INDIAN HISTORY Mughal Period (1526-40 and 1555-1857) The Mughals were originally Turks. They belonged to the Chaghtai branch of the Turkish race. Period of the Mughal empire is known as Second Classical Age. Fast Classical Age is the period of Guptas. Mughal Empire is also known as Timurid Empire because of its relation to Amir Timur. Mughal Emperors are 20 in number. They ruled India from 1526-1857. Only six are considered great. LIST OF MUGHAL EMPERORS Reign Emperor Important Points to Remember Period He was the founder of Mughal Rule. His capital was Delhi. He was the fourteenth direct descendant of Chengiz Khan(from the side of his mother) and fifth of Timur’s(from the side of his father). He was born in Farghana in Turkey on 14th Feb, 1483 as the son of Umer Sheik Mirza and Qulik Nigarkhanum. Babur became the ruler of Samarkhandbat the age of 11. He captured Kabul in 1504. Babur’s first Attack of India was in 1519, Bhera was the first place captured by Babur. In 1524 Daulat Khan, Ibrahim Lodhi’s brother invited Babur to India. On 21st April, 1526, He defeated Ibrahim Lodhi, the last Lodhi Sultan in the First Battle of Panipat and established Mughal dynasty. On 16th March, 1527, he defeated Rana Sanga of Mewar in the battle Babur 1526-30 of Khanwa. In 1528, he defeated Medini Rai of Chaneri in the battle of Chanderi. In 1529, he defeated Muhammad Lodhi (uncle of Ibrahim Lodhi) in the battle of Ghaghra. In 1530 Dec 26, he died at Agra. Babur’s tomb is at Kabul. He wrote his autobiography Tuzuk-i-Baburi in Turkish Babur’s mothertongue. Tuzuk-i-Baburi was translated in Persian (named Baburnama) by Abdul Rahim Khan-e-khanan and in English by Madam Bevridge. Babur said “I don’t like India and Indians.” He also wrote Risal-i-Usaz or letters of Babur. Babur was the first Mugahl ruler to keep in hand the Kohinur Diamond. Babur was a contemporary of Krishnadeva Raya of Vijaya Nagara Empire. Uploaded by https://westbengalgovtjobs.com/ Page 1 INDIAN HISTORY Humayun was born in 1507 in Kabul as the son of Babur and Mahim Sulthana. The word ‘Humayun’ means ‘fortunate’. He was an accomplished mathematician and astronomer. Reign interrupted by Suri Dynasty. Humayun 1530-40 He was son of Babur. He fought two battles against Sher Shah in the battle of Chausa(1539) and in the battle of Kannauj/Bilgram(1540) and was completely defeated by him and founded Sur Dynasty. Humayun escaped to Iran where he passed 12 years. NO MUGHAL RULE The period from 1540-55 is known as the Period of Temporary Eclipse of Mughal. Sher Shah(1540-1545) He was the son of Hasan Khan, the Jagirdar of Sasaram. In 1539, he defeated Humayun in the battle of Chausa and assumed the title Sher Shah as emperor. In 1540, he defeated Humayun in the battle of Kannauj/Bilgram and annexed Kannauj. He issued the gold coin called Asrafi, silver coin called Rupia and copper coin called Dam and fixed standard weights and measures all Suri Dynasty 1540-55 over the empire. He built the Grand Trunk Road( Sarak-i-Ajam), that runs from Calcutta to Peshawar. The peasant was given a patta(title deed) and a qabuliyat( deed of agreement) which fixed the peasant’s rights and taxes. Humayun started the construction of Purana Quila at Delhi and Sher Shah completed. Sher Shah was succeeded by Islam Shah(1545-54); Islam Shah by Muhammad Adil Shah(1554-55). His commander-in-chief was Bramhajit Gour. Total 47 parganas were in the Shershah’s capital. After Sher Shah’s death Humayun invaded India 1555 and defeated his brothers and Afghans. He died while climbing down the stairs of his library ‘Shermandal’ at Purana Qila (at Din Panah) on 24 Jan, 1556. His sister Gulbadan Begum, wrote his biography Humayunama. The language used to write this biography was a mixture of Turkish and Persian. Humayun built Din Panah city at Delhi in 1533 as his second capital. Humayun 1555-56 Humayun’s tomb is situated in Delhi(first building of India having double domes). Humayun Tomb is known as predecessor of Tajmahal( prototype of Tajmahal), because Taj was modeled after this, also known as a dormitory of the house of Timur. Mirza Ghias is its architect. Uploaded by https://westbengalgovtjobs.com/ Page 2 INDIAN HISTORY Father- Humauyn, Mother- Hamida Bhanu Begum, Step Mother- Magam Anaga, Guardian- Bairam Khan, First Guardian- Munim Khan. Akbar was born at Amarkot in Sindh on 23rd Nov, 1542. He came to the throne on 14th Feb, 1556 at the age of 14 at Kalanur, Punjub. Second Battle of Panipat(5 Nov, 1556) was fought between Hemu(the Hindu General of Muhammad Adil Shah) and Bairam Khan(the regent of Akbar). Hemu was defeated. This war ended the Mughal-Afgan contest for the throne of Delhi. Akbar became independent ruler at the age of 18 in 1560, after dismissing Bairan Khan. He divided his empire into 12 Subas(Pradesh) In 1561, he defeated the musician Sultan of Malwa- Baz Bahadur. In 1563, he abolished the Pilgrimage Tax. In 1564, he abolished the religious tax Jaziya. Jaziya was imposed for the first time by Firozshah Tughlaq. Akbar built Fatehpur Sikri(1572), Agra Fort, Lahore Fort and Allahabad Fort and Humayun’s Tomb at Delhi. Fatehpur Sikri, place near Agra- it is said that Akbar had no son for a long time. Sheikh Salim Chisti, a Sufi saint blessed Akbar with a son was named Salim/Sheikho Baba( Jahangir). In honour of Salim Chisti, Akbar (was Akbar shifted his court from Agra to Fatehpur Sikri. Buland one of the Darwaza is the gateway of Fatehpur Sikri, built by Akbar to youngest 1556-1605 rulers. Became remarkable the victory of Gujrat. ruler at the age In 1574, he introduced Mansabadari System. The term ‘mansab’ of 13) means office, position or rank. In 1575, Akbar constructed a prayer house in Fatehpur Sikri known as Ibadat Khana. The Battle of Haldighati(1576) was fought between Rana Pratap of Mewar and Mughal army Led by Man Singh of Amer. Rana Pratap was defeated. In 1579, he issued the Infallibility Decree by which he made himself the supreme head in religious matter. In 1580 the first Jesuit missionaries arrived at the court of Akbar. In 1585 Ralph Fitch the first English man to reach India, reached Akbar’s court. Ralph Fitch is known as pioneer of Englishman ortorch bearer Englishman. In 1582, Akbar proclaimed a new religion, Din-i-Ilahi (means Devine Faith). Birbal was the only Hindu who followed his new religion. Navaratna i.e. nine jewels of Akbar: Birbal : His original name was Mahesh Das. He was the court jester of Akbar. Abul Fazal : Akbar’s Court historian who wrote Akbar’s biographical works Ain-i-Akbari( Land Revenue System, in Turkish language ) and Akbarnama. Abul Faizi : Persian poet and brother of Abul Fazal. He translated Mahabharata into Persian in name ‘Razamnama’ and Uploaded by https://westbengalgovtjobs.com/ Page 3 INDIAN HISTORY Bhaskaracharya’s mathematical work Leelavati into Persian. Todarmal : He was the Finance or Revenue Minister of Akbar. He formulated Akbar’s revenue system Dahsala Bandobast(in 1580) and Jabti. Raja Todarmal also translated Bhagabata Purana into Persian. Man Singh : Akbar’s military commander. Tansen : He was the court musician of Akbar. Abdul Rahim Khanekhana, Bhagwandas Badauni : A historian who translated Ramayana into Persian. Tulsidas, the writer of Ramcharitamanas also lived during Akbar’s period. Akbar is considered ‘the real founder of the Mughal Empire’ in India. Akbar was the Mughal Emperor when English East India Company was being founded in 1600, Dec 31. Akbar died in 1605. His tomb is situated at Sikhandra near Agra. He was the first ruler to organize Hajj, pilgrimage at the govt expense. The port Cambay in Gujarat is known as the Gateway to Mecca from Mugal India. Early name Salim, came to throne after Akbar’s death in 1605. He issued 12 ordinances. He was the son of Akbarand Jodabai. He is known for his strict administration of justice. He established Zanjir-i-Adal or Zndiri Ada(i.e. Chain of Justice) at Agra Fort for the seekers of royal justice. In 1611, Jahangir married Mihar-un-nisa, widow of Sher Afgan, later she was given the title Nurjahan( light of the world). Nurjahan exercised tremendous influence over the state affairs. She was made the office Padshah Begum. In 1606, Jahangir executed fifth Sikh Guru Arjun Dev, because he helped Jahangir’s son Prince Khusru to rebel against him. In 1608, Captain William Hawkins, a representative of East India Company with recommendation of King James I, came to Jahangir 1605-27 Jahangir’s court. In 1615 Sir Thomas Roe, first ambassador of King James I, reached jahangir’s court. Period of Jahangir is considered as the Golden Age of Mughal Painting. Jahangir himself was a painter. Ustad Mansur and Abul Hassan were famous painter in the court of Jahangir. Jahangir built Shalimar Garden(called Farah Baksh(the delightful), for his wife Nur Jahan) in Sarinagar. Nishat Garden built in 1633 by Asif Khan, elder brother of Nur Jehan Anarkali was Jahangir’s lover. Mughal-i-Asam directed by K. Asif is a famous film which tells the love story of Jahangir and Anarkali. Jahangir wrote his autobiography Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri in Persian language. He died in 1627 and was cremated at Shahdhara in Lahore. Uploaded by https://westbengalgovtjobs.com/ Page 4 INDIAN HISTORY Shahjahan was born on 5th January 1592 at Lahore.