MUGHAL EMPIRE

(1526-1857)
• The Mughals were originally Turks. They belonged to
the Chaghtai branch of the Turkish race.
• Mughal Empire is also known as Timurid
Empire because of its relation to Amir Timur.
• There were six main rulers of the Mughal Empire
1. Babur (1526 - 1530)
2. Humayun (1530 - 40 & 1555 - 1556)
3. Akbar - (1556 - 1605)
4. Jahangir (1605 - 1627)
5. Shah Jahan (1627 - 1657)
6. Aurangazeb Alamgir (1658 - 1707)

Babur (1526-1530)
• Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, was the
fifth descendant of Timur on Father’s side and the
fourteenth descendant of Chengizkhan on mothers
side.
• Babur was born in Farghana in Turkey on 14 Feb.
1483 as the son of Umer Sheik Mirza
and Nigarkhanum.
• Babur’s father Umershiek Mirza was the grandson of
Amir Timur and the ruler of Farghana.
• He captured Kabul in 1504. Then Babur attacked
India 5 times for want of wealth.
• Babur’s first Attack of India was in 1519. Bhera was
the first place captured by Babur.
 • In 1524 Daulatkhan, Ibrahim Lodhi’s brother invited
Babur to India.
• On 21 April 1526 Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodhi, the
last Lodhi Sultan in the First Battle of Panipat.
• On 16 March 1527 he defeated Rana Sangha of
Mewar, in the Battle of Khanwa.
• The Rajputs in 1528 under Medini Raj of Malwa
fought against Babur in the Battle of Chanderi, but
were defeated.
• In 1529 the Afghans under Muhammed Lodhi fought
against Babur in the Battle of Ghaghra but were
defeated.
• In 1530 December 26, Babur died and was cremated
at Agra but he was later buried at Aram Bagh near
Kabul in Afghanistan
• Babur was the first to use Artillery in India.
• His memoirs or autobiography ‘Tuzuk-i-
Baburi or Baburnamah was written in Turkish
language, Babur’s mother tongue.

Humayun (1530-1540 and 1555-1556)

 Humayun was born in 1507 in Kabul as the son of
Babur and Mahim Sultana.
• He became the Mughal Emperor on 29 December
1530 at the age of 23.
• He divided the empire among his brothers - Askari,
Hindal and Kamran.
• The word ‘Humayun’ means ‘fortunate’
• Human was an accomplished mathematician and
astronomer.
• In 1539 at the Battle of Chausa, Humayun was
defeated for the first time by Shershah Suri.
• In the next year (1540) Shershah completely defeated
Humayun in the battle of Kanauj and founded the Sur
dynasty.
• After the lapse of 15 years Humayun re-captured the
Empire by defeating the last Sur ruler Sikhandar Shah
Suri by the Battle of Macchiwara in 1555
• After the restoration Humayun ruled for only six
months.
• The Purnaqila was constructed by Humayun but its
construction was completed by Shershah.
• In 1533 Humayun built the city of Dinpanha (world
refuge) in Delhi.
• The period from 1540 to 1555 is known as the period
of temporary eclipse of the Mughal.
• Humayun died by an accidental fall from the straicase
of his Library ‘Shermandal’ at the Puranaqila in Delhi
on 24 January 1556.
• Humayun was buried at Humayun’s Tomb at Delhi
which was built by his wife Hameeda Bano Begum
• The autobiography of Humayun is known as
Humayunama and it was written by his sister
Gulbadan Begum
Akbar the Great (1556-1605)
• Father - Humayun
• Mother - Hamida Bano Begum
• Guardian - Bairam Khan
• Akbar was born on 15th October 1542 in the Rajput
Empire of Amarkot in Pakistan which was ruled by
Maharaja Virasala
• Akbar became the king at the age of 13 years in the
year 1556 by defeating Hemu at the Second Battle of
Panipat with the help of his general Bairam Khan
• Akbar became an independent ruler at the age of 18 in
1560, after dismissing Bairamkhan.
• Later he married Bairam Khan widow Salima Begum.
• In 1561 he defeated the musician Sultan of Malwa
- Baz Bahadur.
• In 1562 Akbar married with Harka Bai who was a
Rajput princess she was later known as Mariam uz
Zamani
• In the year 1563 he abolished the pilgrim taxes
• In 1564, he abolished the religious tax Jaziya. Jaziya
was impossed for the first time by Firozshah Tughlaq.
• In 1572 he captured Gujarat and in memory of that he
built a new capital city Fathepur sikri (city of Victory)
near Agra.
• The early name of Fathepur Sikri was city of Sikri.
• Buland Darwaza is the gate way of Fathepur Sikri,
built by Akbar. In 1575 Akbar constructed a prayer
house in Fathepur Sikri known as Ibadatkhana.
• He started a new revenue system in India known as
Todarmal Bandobast
• He started the famous Mansabdari system in 1571
• 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 English man or torch
bearer Englishman.
• In 1582 Akbar founded a new religion for universal
peace and monotheism known as ‘Din Ilahi’ means
Divine Faith.

• In 1576 Akbar defeated Maharana Pratap of Mewar in

the battle of Haldighati
• The Portuguese introduced tobacco for the first time
in India in the court of Akbar in 1604.
• Akbar was the Mughal Emperor when the English
East India Company was being founded in 1600
• Akbar built Agra Fort, Lahore Fort and Allahabad
Fort
• There were 9 jems or Navratna in the court of Akbar

• Abul Fazal : Akbar’s court historian who wrote

Akbar’s biographical works Ain-i-Akbari and Akbar
Namah..
 • Abul Faizi : Persian poet and brother of Abul Fazal.
He translated Mahabharata into Persian in name
‘Razam Namah’ and Bhaskaracharya’s mathematical
work Leelavati into Persian.
• Mian Tansen : His original name was Ram Thanu
Pande. He was the court Musician of Akbar. He
composed a Raga, Rajdarbari in honour of Akbar.
• Birbal : His real name was Mahesh Das. He is the
court jester of Akbar.
• Raja Todarmal : RajaTodarmal was Akbar’s finance
or revenue minister.
• Maharaja Mansing : Akbar’s military commander.
• Abdul Rahim Khan- son of Bairam Khan he was the
hindi poet in the court of Akbar
• Mulla Do Pyaza
• Fakir Aziz Din
• Akbar started the translation department of Sanskrit
into Persian
• Akbar died in the year 1605 and he was buried at
Sikandara near Agra
• The autobiography of Akbar is known as Ain I Akbari
or Akbarnamah and it was written by Abu Fazal as
Akbar was completely illetrate.

Jehangir (1605-1627)
• Early name of Jahangir was Salim. Akbar called him
Sheika Baba.
• Jahangir came to the throne in 1605.
• Jahangir was the son of Akbar and Harka Bai.
• He married Mehrunnisa, an Afghan widow in 1611
Later he gave her the titles, Noor Mahal(light of the
 palace) Noor Jahan (light of the world) and Padusha
Begum.
• In 1606 Jahangir executed fifth Sikh Guru Guru Arjun
Dev, because he helped Jahangir’s son Prince Khusru
to rebel against him.
• In 1609, Jahangir received William Hawkins, an
envoy of King James I of England, who reached India
to start trading in India
• Period of Jahangir is considered as the Golden Age of
Mughal Painting. Jahangir himself was a painter.
Ustad Mansur and Abul Hassan were famous painters
in the court of Jahangir.
• Jahangir built Shalimar and Nishant Gardens in
Srinagar.
• Jahangir suspended a chain of Justice known as Zndiri
Adal infront of his court.
• Jeghangir defeated Maharaja Amar Singh who was the
son of Maharana Pratap in the year 1615
• He was also married with a Rajout pricess Jagat
Gosain who is also known as Jodha Bai she was later
known as Bilqis Bano Begum and had a son named
Khurram

• Jehangir prohibited the tobacco in India

• Jehangir made Lahore as its capital city
• Famous Italian traveller Pietra Velle came during the
period of Jehangir
• Jahangir wrote his autobiography Tuzukh -i-
Jahangiri in Persian language.
 • Jahangir died in 1627 and was cremated at Shahdhara
in Lahore.

Shah Jahan (1627-1657)

• Shah Jahan was born on 5th January 1592 at Lahore.
• His mother was Jagat Gosain and his childhood name
was Khurram.
• He married Anjuman Bano Begum in 1612 she was
the daughter of Asaf Khan, brother of Noor Jahan.
She later came to be known as Mumtaz Mahal which
means beloved of the Palace.
• Shahjahan destroyed the Portuguese settlements at
Hubli 1631
• Shah Jahan’s period is considered as the Golden Age
of Mughal Architecture and Shah Jahan is known as
the Prince of Builders.
• In 1631 he started the construction of Tajmahal in
memory of his wife and completed in 1653.
• In 1638 Shah Jahan built his new capital Shah
Jahanabad in Delhi and shifted the capital from Agra
to there.
 • In 1639 he started the construction of Red fort in
Delhi on the model of Agra fort built by Akbar. Its
construction was completed in 1648. The Diwani-
Am, Diwan-i-Khas and the Moti Masjid are situated
inside the Red fort. The Moti Masjid in Agra was
constructed by ShahJahan.
• He also built the famous Jama Masjid
• He built the famous Peacock throne on which the
Kohinoor Diamond was mounted
• The Portuguese introduced European painting in India
during the reign of Shah Jahan
• In 1658 Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son
Aurangazeb and he died in 1666, after eight years. His
daughter Jahan Ara was also kept in prison along with
him at the Agra fort.
• French travellers Bernier and Tavernier and Italian
traveller Manucci visited India during ShahJahan’s
period.

Aurangzeb (1657-1707)
• Aurangazeb imprisoned his father and made himself
the Padushah in 1658 by defeating and killing his
elder brother Dara Sikoh at the Battle of Samudragarh
in 1658
• But his actual coronation was conducted in 1659.
• Alamgir was the name adopted by Aurangazeb when
he became the Padusha.
• Aurangazeb is known as Zinda Pir’ or living saint
because of his simple life.
• He banned music and dance.
• He ousted all the artists from his court. At the same
time he was an accomplished Veena player.
• In 1675 he executed 9th Sikh Guru Guru Tej
Behadur because of his reluctance to accept Islam.
• Teg Behadur was executed at the Chandni Chowk.

• He reimpossed Jaziya upon all the non-Muslims,

which was earlier abolished by Akbar.
• He also abolished the Sati practice
• Aurangazeb called Shivaji a ‘mountain rat’ and gave
him the title Raja because of his guerilla tactics.
• In 1660 he entrusted Shaisthakhan to defeat Shivaji.
• Later in 1665 the treaty of Purandar was signed
between Maharaja Jaisingh of Amber and Shivaji
• Aurangzeb built the famous Pearl Mosque inside the
Red Fort in Delhi
• Aurangazeb was the only Mughal Emperor who was
not a drunkard.
• Aurangazeb is considered as religiously fanatic. He
was also a temple breaker. He persecuted the Hindus
and imposed prohibition against the free exercise of
Holi and Divali.
• Aurangazeb died in 1707 February 20,at
Ahmednagar. Aurangazeb’s tomb is situated
at Daulatabad in Maharashtra.
Later Mughals
• Bahadurshah I came to the throne after the death
of Aurangazeb. His real name was Muassam. He
built the famous Bibi ka Maqbara at Aurangabad
in the memory of his mother Dilras Bano Begum
• Jehandar Shah abolished the famous Jaziya taxes
• Farruksiyar in the year 1717 gave the permission
to the Britishers to do tax free trade
• Muhammed Shah or Rustan Khan (1719-1748)
was defeated by Nadir Shah of Iran at the Battle
of Karnal in the year 1739 and took away the
ShahJahan’s famous Peacock Throne and
Kohinoor Diamond
• Ahmedshah’s (1748 -1754) period saw the
mighty invasion of Ahmed Shah Abdali of
Afghanistan.
• Alamgir II (1754-1759) during his period the
Battle of Plassey was fought in 1757
• Shah Alam II (1760-1788) during his period the
Battle of Buxar was fought in 1764
• Akbar Shah II (1806 - 1837) conferred the title
‘‘Raja’’ upon Ram Mohan Roy.
• Bahadurshah II (837-1862) was the last Mughal
emperor. On 17th May 1857 Bahadurshah II was
declared the independent Emperor of India by
the Mutineers. He was surrendered to LtW.S.R.
Hodson at Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi. In 1859
he was deported to Rangoon in December where
he expired in 1862
 • Bahadurshah II was also a famous Urdu Poet.
• Bahadurshah II was also known as Bahadurshah
Zafar means gifted poet.

Departments under the Mughal Empire

 Important Departments Functions

Department of revenue &

Diwan-i-Wazarat finances

Diwan-i-Arz Military department

Diwan-i-Rasalatmuhtasib Foreign affairs department

Diwan-i-insha Custodian of govt. papers

Diwan-i-quza Justice department

Diwan-i-Barid Intelligence department

Department in charge of royal

Diwan-i-Saman household

Central Officers
 Head of revenue department;
but reduced power as compared
Wazir to Sultanate
Responsible for all income and
expenditure; control over
Diwan Khalisa & Jagir
Headed military department,
nobility, information and
Mir Bakshi intelligence agencies
Incharge of imperial households
Mir Saman (Karkhanas)
Maintained roads, govt.
Diwan-i-Bayutat buildings
Mir Manshi Royal correspondence
Incharge of charitable &
Sadr-us-Sadr religious endowments
Qazi-ul-Quzat Head of judicial department
Muhtasib Censor of public morals
Mushrif-i-Mumalik Accountant general
Mustauf-i-Mumalik Auditor general
Officer in charge of imperial
Daroga-i-dak-chauki post
Mir-i-arz Officer in charge of petition
Officers of the Mughal Empire (Province)

Officer: Provincial Level Functions

Sipahsalar The Head executive
Diwan Incharge of revenue department
Bakshi Incharge of military department
Sadr Incharge of judicial department

Officers of the Mughal Empire (District)

Officer: District (Sarkar) level Functions

Fauzdar Administrative Head
Amal/Amalguzar Revenue collection
Maintenance of law & order;
trial of criminal cases; price
Kotwal regulation

Officers of the Mughal Empire (Pargana)

 Officer: Pargana Functions
Administrative head; combined
Shiqdar fauzdar & kotwal
Amin, Quanungo Revenue officials

Officers of the Mughal Empire (Village)

Officer: Village Functions

Muqaddam Headman
Patwari Accountant
CHowkidar Watchman

Mansabdari System
 • Akbar introduced the Mansabdari system in his
administration
• Under this system every officer was assigned a rank
(Mansab)
• Lowest rank was 10 and the highest was 5000 for the
nobles.
• Princes of royal blood received even higher ranks.
• The ranks were divided into two – Zat and Sawar.
• Zat means personal and it fixed the personal status
of a person.
• Sawar rank indicated the number of cavalrymen of a
person who was required to maintain.
• Every sawar had to maintain at least two horses.
• All appointments, promotions and dismissals were
directly made by the emperor.
• Depending upon the quality, the horses were classified
into six categories and the elephants were categorized
into five categories. It was practiced because horses
and elephants of high breed were greatly prized and
were considered indispensable for an efficient military
machine.

• For meeting the financial requirements of all levels

of Mansabdars, they were paid very handsomely.
 • A Mansabdar with a rank of 5,000 could get a salary
of Rs. 30,000/month;
• A Mansabdar with a rank of 3,000 received Rs.
17,000/month; and
• A Mansabdar with a rank of 1,000, received Rs.
8,200/month.

Dahsala System/Zabti System/Todarmal Bandobast

• With the help of Raja Todar Mal, Akbar
experimented on the land revenue administration,
which was completed in 1580.
• The land revenue system was called Zabti or
Bandobast system or Dahsala System.
• The revenue was fixed on the average yield of land
measured on the basis of previous ten years.
• The land was divided into four categories
1. Polaj (cultivated every year)
2. Parauti (once in two years)
3. Chachar (once in three or four years)
4. Banjar (once in five or more years)
• Payment of revenue was made generally in cash.