The Mughal Empire

The history of the Mughal rulers is one of the most critical epochs in the history of India. They were inhabitants of Central Asia. They did not come to India to trade but conquer and rule, which they did for nearly two hundred years. They established a strong empire, which ruled over India from AD 1526 till the death of Aurangzeb in AD 1707. Zahiruddin Mohmmad Babur established the Mughal empire in India. The Empire tottered and declined after Aurangzeb’s death, though it continued to rule in Delhi. It was finally ended by the British after the Great Uprising of 1857.

The Major Mughal Rulers 

1. Babur (1526 – 1530)

The foundation of the first Mughal empire in India was laid by Babur. He was the son of the ruler of Farghana (now in Uzbekistan), a tiny principality of Central Asia. Babur was a descendant of Timur from his father’s side and a descendant of Changez Khan on his mother’s side. He became the ruler of Kabul after he was ousted from Farghana. He turned his attention toward India, which was ruled by Ibrahim Lodi at this time and became one of the major Mughal rulers of India. 

2. Humayun (1530 – 1540 and 1555 – 1556)

Humayun was a weak king. He had gone through many problems as Babur had died before consolidating his empire. Humayun had to face hostility from his brothers and rebellions in Gujarat and Malwa. The greatest challenge he had to face was from Sher Shah, the Afghan ruler of Bihar. Sher Shah defeated Humayun in a fierce battle in Kannauj for fifteen years (from 1540 to 1555). Humayun became a wanderer. His son, Akbar, was born at Amarkot, in Sind, in AD 1542. With the help of the ruler of Persia, Humayun came back to India and regained his throne in 1555. He defeated the successors of Sher Shah, who had died in AD 1545.

3. Akbar (1556 – 1605)  

Akbar is considered one of the major Mughal rulers of India. He ruled for about fifty years and laid the foundation of a vast empire. He was not only a conqueror but a patron of art and literature. His court was famous for the “nine gems”, with each person excelling in different fields. He showed great wisdom in following. In the Akbar empire, the policy of religious tolerance and giving equal importance to all faiths.

Akbar ascended the throne at the tender age of thirteen, and for some years, the kingdom was run by his guardian, Bairam khan. 

4. Jahangir (1605 – 1627)

Jahangir was a weak ruler who left the governance of his kingdom in his wife Noor Jahan’s hands. During his reign, the Europeans came to India and established their factories in India. Jahangir is more famous for his justice and scholarship. He had fixed a golden chain and hung it at the royal palace; anyone could pull this chain and demand justice from the emperor. 

5. Shahjahan (1627 – 1658)

Shahjahan is remembered as a great builder, and his reign is known as the golden period of architecture. He made many conquests, and most notable were the kingdoms of Ahmednagar, Bijapur and Golconda in the South.

Shahjahan built the most prominent monument for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. “The Taj” at Agra stands as the most beautiful building and is considered among the world’s seven wonders. It is a remarkable monument of love.

6. Aurangzeb (1658 – 1707)

The Mughal Empire under Aurangzeb included almost the whole of India. But Aurangzeb spent much of his time-fighting battles and suppressing rebellions in his kingdom. His religious policies were not well-thought out, and his staunch views proved to be a disaster for his empire. He offended the Rajputs, the Marathas, and the Sikhs and spent huge sums fighting them. The battles eroded the power of the Mughal Empire and contributed to its downfall. 

Some of the Most Significant Monuments Built by the Mughals

The Mughal rulers were great builders. Many monuments erected in different places throw a good deal of light on the art and architecture under the Mughals. However, the first Mughal ruler of India didn’t build monuments, and his primary goal was to enlarge his empire.

• Humayun’s Tomb is situated in Delhi and was built by Akbar. 
• The Agra Fort was constructed under Akbar’s supervision, and he adorned it with about 500 buildings. 
• Fatehpur Sikri is the best architectural achievement of the Akbar’s empire seen in his new capital city of Fatehpur Sikri.
• The red fort stands in Delhi on the bank of the Jamuna and is made up of red stones.
• The Taj Mahal in Agra is another marvelous example of Mughal construction by Shahjahan.

Conclusion

As a result of the Indian and Persian merger, this mutual concord and harmony, a new kind of composite culture began to develop, and the foundation of a new nation was laid. It will have to be admitted that the policy of tolerance began to be given up after the Akbar empire. The difference between Hindus and Muslims also commenced to grow afresh, and at last, in the reign of Aurangzeb, they were again two hostile parties. The notion of nationhood began to disappear, and the country suffered due to dissension and discord. All the major Mughal rulers made India this massive land of different cultures.