Royalty Is a Remedy for the Spirit of Rebellion
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170 THE MEDIEVAL WORLD 171 See also: Muhammad receives the divine revelation 78–81 ■ The founding of Baghdad 86–93 ■ The fall of Granada 128–29 ■ The fall of Constantinople 138–41 ■ The founding of the Safavid dynasty, Persia 198 ROYALTY IS A REMEDY Support and survival himself was often on the move, Akbar maintained the political traveling with his court and harem unity of his sprawling realm by in well-appointed tents. FOR THE SPIRIT OF building an administration capable Another unifying factor was the of expansion as new territories spread of Islam, together with its were incorporated. He created a arts and culture; however, Akbar REBELLION network of highly paid nobles who believed in religious freedom and served as provincial governors, or allowed the empire’s non-Muslim THE CONQUESTS OF AKBAR THE GREAT (1556) were employed as commanders of populations, which included a large field armies or as part of the central Hindu majority, to live by their own military—the backbone of the faiths, laws, and customs. empire. He also recruited talented men from across India (and Persia), Interaction with Persia both Muslim and Hindu, into his Babur, the founder of the Mughal government, remunerating them dynasty, and Humayun, Akbar’s Akbar While in exile in Persia, Akbar’s father, Humayun, develops IN CONTEXT with money or land. father, had developed diplomatic, close ties with the Safavid court, who help him recover some Akbar was just 13 years old FOCUS of his territories in India. This system rewarded cultural, and political links with individual merit and loyalty, but another Islamic empire in the region, when he inherited the Mughal Islamic empires kept the administration from Safavid Persia, which stimulated throne, and initially ruled under a regent, Bairam Khan, becoming too centralized—a Mughal interest in Persian fine arts BEFORE who assisted him in forcibly 1501 The Safavid dynasty Akbar wins the Second Battle of Panipat and the distinct advantage in an empire such as miniature painting and unifying India’s collection unites Persia; they make Shi’a Mughal dynasty goes on to becomes the dominant that was difficult to hold together the “art of the book.” Akbar set up of regional kingdoms into a Islam the state religion, and power on the Indian subcontinent. from a single center. The emperor studios to produce illustrated books single, centralized political suppress all other religions in the cities of Fatehpur Sikri system within which the and other forms of Islam. and Lahore (now in Pakistan), and emperor was the supreme Persian architects and artisans source of authority. 1526 At the first Battle of Persian artists and were brought to India to design Under Akbar, the dynasty Panipat, Babur, a descendant Akbar strengthens the cultural, commercial, and scholars are lured to India and construct palaces, forts, became an artistic as well as of Mongol rulers Timur and political bonds between by the Mughal mosques, and public buildings, military power. Painting and Genghis Khan, conquers Delhi Persia and India. court’s brilliance. including Humayun’s tomb literature blossomed under and founds the Mughal Empire. in Delhi. This domed structure the emperor’s patronage— although he himself was 1540 Babur’s successor, inspired major architectural innovations, and a unique Persian- illiterate, he acquired a library Humayun, rapidly loses much of 24,000 books. His capital at influenced building style developed of the empire and is exiled. Persian culture influences northern Indian literary, architectural, Fatehpur Sikri also became a across the Indian subcontinent. and artistic traditions, resulting in a distinctive Mughal style. center for religious debate and AFTER The Mughal Empire continued his court a place of culture and 1632 The Taj Mahal, the to prosper under Akbar’s son learning. Although he never crowning glory of Mughal Jahangir, but later in the 17th renounced Islam, Akbar was architecture, is commissioned. n February 1556, Abu Akbar inflicted a crushing defeat on century it declined amid religious open to the ideas of other became the new ruler of the Hemu, and regained territory lost conflict and economic problems. faiths, and he invited Hindu, 1658–1707 The Mughal I Muslim Mughal dynasty in by Akbar’s father, Humayun. Akbar The emperors were defeated by Christian, and Buddhist Empire reaches its greatest northern India, founded 30 years then gradually consolidated and Afghan invaders, then came under philosophers to debate with extent under Aurangzeb, but earlier by Turkic-Mongol invaders extended his authority, annexing the control of the Marathas, Hindu the Muslim theologians at his his harsh rule leads to revolt. from Central Asia. The emperor’s all of northern and part of central warriors who dominated Indian court. He even conceived a forces immediately confronted the India. Rulers were deposed and In this miniature painting, the affairs in the second half of the new religion, which combined 1858 The last Mughul emperor Mughals are seen battling their Hindu army of Hemu, a rival claimant to killed and citizens massacred 18th century, and finally were taken elements of all these faiths, is removed by the British. enemies at Panipat. As later conquests with himself as the deity. the throne of Delhi, at the Second as once-independent kingdoms added money, men, and weapons to the over by the British after Britain Battle of Panipat. The Mughals became provinces of his empire. imperial army, it became supreme. defeated the Marathas in 1818. ■ US_170-171_Akbar_2nd_battle_Panipat.indd 170 15/02/2016 16:42 US_170-171_Akbar_2nd_battle_Panipat.indd 171 15/02/2016 16:42 THE MEDIEVAL WORLD 171 See also: Muhammad receives the divine revelation 78–81 ■ The founding of Baghdad 86–93 ■ The fall of Granada 128–29 ■ The fall of Constantinople 138–41 ■ The founding of the Safavid dynasty, Persia 198 Support and survival himself was often on the move, Akbar maintained the political traveling with his court and harem unity of his sprawling realm by in well-appointed tents. building an administration capable Another unifying factor was the of expansion as new territories spread of Islam, together with its were incorporated. He created a arts and culture; however, Akbar network of highly paid nobles who believed in religious freedom and served as provincial governors, or allowed the empire’s non-Muslim were employed as commanders of populations, which included a large field armies or as part of the central Hindu majority, to live by their own military—the backbone of the faiths, laws, and customs. empire. He also recruited talented men from across India (and Persia), Interaction with Persia both Muslim and Hindu, into his Babur, the founder of the Mughal government, remunerating them dynasty, and Humayun, Akbar’s Akbar with money or land. father, had developed diplomatic, This system rewarded cultural, and political links with Akbar was just 13 years old individual merit and loyalty, but another Islamic empire in the region, when he inherited the Mughal kept the administration from Safavid Persia, which stimulated throne, and initially ruled under a regent, Bairam Khan, becoming too centralized—a Mughal interest in Persian fine arts who assisted him in forcibly distinct advantage in an empire such as miniature painting and unifying India’s collection that was difficult to hold together the “art of the book.” Akbar set up of regional kingdoms into a from a single center. The emperor studios to produce illustrated books single, centralized political in the cities of Fatehpur Sikri system within which the and Lahore (now in Pakistan), and emperor was the supreme Persian architects and artisans source of authority. were brought to India to design Under Akbar, the dynasty and construct palaces, forts, became an artistic as well as mosques, and public buildings, military power. Painting and including Humayun’s tomb literature blossomed under in Delhi. This domed structure the emperor’s patronage— inspired major architectural although he himself was innovations, and a unique Persian- illiterate, he acquired a library of 24,000 books. His capital at influenced building style developed Fatehpur Sikri also became a across the Indian subcontinent. center for religious debate and The Mughal Empire continued his court a place of culture and to prosper under Akbar’s son learning. Although he never Jahangir, but later in the 17th renounced Islam, Akbar was century it declined amid religious open to the ideas of other conflict and economic problems. faiths, and he invited Hindu, The emperors were defeated by Christian, and Buddhist Afghan invaders, then came under philosophers to debate with the control of the Marathas, Hindu the Muslim theologians at his warriors who dominated Indian court. He even conceived a In this miniature painting, the affairs in the second half of the new religion, which combined Mughals are seen battling their Hindu 18th century, and finally were taken elements of all these faiths, enemies at Panipat. As later conquests with himself as the deity. added money, men, and weapons to the over by the British after Britain imperial army, it became supreme. defeated the Marathas in 1818. ■ US_170-171_Akbar_2nd_battle_Panipat.indd 171 15/02/2016 16:42.