The Mughal Empire The Mughal Empire

Founding of the Mughal Founding of the Mughal Empire Empire

Babur founderBabur founder– Turkish decent Turkish decent – Married to a descendent of Genghis Married to a descendent of Genghis

KhanKhan Conquers Delhi in 1526 to officially Conquers Delhi in 1526 to officially

start the empire start the empire

HumayunHumayun

Succeeds his father to the throne Succeeds his father to the throne Not as effective or likeable Not as effective or likeable Rumors of opium addiction Rumors of opium addiction

throughout his reign throughout his reign Two decades of his reign are Two decades of his reign are

survived but not plentiful survived but not plentiful

Akbar Akbar

Takes the throne at age 13 and rules for Takes the throne at age 13 and rules for 50 years 50 years

Much more successful rulerMuch more successful ruler– Expanded empire Expanded empire – Use of fire arms Use of fire arms – Mansabas to pay for his armies Mansabas to pay for his armies

Illiterate Illiterate Tolerant of religions Tolerant of religions

– One of his wives was a Hindu One of his wives was a Hindu Famous for his patronage of the arts Famous for his patronage of the arts

Akbar Akbar

Most illustrious ruler of the Mughal Most illustrious ruler of the Mughal empire empire

How did he differ from his Ottoman How did he differ from his Ottoman and Safavid counterparts?and Safavid counterparts?

Married a Rajput Princess who was a Married a Rajput Princess who was a Hindu and welcomed her family Hindu and welcomed her family

Very prosperous Very prosperous

Rajputs Rajputs

Warrior Class from northern IndiaWarrior Class from northern India Hindu Hindu Approximately 15% of Mansabas Approximately 15% of Mansabas Confirmed the policy of religious Confirmed the policy of religious

accommodation accommodation

Major Differences Between Major Differences Between Peoples Peoples

ReligionReligion– Indian predominately Hindu Indian predominately Hindu – Muslim minority ruling Hindu majority Muslim minority ruling Hindu majority – Muslim beliefs and Hindu beliefs not easily Muslim beliefs and Hindu beliefs not easily

integrated into a single society integrated into a single society – Need a new way of ruling a country with these Need a new way of ruling a country with these

kind of differences kind of differences

Religion Religion

MuslimsMuslims– Destroy Hindu monuments Destroy Hindu monuments – Expand into Hindu territory Expand into Hindu territory – Enslaving prisoners of war and forcing Enslaving prisoners of war and forcing

conversion to Islam conversion to Islam Potentially dangerous division within Potentially dangerous division within

the country the country Akbar eases tensions by stopping Akbar eases tensions by stopping

worst of the abuse worst of the abuse

Akbar and ReligionAkbar and Religion

Declares himself the infallible Declares himself the infallible messenger of God in 1579messenger of God in 1579– Would this be allowed under Islam? Would this be allowed under Islam?

Why or why not?Why or why not?– What do you believe is his main purpose What do you believe is his main purpose

for doing this?for doing this? Allows for cases to be heard by Allows for cases to be heard by

himself himself

New Religion?New Religion?

Akbar creates a new religionAkbar creates a new religion– Mix of Muslim, Hindu, Zoroastrian, Sikh Mix of Muslim, Hindu, Zoroastrian, Sikh

and Christian beliefs and Christian beliefs

New Religion?New Religion?

What is Zoroastrianism?What is Zoroastrianism?– One of the worlds oldest monotheistic religion One of the worlds oldest monotheistic religion

Ahura Mazda Ahura Mazda

– Elements are pure and fire represents gods Elements are pure and fire represents gods light and wisdomlight and wisdom

– Focus on good works, thoughts and deedsFocus on good works, thoughts and deeds– Cord with three knots Cord with three knots – Pray facing a source of light (such as the sun)Pray facing a source of light (such as the sun)– Keep minds, bodies, and spirits pure to defeat Keep minds, bodies, and spirits pure to defeat

evil evil

New Religion?New Religion? What is Sikhism?What is Sikhism?

– Founded in 15Founded in 15thth century century – Practice religion by coping with everyday Practice religion by coping with everyday

problems in the world problems in the world – There is only one GodThere is only one God– God is without form, or genderGod is without form, or gender– Everyone has direct access to GodEveryone has direct access to God– Everyone is equal before GodEveryone is equal before God– A good life is lived as part of a community, by A good life is lived as part of a community, by

living honestly and caring for othersliving honestly and caring for others– Empty religious rituals and superstitions have Empty religious rituals and superstitions have

no valueno value

New Religion?New Religion?

Akbar creates a new religionAkbar creates a new religion– Mix of Muslim, Hindu, Zoroastrian, Sikh Mix of Muslim, Hindu, Zoroastrian, Sikh

and Christian beliefs and Christian beliefs Brings together scholars of all Brings together scholars of all

religions to listen to them debate religions to listen to them debate Made part of the court a religious Made part of the court a religious

ritual ritual This did not continue after his death This did not continue after his death

Conversions Under AkbarConversions Under Akbar

Why would non-Muslim individuals Why would non-Muslim individuals convert even if they were not forced convert even if they were not forced to do so?to do so?

Economics under AkbarEconomics under Akbar Relatively peaceful time period Relatively peaceful time period

– Conflict with other Indian PrincesConflict with other Indian Princes Booming trade in cotton cloth with the Booming trade in cotton cloth with the

Europeans Europeans – Foreign trade from the port of Surat Foreign trade from the port of Surat – Most Europeans had lost control of ports and so Most Europeans had lost control of ports and so

were seen as an ally to the Indians were seen as an ally to the Indians Military protection for trade rights Military protection for trade rights

– No Navy of their own No Navy of their own Did not understand the inflation of the Did not understand the inflation of the

silver in Europe and the incredibly cheap silver in Europe and the incredibly cheap price they were giving the Europeans price they were giving the Europeans

AurangzebAurangzeb

Overzealous grandson of AkbarOverzealous grandson of Akbar Reversed stance on religious toleranceReversed stance on religious tolerance

– Caused conflict within his own empire Caused conflict within his own empire Beheaded the 9Beheaded the 9thth Guru of Sikhism Guru of Sikhism

– Lead to the formation of the “Army of the Lead to the formation of the “Army of the Pure” Pure”

Religion begins to be at the center of Religion begins to be at the center of armed conflict within the country armed conflict within the country

Downfall of the Mughal Downfall of the Mughal Empire Empire

Land-Grant System Land-Grant System Inability of Aurangzeb to effectively Inability of Aurangzeb to effectively

administer the areas under his control administer the areas under his control Challenges to military from regional players Challenges to military from regional players

– Marathas Marathas – Kikhs Kikhs – Hindu Rajputs Hindu Rajputs – Afghans Afghans

Invaded by Nadir ShahInvaded by Nadir Shah– General who took control after the fall of the General who took control after the fall of the

Safavids Safavids – Sacks Delhi and takes the throne with him Sacks Delhi and takes the throne with him

Limping Empire Limping Empire

Officials begin breaking apart and Officials begin breaking apart and declaring themselves independent declaring themselves independent

Religious groups break away and Religious groups break away and gain their freedom and flourish gain their freedom and flourish

Leaves the region susceptible to Leaves the region susceptible to European intrusion and conquest European intrusion and conquest