Group 4: history project

Jahangir and his life

Shah jAHAN and his Life

Teesta GHosh

Nur Jahan

In 1611 ce, Jahangir married nur Jahan, the widow of a Persian nobleman. The3 Name nur jahan means ‘Light of the world. Nur jahan was beautiful, intelligent and talented. She was highly educated and cultured and wrote persian poetry . She was artistic and creative and started fashion trends by designing jewellery , new varieties of silk and cotton fabrics and even carpets. She was physically Strong and courageous, and went on Hunting trips with her husband.

Nur jahan

Nur Jahan was ambitious and soon became the power behind the throne. Jahangir consulted her on all matters concerning the affairs of the government. Nur Jahan soon became the virtual ruler of the mughal empire. Gradually, Jahangir left the administration in her hands and spent all his time indulging in his addiction to wine and opium. Coins began to be issued jointly in the name of jahangir and nurjahan.

Nur jahan

Nur jahan used her position and influence to appoint her father, brother and other relatives to important posts in the administration. Her niece, mumtaz mahal, was married to shah Jahan, Who was, at that time, prince Khurram.

Shah Jahan’s Estimate

Shah jahan’s reign is the golden age of the mughal empire. It was politically united,

economically prosperous and culturally vibrant. There was law and order, peace and security in the country and no foreign invasions. Shah Jahan’s reign witnessed the full

flowering of architecture. The magnificence of the monuments built by Shah Jahan is one

of the most endiring characteristics of his reign. Painters, scholars and musicians were

also patronized by the Emperor. The policy of religious tolerance and friendship with the

rajputS WAS continued by Shah JAHAN.

Shah Jahan’s Estimate

behind the glamour and the glitter of Shah Jahan’s reign, however, lurked some disturbing shadows. Shah Jahan’s millitary expeditions to central asia and kandahar and the extravagant building projects drained the royal treasury.To improve the country’s financial resources, heavier taxes were imposed on the peasantry.According to Bernier, a French traveler, many villages were ruined and left desolate. This setback to agriculture became a major cause of decline of the Mughal Empire.

Shah Jahan’s Estimate

The failure of military campaigns during this period was an indication of the decline of the military might of the mughals.The administrative machinery had grown in size but corruption had crept in.

The lengthening shadows of the setting sun, however, was hardly visible in the dazzling brilliance of Shah Jahan’s reign.

Mahek Jain

Estimate of Jahangir

Jahangir was fairly successful as a ruler . He had the good sense to continue the sound administrative system and polices of Akbar . He continued Akbar ‘ s policy of religious tolerance and friendship with the Rajputs . Thus , preserved the unity and stability of the Mughal empire Jahangir did not posses Akbar ‘s genius and reforms . Thus did not introduce any important reforms .The administrative system was on decline . The wife of Jahangir , Nur Jahan had introduced the system of giving gifts to the emperor in exchange for favours . Corruption began to weaken the administrative set – up . Jahangir was a great lover of nature . He is a scholar of zoology ,botany and medicine . He was a patron of painting , music and architecture . He was an excellent writer . His biography written in PersianOffer a fascinating account of his life and times .

ADMINISTRATIONShah Jahan was partly liberal and progressive and

partly rigid orthodox . During the early years of reign , there was no serious challenge to his

authority , till the out break of the war of succession . The empire was not invaded by any

external enemy . Trade and commerce flourished and the state became more prosperous .

CULTURAL ACHIEVEMENTS Shah Jahan‘s reign was an age of splendor and cultural brilliance . He is known as an Engineer King . His patronage of architecture is legendary and is one of the most important characteristics of his reign . He is remembered even to this day for the magnificent buildings he constructed .

TAJ MAHAL The most magnificent and beautiful building is the famous Taj Mahal , built in the memory of his beloved wife , Mumtaz Mahal in Agra. It took 23 years to complete the Taj Mahal ,at the cost of 1 crore rupees at that time . It is made of pure white marble and is decorated with semi –precious stones and lace like screens . It is a monument with splendid dome and 4 slender minarets , set in a beautiful garden .It is constructed from the materials from India and all over Asia .

DIWAN –I – AAMit is situated close to Machchhi BhawanThough the building was constructed in red sandstone, yet it had been plastered with white shell plaster to resemble the white marble.The raised rectangular chamber from where the emperor addressed the people was ornamented.

MOTI MASJID The Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque ) at Agra is considered to be the most perfect Shah Jahan ‘s building .It is simple yet elegant masjid , made of the finest marble . The main gateways are approachable by two staircases and had a red sandstone exterior and a marble interior .There are seven beautiful square chhatris above the parapet and an octagonal tower with a marble cupola on top at each corner.

RED FORTThe Red Fort was built within the walls of the city Shahjahanabad .It is built with red sand stone .It is also known as Delhi Fort .Diwan-i-Khas is the most impressive building in it .The fort lies along the Yamuna river .Red Fort ‘s boundary walls are adjacent to the older Salimgarh fort .

DIWAN –I– KHAS The Diwan – i - Khas is the most splendid and impressive building in Red Fort . Its ceiling is made of silver Its walls are made of marble and decorated with gold and semi – precious stones .It is also called the Hall of private audiences .The 4 corners of the roof is mounted by pillared chhatri .

JAMA MASJID The Jama Masjid is a simple and elegant monument .It is the largest mosque of India .It stands on 260 pillars , supported by 15 domes at varying elevations .It started by 1650 and completed in 6 years . Final architectural piece by Shah Jahan .It is situated at the center of the old city on top of a large hill .

Kedar Chakravarty

JAHANGIR AND SHAH JAHANJAHANGIR

JAHANGIR HAD INHERITED A KINGDOM THAT WAS AMONG THE LARGEST,MOST PROSPEROUS AND PROBABLY THE BEST ORGANIZED IN THE MEDIEVAL WORLD.THE FOUNDATIONS LAID BY AKBAR WERE SO STRONG THAT JAHANGIR DID NOT HAVE ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS MAINTAING THE EMPIRE.THE FIRST HALF OF HIS 22-YEAR-REIGN WAS PEACEFUL AND STABLE WITH EXCEPTION OF THE REBELLION OF HIS ELDEST SON,KHUSRAU,WHO WAS CAPTURED AND IMPRISONED.

SHAHJAHANSHAH JAHAN ASCENDED THE MUGHAL THRONE IN

1628 CE AND RULED TILL 1658 CE.HE STRENGTHENED HIS POSITION BY ORDERING THE EXECUTION OF ALL MALE RELATIVES WHO MIGHT HAVE HAD ANY CLAIMS TO THE THRONE.HIS BROTHER,SHAHRYAR,WAS ARRESTED AND BLINDED.SHAH JAHAN WAS INTELLIGENT,AMBITIOUS AND DYNAMIC.HE WAS EAGER TO CONTINUE AKBAR`S POLICY OF EXPANSION.

JAHANGIR:CONQUEST OF KANGRA

AFTER A SIEGE OF 14 MONTHS,THE FORT OF KANGRA,WHICH AKBAR HAD FAILED TO CONQUER,SUBMITTED TO JAHANGIR.THE CONQUEST OF KANGRA AND MEWAR GAVE HIM GREAT JOY BECAUSE HE WAS ABLE TO FULFIL THE UNREALIZED IMPERIAL DREAMS OF AKBAR.

Keon Kim

Conquest of mewar

The first military campaign undertaken by Jahangir was against Rana AmarSingh of Mewar.Jahangir sent an expeditions against Mewar in 1606 proved indecisive,butShah Jahan proved decisive and Rana submitted to the Mughals in 1615.Jahangir offered most liberal terms to Mewar and thus ended a long struggle between Mewar and Mughals.

During Jahangir’s reign, Malik Ambar , the chief minisster of Ahmadangar, recovered all the territories that Akbar had conquered in the Deccan.

Then Jahangir sent an expedition under Prince Khurram who managed to recapture the fort of Ahmadnagar.

The war continued and by the

end of Jahangir’s reign.

The Deccan Campaigns

Aditya Agarwal

ARRIVAL OF EAST INDIA COMPANY

In 1612 British established a trading post in Gujarat. In 1614 Sir Thomas Roe was instructed by James I to visit the court

of Jahangir. Sir Thomas arranged a commercial treaty and to secure for the East India Company, sites for factories.

Sir Thomas was successful in getting permission from jahangir for setting up factories. East India Company set up

factories at Ahmedabad, Broach and Agra and SURAT. In 1640 East India Company established an outpost at

Madras. In 1661 the company obtained Bombay from Charles II and converted it to a flourishing center of trade by

1668. English settlements rose in Orissa and Bengal.

Amartya rishin roy

•Shah Jahan was the third son of the emperor Jahangir and a grandson of the emperor Akbar. He was born in Lahore on Jan. 5, 1592. In 1612, when his title was still Prince Khurram, he married Arjumand Banu Begum. •He was ambitious to gain the throne, though he was third in line. In 1622 he staged an unsuccessful rebellion against his father.•As a consequence he spent the following three years traveling around the kingdom waiting for his father to forgive him. They were reconciled in 1625, and Jahangir died two years later. With support from his wife's family, Shah Jahan proclaimed himself emperor at Agra in February 1628.

Shah Jahan's reign was notable for its military successes against states in southern India. There was also a temporary extension of Mughal power in the northwest. In 1638 the Persian governor of Kandahar surrendered that fortress to the Mughals. In 1646 Shah Jahan's forces occupied Badakhshan and Balkh, but Balkh was lost the next year. The Persians regained Kandahar in 1649.This started the end of reign of Shah Jahan.

Shah Jahan

Made ByTeesta Ghosh: Slides 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7& 8, compilation and animation of slides

Mahek Jain: Slides 9, 10, 11,12, 13,14

Kedar Chakravorty: Slides 15, 16 &17

Keon Kim: Slides 18, 19 & 20

Aditya Agarwal: Slides 21 &22

Amartya Rishin Roy: slides 23, 24 & 25

Acknowledgement

I thank our teacher, Mr. Hayshan Rehman, for

giving us such a wonderful topic to work on. It

really needed a lot of effort and research to make

this presentation, something all the team

members have put. And, most of all, I thank you

all for sitting through the presentation.