Mughal Empire

Overview• Ruled most of India

& Pakistan in the 16-17th centuries

• Consolidated Islam in South Asia

• Spread Muslim arts & culture

• Ruled large area with Hindu majority

Origins• Muslims were in India long before

Mughals– Arrived in 8th century– Conflicted with Hindus– Muslim invasions in 10th & 12th centuries

• Invasion at end of 12th century formed the Delhi Sultanate– Later Muslim invasion of 1398 devastated Delhi

• Grew from descendents of the Mongol Empire living in Turkestan in the 15th century– Assimilated the culture of the Middle East

while keeping elements of far eastern roots– Retained military skill

• Babur, descendent of Genghis Khan & Timur the Lame moved on into India in 1504 from Afghanistan– Disposed ruler & too over– Sophisticated civilization based on religious

toleration– Mixture of Persian, Mongol, & Indian culture– Hinduism tolerated & temples built

Babur’s Empire• Hinduism tolerated• Trade with rest of

Islamic world encouraged

• Slavery diminished• Followed by son

Humayun (Bad emperor ) who rapidly lost the empire

Akbar • Regarded as one of the greatest rulers of all time – regardless of country!

• Third Mughal Emperor• Succeeded throne at age 13 & recaptured

territory lost from Babur’s empire• Ruled most of north, central, and western

India by death in 1605• Religious tolerance in government

– Worked hard to win over Hindu leaders– Believed in religious toleration– Delegated government – provincial governors

responsible to him for the quality of government in their territory

– Hindus in positions of responsibility– Ended the jizya that was imposed on non-

Muslims– Non-Muslims not forced to obey Islamic laws– Within his court, adopted a blended culture – it

died when he did

Jangahir

• Akbar’s son • Readopted Islam as state religion• Continued policy of religious

toleration• Began magnificent building projects• Developed Urdu as official language

of the Empire

Jahan• Peak of architectural

achievements• Commissioned Taj

Mahal as a mausoleum for his wife

• But, money spent on buildings & military projects emptied his treasury– Forced to raise taxes– Aggravated people of

the empire

Aurangzeb• Last great Mughal Emperor

– Split opinion – Hindu or Muslim

• Came to throne after imprisoning father & having brother killed

• Strong leader greatest size of empire• Ended religious tolerance

– Very observant Muslim– No longer allowed Hindu community to live under own

laws & customs– Imposed sharia law– Thousands of Hindu temples & shrines destroyed– Tax on Hindus reimposed– Invaded southern Hindu kingdoms & took many slaves

• Peak of military power• Unstable rule

– Hostility from intolerance & taxation– Too big to be successfully governed– Empire went into decline

• Successors were effectively British or French puppets– Last emperor deposed by the British in 1858

Upcoming: Relationship with the West

• Trade along Indian Ocean prominent for centuries before Europeans came

• Mughal-European trade began in 17th century– Mughals previously more interested in

communication with Safavid & Ottoman Empires

• Portuguese, English, & Dutch traders– Akbar welcomed Portuguese Jesuits– Jahangir strengthened economic

activity

• Established coastal ports for trade– Would become a way in to Indian

politics / influence princes– Able to permanently settle lands

Discussion

How were the Mughal Empire’s policies of religious tolerance

ahead of their time?