History^407
FIND OUT MORE. Gupta India 379 • Mauryan India 379
1 MUGHAL MINIATURE
This painting of about 1590 shows Akbar’s palace
being built. Mughal art was often in miniature,
combining Persian and Indian styles.Mughal India
The Mughal Empire, founded in 1526, was the most
powerful Islamic state to rule in India. It was
at its most prosperous during the 1600s,
when fine buildings such as the
. TAJ MAHAL were constructed.
WHO WERE THE MUGHALS?
Mughal means “Mongol”. Babur, the Asian invader
who founded the empire, was descended from Mongol
warlords. Under the Mughal emperors, roads were
built, trade prospered, and the arts flourished.
WHERE WAS THE MUGHAL EMPIRE?
The Mughals governed northern India, and at times
their rule extended from Afghanistan in the west to
Bengal in the east. The emperor Shah Jahan moved
the capital from Agra to Delhi in 1638, and pushed
the empire’s borders far to the south.
MUGHAL DAGGER 3
The Mughal emperors owned magnificent
daggers and swords, hunting weapons,
precious jewels, gold, and ivory. They wore
splendid silks and brocades. Their court was
famed around the world for its luxury.WHO CHALLENGED MUGHAL RULE?
The Mughals had to fight against Afghans
and many regional Hindu rulers. The early
Muslim emperors allowed all kinds of
religious worship, but Aurangzeb offended
Hindus and caused the Sikhs to rebel. He also
clashed fiercely with the west coast kingdom of
the Marathas and its ruler, Sivaji. However,
it was the growing political power of
British traders in India that brought
about the final decline and collapse of
the Mughal Empire in the 18th century.1526 Babur founds
Mughal Empire
1556 Akbar the Great
begins reign
1605 Jahangir becomes
emperor1628 Shah Jahan
comes to power
1659 Aurangzeb seizes
the throne
1675 Sikhs rise against
Mughal rule
1707 Start of Mughal
decline
1857 Last emperorTHE MUGHAL EMPIRETAJ MAHAL 3
The domes, minarets, and arches
of the Taj Mahal are reflected in
still water. The walls of white
marble are inlaid with over 43
varieties of precious stones.4 INSCRIPTIONS
Beautifully intricate inscriptions in
the Persian style adorn the arches of
the Taj Mahal. Many of them are
verses from the Qur’an, the holy
scripture of Islam.HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO BUILD THE TAJ MAHAL?
The Taj Mahal was begun in 1632 and completed 22
years later. About 20,000 people were employed,
including Asia’s finest craftsmen. Famous for its
perfect symmetry, it is exactly as wide as it is high,
and the dome is the same height as its façade.TAJ MAHAL
The most famous monument of Mughal architecture is the
Taj Mahal. It was built in the 17th century by Shah Jahan as a
tomb for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth.
Gold hilt
studded
with gemsve ,
Mughal India