1. Mughal Empire

2. Overview Ruled most of India & Pakistan in the 16-17th centuries
Consolidated Islam in South Asia
Spread Muslim arts & culture
Ruled large area with Hindu majority

3. Origins Muslims were in India long before Mughals
Arrived in 8th century
Conflicted with Hindus
Muslim invasions in 10th & 12th centuries
Invasion at end of 12th century formed the Delhi Sultanate
Later Muslim invasion of 1398 devastated Delhi
Grew from descendents of the Mongol Empire living in Turkestan in the 15th century
Assimilated the culture of the Middle East while keeping elements of far eastern roots
Retained military skill
Babur, descendent of Genghis Khan & Timur the Lame moved on into India in 1504 from Afghanistan
Disposed ruler & too over
Sophisticated civilization based on religious toleration
Mixture of Persian, Mongol, & Indian culture
Hinduism tolerated & temples built

4. Babur’s Empire Hinduism tolerated
Trade with rest of Islamic world encouraged
Slavery diminished
Followed by son Humayun (Bad emperor ) who rapidly lost the empire

5. Akbar
Regarded as one of the greatest rulers of all time – regardless of country!
Third Mughal Emperor
Succeeded throne at age 13 & recaptured territory lost from Babur’s empire
Ruled most of north, central, and western India by death in 1605
Religious tolerance in government
Worked hard to win over Hindu leaders
Believed in religious toleration
Delegated government – provincial governors responsible to him for the quality of government in their territory
Hindus in positions of responsibility
Ended the jizya that was imposed on non-Muslims
Non-Muslims not forced to obey Islamic laws
Within his court, adopted a blended culture – it died when he did

6. Jangahir Akbar’s son Readopted Islam as state religion
Continued policy of religious toleration
Began magnificent building projects
Developed Urdu as official language of the Empire

7. Jahan Peak of architectural achievements
Commissioned Taj Mahal as a mausoleum for his wife
But, money spent on buildings & military projects emptied his treasury
Forced to raise taxes
Aggravated people of the empire

8. Aurangzeb Last great Mughal Emperor
Split opinion – Hindu or Muslim
Came to throne after imprisoning father & having brother killed
Strong leader  greatest size of empire
Ended religious tolerance
Very observant Muslim
No longer allowed Hindu community to live under own laws & customs
Imposed sharia law
Thousands of Hindu temples & shrines destroyed
Tax on Hindus reimposed
Invaded southern Hindu kingdoms & took many slaves
Peak of military power
Unstable rule
Hostility from intolerance & taxation
Too big to be successfully governed
Empire went into decline
Successors were effectively British or French puppets
Last emperor deposed by the British in 1858

9. Upcoming: Relationship with the West
Trade along Indian Ocean prominent for centuries before Europeans came
Mughal-European trade began in 17th century
Mughals previously more interested in communication with Safavid & Ottoman Empires
Portuguese, English, & Dutch traders
Akbar welcomed Portuguese Jesuits
Jahangir strengthened economic activity
Established coastal ports for trade
Would become a way in to Indian politics / influence princes
Able to permanently settle lands

10. Discussion
How were the Mughal Empire’s policies of religious tolerance ahead of their time?