First Stage of the Mughal Empire

Ruling as vast a region as the Indian subcontinent with diverse people and cultures was inquiring for a ruler to accomplish in the Middle ages. In contrast to their ancestors, the Mughals created a kingdom and executed what yet seemed possible for only short periods. They extended their empire from Delhi and Agra until the seventeenth century in the latter half of the sixteenth century. They controlled almost all the subcontinent in the seventeenth century. Babur and five of his ancestral descendants: Akbar, Shah Jahan, Humayun, and Jahangir. These six rulers are collectively known as the Great Mughals.

The Mughals

The Mughals were descendants of two significant heritage of majesties. From their mother’s side, they were descendants of Genghis Khan, the Mongol ruler who ruled over parts of China and Central Asia. On the other part, they were the successors of Timur from their father’s side, the ruler of Iraq, Iran, and Turkey. Nevertheless, the Mughals did not like to be called Mongol or Mughals because of the immense massacre associated with the Genghis Khan’s death. 

• The Mughal Traditions

They don’t have faith in the tradition of primogeniture. In spite, they followed the practice of Coparcenary or a division of inheritance amongst all the sons as rulers.

• The Mughals relations

The Mughal rulers constantly operated against the rulers who refused to accept their proposals. Thus, the Mughal rulers become more potent than many other rulers. Most other rulers married their daughters into the Mughal families and received a high position in the dynasty. In the Beginning, the Sisodiya Rajputs refused to accept the proposal, but once the Mughals defeated them, the Rajputs were treated with dignity and were given their lands.

• The Mughal Empire

The military and efficiency of the Mughal Empire led to significant economic and commercial prosperity. International travellers described it as a fabled land of wealth. The same visitors were also appalled at the state of poverty that existed during this period.

Babur

Babur was the first Mughal ruler and succeeded the throne of Ferghana in 1494 at the age of 12. He was compelled to quit his ancestral throne due to the invasion of another group of Mongol rulers. After several years of wandering, Babur captured Kabul in 1504. Babur also defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the Sultan of Delhi, at Panipat and captured Agra and Delhi in 1526. Before his death in 1528, Babur defeated the Rajputs at Chanderi and established control over Delhi and Agra. Babur spent most of his youth trying to seize and retain Samarkand, the former capital of the Timurid kingdom. In 1497 he captured it, lost it, and retook it in 1501. His second achievement was brief—in 1501, he was defeated in battle by Muhammad Shaybani Khan and lost the coveted city and his native Fergana.

Humayun

Humayun is the son of Babur, who divided the kingdom according to his father’s wish and shared the province with his brothers. After Fifteen years, Humayun took benefit of conflict among Sher Shah’s inheritors to recapture Delhi, Agra, and Lahore. However, he was not about long to enjoy his rejuvenated empire. In 1556 he died after falling down the steps of his library. Humayun was succeeded by his son Akbar.

Akbar

Akbar became the Mughal emperor at the age of 13 years. When Akbar came to rule, he inherited a skeletal empire, not extending his rule beyond Punjab and the parts around Delhi. He launched a series of military campaigns to extend his kingdom. Akbar’s approach was to enrol his defeated enemies as allies by permitting them to maintain their liberties and continue governing if they recognised him as emperor.

Jahangir

He continued the military campaigns started by Akbar. Jahangir went to assassinate his father’s close friend Abu al-Fazl. In 1605 before his death, Akbar formally appointed Jahangir as his successor. Jahangir had wealthy and stable,  which made him focus on other activities. His custom of the arts was remarkable, and his court workshops produced some of the best miniature paintings during the Mughal regime. 

Shah Jahan

Shah Jahan was the son of Jahangir. During his period also, the Mughals continued their campaigns. He defeated the Afghan noble Khan Jahan Lodi. He designated his most notable construction, the Taj Mahal, in 1632 after his third wife, Mumtaz. It took 20 years to complete and become the best monument globally.

Aurangazeb

Aurangazeb was a trained military administrator and leader. He was a minded ruler who avoided the substance-abuse issues and decadence issues that had troubled several of his predecessors. He handled the Mughal Empire’s widest geographical extent, pushing the southern border down the Deccan peninsula to Tanjore. 

Conclusion

The enormous resources and wealth commanded by the Mughal dynasty made them a mighty kingdom in the seventeenth century. Babur, the first Mughal ruler, led and laid a path for his successors. The Mughal’s new dynasties held a broad province. In contrast to their ancestors, the Mughals created a kingdom and executed what yet seemed possible for only short periods. In Delhi, they were considered a master. They controlled almost all the subcontinent in the seventeenth century. The Mughals had consolidated their independent political identities. Thus the Mughal dynasty is one of the notable periods in Indian history.