The Mogul Empire

I. Origins the Moguls brought unity to the Indian subcontinent founder = Babur  originally conquered territory in Afghanistan, then crossed the Khyber Pass into India (map, p. 474)  captured Delhi in 1526 & established control in northern India Akbar (Babur’s grandson) extended Mogul rule throughout India  used heavy artillery  was a humane ruler  religious tolerance  govt. bureaucracy included Muslims & Hindus  use of zamindars to govern local districts

II. Decline Shah Jahan (Akbar’s grandson) expanded the boundaries of the Mogul Empire into the Deccan Plateau his son, Aurangzeb, seized power from his father & became emperor in 1568  was a very controversial ruler  attempted to eliminate some societal practices  suttee  gambling  drinking  forced Hindus to convert to Islam

III. British Rule British trading posts at Calcutta & Chennai (Madras) (map, p. 476)  Age of Discovery  Indian cotton was highly prized, as were spices Sir Robert Clive solidified British power in India  chief representative - British East India Co.  protected its interests in India, esp. against European competitors through its trade networks, the British established control in India by the late 18 th century  India remained a British colony until 1947

IV. Mogul Society the Moguls were Muslims, but ruled a largely Hindu society  adaptation of practices & traditions to reflect both Muslim & Hindu influence  role of women  suttee? importance of trade for the development of an Indian merchant class

V. Mogul Culture combined Persian & Indian styles Taj Mahal  built in 17 th century  was a memorial to Shah Jahan’s wife Akbar style of painting  depicted humans in action  imitated European art  “Babur Receives a Courtier”(1589), Farrukh Baig, Mughal dynasty

Jali screen (one of a pair), second half of 16th century; Mughal India Carved red sandstone; H. 73 1/4 in. (186 cm), W. 51 3/16 in. (130 cm), Th. 3 9/16 in. (9 cm) Rogers Fund, 1993 Metropolitan Museum of Art

Rama Receives Surgriva and Jambavat, the Monkey and Bear Kings: Leaf from a manuscript of the Ramayana, ca. 1605; Mughal India Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; 10 5/8 x 7 3/8 in. (27 x 18.7 cm) Four lines of Sanskrit and one line of Bundeli; Hindi on reserve Cynthia Hazen Polsky and Leon B. Polsky Fund, 2002 Metropolitan Museum of Art

Carpet with palm trees, ibexes, and birds, Mughal period (1526–1858), late 16th–early 17th century Present–day Pakistan, Lahore Cotton (warp and weft), wool (pile); asymmetrically knotted pile; L. 328 in. (833.1 cm), W. 108 in. (274.3 cm) Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917 Metropolitan Museum of Art

Taj Mahal (photos from UNESCO)