Establish Empire in India

Chap. 18 Sect. 3

IntroductionLate 15th Century

• Hindu lower classes served Muslim or Hindu masters

• Nomadic warriors in the Northwest looking for battle

Early History of the Mughal Empire

• Mughals= Mongols

• Arabs invaded (600’s AD)- Gupta Empire Gone

• Muslim tribes from central Asia created many small kingdoms

Ongoing Conflicts• 700’s AD- fighting between Hindus & Muslims

• 1000 AD Mahmud (Turkish) fought & weakened region

• Sultans treated Hindus as conquered people

• 1200’s 1500’s= many sultans

Babur Founds an Empire• 1494 inherited Uzbekistan

& Tajikistan (11 years old)

• Built an army & took India

• Laid groundwork for vast Mughal Empire

• Very sensitive, talented commander, wrote poetry, loved art & gardens

Golden Age of Akbar• Grandson of Babur

• Akbar= “Great One”

• Ruled 1556 1605 with wisdom & tolerance

Liberal Ruler• Firmly defended religious freedom

• Eliminated taxes on Hindus & all non- Muslims

• Hindus & Muslims could rise to high office in government

Military Conqueror

• Root of his strength• Military power & political wisdom kept

100 million people together (more than Europe)

Culture • Mingled art, education, politics & languages of

many cultures

• Persian= language of court & upper class

• Hindu mixed Persian & local language- still used today

• Urdu= blend of Arabic, Persian & Hindi from soldiers’ camp- official language of Pakistan today

• Art= miniatures: book illustrations

• Portraits of Mughal emperors had halos like western saints

Literature & Architecture

• Hindu writing flourished- Indian poem Ramayana from 4th century BC retold in Hindi-Ramcaritmanas

• Intricate stonework with Hindu themes

Akbar’s Successors

• 1605 he died• Three powerful emperors followed1. Jahangir (& Nur Jahan)

• Weak ruler- affairs of state handled by wife• Nur Jahan- Persian princess who was real ruler from

1611-1622• Both Jahangir & Nur Jahan rejected religious

tolerance & wanted only Islam in their state• Sikhs- nonviolent religious group blended Buddhism,

Hinduism, & Sufism (Islamic mysticism)• Sheltered Khusrau who rejected his father Jahngir so Sikhs

were hated

Akbar’s successors cont’d

2. Shah Jahan• Had all rivals assassinated• Loved buildings & wife Mumtaz Mahal• 1631 Mumtaz Mahal died in childbirth (14th)• Had Taj Mahal built in her memory- very expensive &

elaborate• Built the Red Fort in Delhi- completed the peacock throne• People suffered due to drought & taxes that supported

ruler, building, & war.• 1657 Shah Jahan was ill & his sons fought to take his throne• Was imprisoned by his 3rd son Aurangzeb who took over

after winning the civil war against his brother

Akbar’s successors cont’d

3. Aurangzeb• Ruled 1658 to 1707• Expanded empire to its greatest size but power weakened

due to oppression of the people• Enforced rigid Islamic laws (no drinking or gambling) & had

censors who policed his subjects’ morals• Wiped out all gains (rights) that Hindus had under Akbar• Hindu Raj puts (sons of kings) rebelled & never completely

under control again• Sikhs became a militant brotherhood & built a state in Punjab

(NW India)

• Aurangzeb needed taxes to fight all of these people so he added taxes to Hindi merchants who then rebelled

The Empire’s Decline & Decay

• Aurangzeb had drained the empire of its resources

• Subjects felt no loyalty to him• Over 2 million people died during a famine while

he was waging war• Power of local lords grew as the central power

declined• Mughal emperor became a wealthy figurehead• During Mughal Empire Europeans were allowed

to establish trading areas