Beginnings• Descendants of Genghis Khan & Tamerlane
• ~1000: Turkish armies invade India & establish the Delhi Sultanate– Treat Hindus as conquered
peoples– Rule from Delhi for nearly
400 years• 1398: Tamerlane destroys
the city• 1494: Babur establishes
foundation for Mughal Empire– Excellent general
Akbar • Known as the “Great”– Rules for almost 50
years
• Military: Aggressive commander– Used artillery to conquer
many walled cities
• Political: Appointed rajputs as officers = allies & unification– Empire of 100 million
people
Akbar (cont.)• Allowed religious
freedom– Married Hindus w/o
conversion– Abolished the tax for non-
Muslims
• Everyone could rise to a high government post– Leads to quality leadership– Ex: fair income tax system
= massive wealth
• Land policies prevented development of a feudal system
Culture • Welcomed emissaries from all over the world = cultural diffusion– Languages: Persian, Hindi,
& Urdu
• Books & miniature paintings flourished
• Revival in Hindu literature– Poem of Ramayana
• Architecture: Massive, intricate stone structures– Akbar period architecture
Successors• Jahangir, Akbar’s son, let wife rule state affairs = an iron hand– Princess Nur Jahan
• Brilliant politician & real ruler of India
• Dispute with Khusrau (son) leads to religious conflict– Turns to the Sikhs
(nonviolent religious group)
– Target of Mughal hatred
Shah Jahan
• Successor to Jahangir• Assassinated all political
rivals• Passion for buildings &
his wife, Mumtaz Mahal• 1631: Mahal dies giving
birth• Commissions a beautiful
tomb to be built for her = the Taj Mahal
Suffering• People suffer greatly
under Jahan’s rule– Famine & high taxes
to facilitate ruler’s lifestyle
• 1657: Jahan becomes ill and a civil war b/w his sons erupts over power
• Aurangzeb kills oldest brother & imprisons father
Aurangzeb • Master strategist & builder
• Expands empire to greatest size
• Empire’s power weakens = oppressive– Outlawed many activities
& appointed censors– Brings back tax on non-
Muslims• Outraged Hindus =
rebellion– Birth of Marathas
• Levies high taxes to pay for war = more problems w/ more territory gained
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