1500-1700 (India) The mughal empire

HISTORY OF INDIA IN 1400S Lush country  many cities & temples Hindu lower classes labored for Muslim/Hindu masters Gupta Empire collapsing 1st Ottomans (Timur the Lame) conquers New Delhi, then… Huge clash between Hindus (India) & Muslims (Ottomans)  Hindus won New Delhi is destroyed and weak

BABUR 1494 – 11 yr. old boy, BABUR, inherits kingdom in N. India  But elders drove him away He moved south & later set groundwork for MUGHAL EMPIRE Strong & sensitive leader; “Renaissance Man” Defeated massive RAJPUT army (“sons of kings” or Turkish warlords & moved into New Delhi Area weak, so nomadic people invade India, called Mughals or “Mongols” (Muslim)

AKBAR: THE GOLDEN AGE Grandson of Babur; aka “Great One” 1556 – 1605: comes to power, gains land & builds a unified Mughal Empire – Golden Age He is a Muslim

AKBAR’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS Rules with religious tolerance Abolishes special taxes on non-Muslims Bureaucracy of educated officials rules efficiently Reorganized taxes to represent % of crops (more $) War-like – armies are equipped with heavy artillery Employs some potential enemies

AKBAR’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS CONTINUED Cultural diffusion – many cultures/languages combined Upper class spoke Persian Common people spoke Hindi (Persian & local language) ; Army people spoke Urdu (Arabic, Persian & Hindi) book illustrations – miniatures were detailed, colorful stories library & schools architecture – massive, graceful, decorated with stonework of Hindu themes

JAHANGIR Akbar dies in 1605; Akbar’s son Jahangir rules aka “Grasper of the World” weak ruler & relied on his wife, NUR JAHEN Raises taxes & neglects people Persecutes Sikhs religion that blends Buddhism, Hinduism, & mysticism Ended religious toleration

SHAH JAHAN Secured throne through assassination of all rivals Greatest accomplishment: built TAJ MAHAL, tomb for his deceased wife, Mumtaz Mahal BUT country suffered because spent so much time & money to build it  increased taxes

TAJ MAHAL

AURANGZEB Shah Jahan sick, so 3rd son, AURANGZEB, takes throne (kills brother & puts Shah. Jahan in prison) EXPANDS MUGHAL EMPIRE TO ITS GREATEST SIZE BUT empire is weak because of oppression of his people (harsh laws & destroys temples)

EMPIRE’S DECLINE & DECAY Long line of weak rulers  Mughal Emperor now only wealthy figurehead Empire no longer united because of corruption; now bunch of independent states

EUROPEANS MOVE IN TO TRADE Europeans (Portuguese, Dutch, French, & English) had trading outposts in Mughal Empire the whole time  Mughals not threatened by them Aurangzeb gave Europeans the port of Bombay  big mistake , BIG important city for trade in the future. (England ends up ruling most of India as a result of this TRADE: British wanted Indian textiles, mostly COTTON & SPICES