History · Chapter 06

🕌 Mughal Empire

Babur to Aurangzeb — six great Mughal emperors.

🕌 The Great Mughals

The Mughal Empire (1526–1857) was one of the largest, wealthiest, and most powerful empires of the world. At its peak under Aurangzeb, it controlled nearly the entire Indian subcontinent.

The 6 "Great Mughals":

• Babur (1526–30) — Founded the empire. Won First Battle of Panipat. Used gunpowder and artillery.
• Humayun (1530–40, 1555–56) — Lost throne to Sher Shah Suri, regained it. Died falling from library steps.
• Akbar (1556–1605) — Greatest Mughal. Policy of Sulh-i-kul (peace with all). Abolished jizya. Created Din-i-Ilahi.
• Jahangir (1605–27) — Known for justice. Wife Nur Jahan wielded real power.
• Shah Jahan (1628–58) — Built the Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Jama Masjid. "Golden age of Mughal architecture."
• Aurangzeb (1658–1707) — Expanded empire to maximum but religious policies caused revolts. Long decline began after him.

🏛️ Akbar's administration — exam favorite

• Mansabdari system — military ranking system. Every official had a "mansab" (rank) shown by number of cavalry they maintained.
• Rajput policy — married Rajput princesses, gave them high positions. Won their loyalty.
• Land revenue: Todarmal's system — measured land, classified soil, fixed taxes in cash.
• Din-i-Ilahi — Akbar's syncretist religious order — tried to blend Islam, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism. Never popular.
• Ibadat Khana — house of worship debates at Fatehpur Sikri — Akbar invited scholars of all religions.

Raigad Fort, Maharashtra — Shivaji Maharaj's capital
Raigad Fort, Maharashtra — Shivaji Maharaj's capitalWikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai — Nayaka architecture
Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai — Nayaka architectureWikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
🏰 Mughal architecture timeline

• Humayun's Tomb (Delhi, 1570) — first garden tomb; prototype for Taj
• Fatehpur Sikri (1571, Akbar) — sandstone city, abandoned due to water shortage
• Taj Mahal (1632–53, Shah Jahan) — for wife Mumtaz Mahal. UNESCO site. 20,000 workers.
• Red Fort (1648, Shah Jahan) — seat of Mughal power. Independence Day speeches delivered here.
• Badshahi Mosque, Lahore (Aurangzeb) — can hold 55,000 worshippers

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Six Great Mughals

Animation
MUGHAL EMPERORS (1526–1707) — CLICK EACH RULER ← peak → EMPIRE POWER 1 Babur 1526–30 2 Humayun 1530–56 3 Akbar 1556–1605 4 Jahangir 1605–27 5 Shah Jahan 1628–58 6 Aurangzeb 1658–1707 CLICK ANY EMPEROR The curve shows empire power over time — peaks with Akbar and Aurangzeb (area), declines after.

Each dot's height shows relative power. Akbar is the tallest — most influential Mughal.

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Mughal Legacy Quiz

Interactive

Pick a monument — see which Mughal built it.

Built byShah Jahan
Year1632–1653 CE
LocationAgra, Uttar Pradesh
Built for Mumtaz Mahal (wife who died in childbirth). 20,000 workers, 22 years. UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Practice (UPSC): What was the Mansabdari system? How did it work?
The Mansabdari system was introduced by Akbar to organize the Mughal military and administration. Key features:

• Every officer (mansabdar) held a numerical rank (mansab)
• Rank had two components: Zat (personal rank, determines salary) and Sawar (cavalry rank, determines how many horsemen to maintain)
• Mansabdars were paid in cash and held no hereditary rights — their position didn't pass to sons
• This prevented the growth of a hereditary feudal class
• Mansabs ranged from 10 to 10,000 (the latter only for princes)
• Nobles of all religions (Hindu, Muslim) could hold high mansabs — part of Akbar's policy of inclusion

The system created a centralized, merit-based (in theory) administration directly loyal to the emperor.
Practice (SSC): Who were the Marathas and how did they challenge the Mughal Empire?
The Marathas were a Hindu warrior people from the Deccan (Maharashtra). Under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (1627–80), they built a powerful independent kingdom using guerrilla warfare ("Ganimi Kava").

How they challenged the Mughals:
• Shivaji escaped Aurangzeb's trap at Agra (1666) hidden in a basket
• Established a navy — first Indian ruler to do so effectively
• Created the Maratha Confederacy after Shivaji's death
• Battle of Panipat (1761): Marathas vs Afghans (Ahmad Shah Durrani) — Maratha defeat set back their expansion
• Ultimately, Marathas controlled large parts of India before being defeated by the British (Anglo-Maratha Wars 1775–1818)
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