Influence of Indian society on Mughal rulers and the society they create
Babur (rules 1526-1530)
• conquers Delhi in 1526
• establishes Mughal Empire
• memoir: the Baburnama (“Book of Babur”)
Humayun (1530-40, 1555-56)
• rebellion led by Afghan general in 1540 drives Mughal court into Persia
• Humayun returns to power in 1555 but dies accidentally in 1556
Akbar (1556-1605)
• consolidation of Mughal rule
• religious tolerance: Hindu wife, lifting of jizya tax on non-Muslims
• Akbar builds Fatehpur Sikri (but soon a ghost town)
• establishment of Mughal administrative systems
◦ keep nobility from accumulating enough power to challenge emperor
◦ incorporates Persian, even Hindustani nobles
◦ revenue system (based on zamindars) brings greater centralization
◦ little alteration in local life
• Akbar notable for incorporating elements of Indian society into Mughal system
Jahangir (1605-1627)
• executes fifth Sikh guru, Arjan
• war of succession after death
Shah Jahan (1627-1658)
• builds Delhi’s Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) and Red Fort, Agra’s Taj Mahal
• another war of succession between sons: tolerant Dara Shukoh vs. orthodox Aurangzeb
• Aurangzeb imprisons Shah Jahan in Agra Fort
Aurangzeb (1658-1707)
• policy of religious tolerance reversed
• military campaigns to expand Mughal empire
• administrative changes prompted by resulting financial strain
• jizya tax reimposed, land taxes raised, rebellions result
• Sikhs militarized as result of Mughal persecution
• Aurangzeb’s last years spent in massive campaign to conquer Marathas in Deccan
◦ “I came alone and I go as a stranger. I do not know who I am, nor what I have been doing. I have sinned terribly, & I do not know what punishment awaits me.”
• with Aurangzeb’s death, Mughal empire declines