Mughal Empire (1526-1761)
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Mughal Empire (1526-1858). ↓ ↓ means Mongol Moslem Empire in Persian Located in India Mughals established by Turkic Warrior Babur in 1525 (Lived: 1483-1530) Mughal- one of the nomads who invaded the Indian subcontinent in the sixteenth century and established a powerful empire there. Grandson = Akbar: tolerant and inquisitive Established central administration and granted nonhereditary land revenues to military officers and government officials Efficient administration and peace to prosperous northern heartland, while lost lots of blood and treasure on wars with Hindus in Southern India and Afghanistan in West Foreign trade increased Did not maintain navy or merchant marine: Preferred Europeans to be carriers Hindus horrified with violence and destruction from Mughals, but no major resistance from Hindus Only 15% of Mughal officials holding land revenues were Hindu Akbar: (Ruled 1556-1605). Took over at 13 years old Commanded government on own at 20 years old Wanted reconciliation between Hindu and Moslem Married Hindu Rajput princess Introduced reforms = lowered taxes and lowered legal discrimination against Hindus Abolished tax on non-Moslems (jizya). Hindu and Moslem elements mixed Military conqueror. Canons. Appointed ‘rajputs’ (Hindu warriors) as officers. Unified India. Preached religious and racial tolerance. Anyone could rise to high positions. Implemented a graduated income tax-like system. Persian was major language of the empire. Expanded arts and literature. Built Akbar architecture. Islam was already established in India during 8th Century Spread of Islam in east Bengal – presence of Moslem mansabdars (Mughal Warrior Officials) Rice-agricultural farming communities Punjab in Northwest India: Nanak (1469-1539) Developed Sikh Religion 9th Guru failed to convert to Islam – beheaded: led to the creation of the Sikh Religion Militant “army of the pure” Sikhs – military threat to Mughals in 18th Century Akbar’s Successors: Jahangir (Ruled 1605-1627): Wife = Nur Jahan really ruled the empire. Jahangir’s rebellious son Khusrau turned to Sikh religion. Sikhism – religion which blends Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sufism. Leader = Guru Arjun. ↓ Persecuted by Mughals. Shah Jahan (Ruled 1628-1658): Built Taj Mahal as a memorial to his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Taj Mahal – a beautiful tomb in Agra, India. Famine, high taxes, and war brought empire to decline. Aurangzeb (Ruled 1658-1707): Oppressive ruler. Fierce Moslem ruler who totally oppressed Hindu people and its culture. Hindus rebelled Financing war brought empire in decline. 2,000,000 died in famine. Central Decay and regional Challenges: 1707-1761 Mughals declined after Aurangzeb died in 1707 Reasons for failure: land grant system, failure to bring new conquered land under Mughal administration Increase in regional powers Nadir Shah invaded Delhi (1739) Empire really ended on this date, but the Mughal Empire name lasted until 1857. Independent States Developed: Prosperous Could not stop Europeans entering India Example: France’s Joseph Dupleix captured English trading center of Madras. Became a power broker in Southern India until 1754 Maritime World of Islam: Not sure when or how Islam spread to Southeast Asia Conversion and Moslem communities began in port cities and royal courts in 14th Century - Spread to countryside via Sufi Moslem political ideology = resistance to the Europeans Example: Sulu Archipelago, Mindanao, Brunei, Acheh Southeast Asia Kingdoms deviated from standard practice of Islam Royal Courts and port cities – began to adapt a more Orthodox version of Islam Rural Southeast Asia Moslems combined Islam with their original local religion Coastal Africa: Swahili Coast – Moslem cities on coast – not well connected – not much contact with the interior – cities competed with one another for trade Portugal conquered all Swahili ports except Malindi (ally of Portugal) 1650-1729: Arabs of Oman – drove Portugal out of Swahili Coast – created an empire of its own Northwest Africa: Spain and Portugal captured Morocco – military response from Sa’adi Family – descendents of Muhammad During 17th Century – British ships faced raids by Moroccans (even in Great Britain) Moslem Sea Traders = Algerians, Tunisians, Libyans fought European-style war against European ships = Mediterranean Sea Southern Seas: Dutch drove out Portugal from Malacca (1641) Dutch conquered Sumatra and Java and Established colonial capital at Batavia (now- Jakarta) Southeastern Asia: Dutch lost monopoly control to other European countries in 18th Century Dutch turned to crop production: lumber and coffee .