1. The Mogul Empire

2. Building Background
As we have learned in 5th grade, the Gupta Dynasty unified N. India around 320 A.D.
They brought about the Golden Age in India for 200 yrs.
A time of advancement in Arts and Sciences.
And restored Hinduism as the primary religion of India.

4. Invasions
Towards the end of the Gupta reign, different groups of people began to invade India from 455 – early 1500’s.
The Huns and Muslims were some of the people that conquered India.

5. Mogul Empire
In 1526 Babur a leader from Central Asia took control of N. India.
This marked the beginning of the Mogul Empire.
Babur was a Muslim.
During is 4 year rule he conquered much of N. India.

6. Akbar Babur’s grandson Akbar, became the greatest Mogul Emperor.
He ruled from During this time he brought most of India under his control.

8. Akbar’s Rule He moved the capital city of India to Agra.
In order to keep his empire unified Akbar tried to win the loyalty of non-Muslim subjects.

9. Winning Loyalty of non-Muslims
Reformed central government allowing non-Muslims to be government officials.
Began a religious tolerance policy. (No discrimination)

10. Winning Loyalty of non-Muslims
Most unusual policy of Akbar’s was his tax collection.
He ended the special tax on non-Muslims. Instead taxes applied to every member in the empire.
This was not a common practice of rulers at the time.

11. Under Akbar’s Rule
The tolerance policy allowed Hindus and Muslims to work, live, and interact peacefully.
The Mogul Empire came to be the richest and most powerful in the world.

12. Akbar’s Grandson Shah Jahan, ruled from 1628 to 1658.
He was responsible for constructing the greatest building in India. The Taj Mahal.
He built this as a tomb to honor his wife.

13. The Fall of the Mogul Empire
Aurangzeb (or ANG seb) was Shah Jahan’s son, and was a much harsher ruler.
He forced non-Muslims to pay a special tax.
Destroyed many Hindu temples and forced them to convert to Islam.

14. Harsh Rule = No Good
Aurangzeb policies were very unpopular and the people were not happy.
Because of this people from all around the country began to rebel.
And the Mogul Empire soon crumbled by the mid-1700’s