mahana Zagir (monthly Scale) system.
• Jagirdari system was the assignment of land in proportion to a Jagirdar’s salary. Hence, every Mansabdar was entitled to a jagir if he was not paid in cash.
• Madad-i-maash or Suyur ghal or Inam were land grants to people of favour/religious assignment.

Central administration of Mughals

The following were the important departments and officers at the central level:

1. Wakil: He was initially the prime minister, however later became revenue advisor only
2. Mir Bakshi: He was the head of military department
3. Mir Saman: He was the incharge of royal household
4. Quaziul Qazat: He was the chief Quazi
5. Diwan-i-Bayatut- He was superintendent of royal workshops
6. Mir Munshi: He was in charge of royal correspondence
7. Daroga-i-Taksal: In charge of mints

Provincial administration

• The empire was divided into provinces or Subas
• In 1580, Akbar divided the empire into 12 provinces. The number of provinces became 15 towards the end of his reign.
• In Jahangir’s reign the number of provinces rose to 17 and further in Aurangzeb’s reign to 21
• The Nazim or Subedar was the head of provinces
• At provincial level  Diwan, Bakshi and Sadr were akin to that at the central level

Local administration

• The provinces were divided into Sarkars, which were sub divide into Parganas and further into villages
• Village was the smallest unit of administration.

The Sarkars were governed by:

1. Faujdar: Incharge of law and order
2. Amalguzar: Head of revenue administration
3. Bitkichi: The record keeper
4. Khazandar: Treasurer

The officers at Pargana level were:

1. Shikdar: Incharge of law and order
2. Amil: Judicial officer
3. Fotedar: Treasurer
4. Qanungo: Head accountant

The officers at village level consist of:

1. Lambardar- The village headman
2. Patwari- The accountant
3. Chaukidar- The watchman

Mughal Literature

 Mughal Culture

• The Mughal period is well known for the buildings and architecture
• Jahangir’s reign was the apex culmination for the Mughal painting while that of Shah Jahan was the apex culmination for architecture
• Babur built two mosques, one at Kabulibagh in Panipat and the other at Sambhal in Rohilakhand.
• Humayun’s tomb was built by his widow Haji  Banu Begum.
• An unusual building at Fatehpur Sikri is Panch Mahal which has the plan of Buddhist Vihara.
• The Mariam’s palace, Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-Khas at Sikri are Indian in their plan.
• Buland Darwaja (built after Gujarat victory), formed the main entrance to Fatehpur Sikri.
• Salim Chisti’s tomb (redone in Marble by Jahangir) is the first Mughal building in pure marble). Palace of Birbal and palace of Tansen are also inside the Fatehpur Sikri.
• Akbar also began to build his own tomb at Sikandara which was later completed by Jahangir.
• The architecture of Fatehpur Sikri is known as Epic in red sand stone.
• Nurjahan built Itimad-ud-daula or Mirza Ghiyas Beg’s marble tomb at Agra, which is noticable for the first use of Pietra Dura (floral designs made up of semiprecious stones) technique.
• Jahangir introduced vigorous use of marble instead of red sand stone and use of pietra dura for decorative purpose.
• Jahangir built Moti Masjid in Lahore and his mausoleum at Shahdara (Lahore).
• Mosque building activity reached its climax in Taj Mahal. Shahjahan also built the Jama Masjid.
• Some of the important buildings built by Shahajahan at Agra are Moti Masjid (only Mosque of marble). Khaas Mahal, Mussmman Burz (Jasmine Palace where he spent his last year in captivity) etc.
• He laid the foundations of Shahjahanabad in 1637 where he built the Red Fort and Takht-i-Taus (Peacock throne).
• Only building by Aurangzeb in the Red Fort is Moti Masjid.
• Only monument associated with Aurangzeb is Bibi ka Makbara which is the tomb of his wife Rabbia-ud-daura in Aurangabad.
• Aurangzeb also built the Badshahi Masjid in Lahore.
• Humayun had taken into his service two master painter Mir Syed Ali and Abdus Samad.
• Daswant and Basawan were two famous painters of Akbar’s court.
• Abdul Hassan, Ustad Mansur and Bishandas were three famous painters of Jahangir’s court.
• Jahangir claims that he could distinguish the work of each artist in a picture.