Medieval India: Mughal Dynasty
The Mughal Dynasty
● From the latter half of the 16th century, they expanded their kingdom from Agra
and Delhi until in the 17th century they controlled nearly all of the subcontinent.
● They imposed structures of administration and ideas of governance that outlasted
their rule, leaving a political legacy that succeeding rulers of the subcontinent
could not ignore.
Babur – The Founder of Mughal Empire
● The first Mughal emperor (1526- 1530)
● Political situation in north-west India was suitable for Babur to enter India .
● Sikandar Lodi died in 1517 and Ibrahim Lodi succeeded him. I. Lodhi tried to
create a strong centralized empire which alarmed Afghan chiefs as well as
Rajputs.
● So in 1526 he defeated the Sultan of Delhi, Ibrahim Lodi and his Afghan
supporters, at (First) Panipat (War) and captured Delhi and Agra.
● The establishment of an empire in the Indo-Gangetic valley by Babur was a threat
to Rana Sanga.
● So in 1527 – defeated Rana Sanga, Rajput rulers and allies at Khanwa [a place
west of Agra].
● Babur’s advent was significant :
● Kabul and Qandhar became an integral part of an empire comprising North India .
Since these areas had always acted as a staging place for an invasion of India and
provide security from external invasions
● These two areas mentioned above helped to strengthen India’s foreign trade with
China and Mediterranean seaports .
● His war tactics were very expensive since he used heavy artillery which ended the
era of small kingdoms because these smaller ones can't afford it .
● He introduced a concept of the state which has to be based on strength and
prestige of the Crown instead of religious interference. This provided a precedent
and direction to his successors .
, Humayun [1530-1540, 1555-1556]
● Humayun divided his inheritance according to the will of his father. His brothers
were each given a province.
● Sher Khan defeated Humayun which made him forced to flee to Iran.
● In Iran, Humayun received help from the Safavid Shah. He recaptured Delhi in 1555
but died in an accident the following year.
Akbar [1556-1605] – The Most Popular Ruler among the Mughal Dynasty
His reign can be divided into three periods :
1. 1556-1570 : Military campaigns were launched against the Suris and other
Afghans, against the neighbouring kingdoms of Malwa and Gondwana, and to
suppress the revolt of Mirza Hakim and the Uzbegs. In 1568 the Sisodiya capital of
Chittor was seized and in 1569 Ranthambore.
2. 1570-1585 : military campaigns in Gujarat were followed by campaigns in the east
in Bihar, Bengal and Orissa.
3. 1585-1605 : expansion of Akbar’s empire. Qandahar was seized from the Safavids,
Kashmir was annexed, as was Kabul . Campaigns in the Deccan started and Berar,
Khandesh and parts of Ahmadnagar were annexed.
Jahangir [1605-1627]
● Military campaigns started by Akbar continued.
● The Sisodiya ruler of Mewar, Amar Singh, accepted Mughal service. Less
successful campaigns against the Sikhs, the Ahoms and Ahmadnagar followed.
Shah Jahan [1627-1658]
● Mughal campaigns continued in the Deccan under Shah Jahan.
● The Afghan noble Khan Jahan Lodi rebelled and was defeated.
● In the north-west, the campaign to seize Balkh from the Uzbegs was unsuccessful
and Qandahar was lost to the Safavids.
● Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son Aurangazeb for the rest of his life in Agra.
The Mughal Dynasty
● From the latter half of the 16th century, they expanded their kingdom from Agra
and Delhi until in the 17th century they controlled nearly all of the subcontinent.
● They imposed structures of administration and ideas of governance that outlasted
their rule, leaving a political legacy that succeeding rulers of the subcontinent
could not ignore.
Babur – The Founder of Mughal Empire
● The first Mughal emperor (1526- 1530)
● Political situation in north-west India was suitable for Babur to enter India .
● Sikandar Lodi died in 1517 and Ibrahim Lodi succeeded him. I. Lodhi tried to
create a strong centralized empire which alarmed Afghan chiefs as well as
Rajputs.
● So in 1526 he defeated the Sultan of Delhi, Ibrahim Lodi and his Afghan
supporters, at (First) Panipat (War) and captured Delhi and Agra.
● The establishment of an empire in the Indo-Gangetic valley by Babur was a threat
to Rana Sanga.
● So in 1527 – defeated Rana Sanga, Rajput rulers and allies at Khanwa [a place
west of Agra].
● Babur’s advent was significant :
● Kabul and Qandhar became an integral part of an empire comprising North India .
Since these areas had always acted as a staging place for an invasion of India and
provide security from external invasions
● These two areas mentioned above helped to strengthen India’s foreign trade with
China and Mediterranean seaports .
● His war tactics were very expensive since he used heavy artillery which ended the
era of small kingdoms because these smaller ones can't afford it .
● He introduced a concept of the state which has to be based on strength and
prestige of the Crown instead of religious interference. This provided a precedent
and direction to his successors .
, Humayun [1530-1540, 1555-1556]
● Humayun divided his inheritance according to the will of his father. His brothers
were each given a province.
● Sher Khan defeated Humayun which made him forced to flee to Iran.
● In Iran, Humayun received help from the Safavid Shah. He recaptured Delhi in 1555
but died in an accident the following year.
Akbar [1556-1605] – The Most Popular Ruler among the Mughal Dynasty
His reign can be divided into three periods :
1. 1556-1570 : Military campaigns were launched against the Suris and other
Afghans, against the neighbouring kingdoms of Malwa and Gondwana, and to
suppress the revolt of Mirza Hakim and the Uzbegs. In 1568 the Sisodiya capital of
Chittor was seized and in 1569 Ranthambore.
2. 1570-1585 : military campaigns in Gujarat were followed by campaigns in the east
in Bihar, Bengal and Orissa.
3. 1585-1605 : expansion of Akbar’s empire. Qandahar was seized from the Safavids,
Kashmir was annexed, as was Kabul . Campaigns in the Deccan started and Berar,
Khandesh and parts of Ahmadnagar were annexed.
Jahangir [1605-1627]
● Military campaigns started by Akbar continued.
● The Sisodiya ruler of Mewar, Amar Singh, accepted Mughal service. Less
successful campaigns against the Sikhs, the Ahoms and Ahmadnagar followed.
Shah Jahan [1627-1658]
● Mughal campaigns continued in the Deccan under Shah Jahan.
● The Afghan noble Khan Jahan Lodi rebelled and was defeated.
● In the north-west, the campaign to seize Balkh from the Uzbegs was unsuccessful
and Qandahar was lost to the Safavids.
● Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son Aurangazeb for the rest of his life in Agra.
