MUGHAL EMPIRE
LO: Exploring the Rise, Expansion, and Influence of the Mughal
Dynasty
By- Jahan and Tanay
Who were
the
Mughals ?
The Mughals were a Muslim dynasty who
ruled over a majority Hindu population. By
1750, they had dominated much of South
Asia for several centuries. Muslims were
already living in India when the Mughals first
arrived. During Mughal rule, Muslims
averaged only about 15 percent of the
population.
Founding of the
Empire
Babur (1526–1530)
Babur, also known as Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur
(1483–1530), was the founder of the Mughal Empire in
India. He was a descendant of Timur on his father’s side
and Genghis Khan on his mother’s side. Born in Fergana
(modern-day Uzbekistan), Babur was a skilled military
commander and a cultured ruler with a love for poetry and
gardens.
In 1526, Babur defeated the Sultan of Delhi, Ibrahim Lodi,
at the Battle of Panipat, marking the beginning of Mughal
rule in India. His military tactics and use of advanced
weaponry, including gunpowder and cannons, were key to
his success. Although he established the Mughal dynasty, it
was his grandson Akbar who would expand and consolidate
the empire into one of the most powerful and culturally
rich in the world. Babur himself is remembered for his
memoirs, the Baburnmma, which offer a detailed account
of his life and the world he inhabited.
Akbar (1542-
1605)
Akbar, also known as Akbar the Great (1542–1605), was
the third Mughal emperor and is widely regarded as one of
the greatest rulers in Indian history. He was the grandson
of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, and succeeded
his father, Humayun, to the throne in 1556 at the age of 13.
Akbar is celebrated for his administrative and military
achievements, as well as his efforts to foster religious
tolerance and cultural integration in his empire. He
expanded the Mughal Empire through a series of military
campaigns, consolidating control over most of the Indian
subcontinent, from the Hindu Kush mountains in the
northwest to Bengal in the east and the Deccan in the
south.
He is also known for his patronage of the arts, culture, and
architecture. His reign saw the flourishing of Mughal art
and architecture, exemplified by the construction of great
monuments like Fatehpur Sikri and the development of
Mughal miniature painting.
