WORLD HISTORY READERS Level 5- ③ The Mughal Empire The Beginnings - PowerPoint Presentation

WORLD HISTORY READERS Level 5- ③ The Mughal Empire

The Beginnings It lasted for almost 350 years. It was one of the greatest empires India has ever seen. The Mughal Empire united many tribes in India. The Mughals oversaw India’s greatest flourishing of art, culture, architecture, and imperial strength, especially in the 16th and 17th centuries. How long did the Mughal Empire last? Map of the Mughal Empire Babur of India Where does the Mughal Empire get its name? Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, was descended from the Mongol emperor Genghis Khan and the Mongol-Turkish emperor Timur . It is from this connection that the Mughal Empire gets its name. In Persian, Mughal means Mongolian. Three different Indian religions together: Muslim, Sikh, and Hindu Why was the Mughal Empire special?

Babur (1483-1530) Babur wanted to control Samarkand, but he could not. So he turned his attentions to other places. In 1504, Babur captured the city of Kabul in modern-day Afghanistan. From his base in Kabul, he moved south into India. His son Humayun became emperor. How did Babur expand the Mughal Empire? Modern-day Kabul, Afghanistan A Rajput horseman What happened in India? As he moved south into India, Babur defeated the Lodi army using skillful strategies against a much larger army. Victory at the Battle of Panipat brought Babur the prized cities of Delhi and Agra. However, the Lodi army of Delhi was not his only enemy. The Rajput army also wanted to control Delhi. Babur defeated the Rajputs at Khanwa in March 1527. Over the next three years, Babur occupied most of northern India. What happened after Babur died?

Akbar (1542-1605) Akbar won back and secured much of the land his grandfather Babur had won. Akbar also expanded the empire. Who became emperor after Humayun ? Akbar of India Akbar greeting some Rajputs at his court How did Akbar expand the empire? He united his empire with that of the Rajputs by marrying a Rajput princess and changing some laws to make Hindus and Muslims more equal. What did Akbar do? Humayun’s son Akbar became emperor in 1556. What was special about Akbar’s empire? It was the largest in India’s history since the time of Asoka some 1,300 years previously. It made Akbar the most successful of the Mughal emperors.

A closer look at some of the architecture in Fatehpur Sikri Akbar’s Architectural Style He is known for his marvelous palaces. He created his own style of architecture and used craftsmen from all over the region with their different talents. What is Akbar known for? Fatehpur Sikri near Agra, India Diwan- i -Khas His most famous palace was in the town of Fatehpur Sikri near Agra. This palace was built from the red stone found there. Fatehpur Sikri served as Akbar’s capital from 1571-1585. Then it was abandoned for lack of fresh water. His intelligence is shown in the construction of the Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience). It is a room specifically built so the emperor can speak to someone in private, but people below can hear as well.

Jahangir (1569-1627) After Akbar’s death in 1605, his son, Jahangir, became emperor. He spent his time advancing the arts. One of the greatest artistic advances in this period was the development of “miniatures.” These are small paintings that combined Persian and Mughal painting styles. Who became emperor after Akbar? Jahangir Jahangir receiving a guest, 1616 A miniature of a lady What did Jahangir do?

Shah Jahan (1592-1666) No, he changed Akbar’s policies of equality and tolerance in the empire. He ordered a stricter interpretation of Islam and destroyed many Hindi temples. The Shah Jahan period was considered the finest for Mughal architecture. Among his greatest achievements was moving the Mughal capital to Delhi. There he built the Red Fort, which was the centerpiece of the empire for 200 years. Shah Jahan also built the Agra Fort and many mosques and gardens. Shah Jahan’s most famous building was the Taj Mahal. It was built as a tomb for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Was Shah Jahan’s rule peaceful? The Taj Mahal Agra Fort The Red Fort What was special about Shah Jahan’s time as emperor? Who came to power next? Jahangir’s third son, Shah Jahan, became emperor next.

Aurangzeb (1618-1707) Shah Jahan’s son Aurangzeb was the next emperor. He wanted to expand the Mughal Empire south into the territory of southern India. Who became emperor after Shah Jahan died? Aurangzeb on his horse Yes, he expanded the empire greatly, but his control was weak. He had to fight many battles to keep the lands he captured. He also made enemies of the Hindu princes by imposing strict Islamic rule. As a result of his weakness, much of India broke into small semi-independent territories controlled by local officials or landowners. Aurangzeb attacking the city of Golconde in south-central India What did he want to do? Was he successful?

Nadir Shah He was the greatest threat to Aurangzeb’s empire. Nadir Shah became the emperor of Persia in 1736. In 1739, he took Kabul, the city that had been held by the Mughals since the time of Babur. After this success, Nadir Shah moved south and took Delhi. Many warriors were killed on both sides. From Delhi, he took many jewels and two of the most important possessions of the Mughal emperors: The Peacock Throne and the Koh-i-Noor diamond. He also took many skilled artists and builders as well as thousands of elephants, horses, and camels. Who was Nadir Shah? Nadir Shah at the capture of Delhi Koh-i-Noor diamond What did Nadir Shah do? Nadir Shah on the Peacock Throne

Who took advantage of this? Europeans Battle for India The empire fell into chaos and continued to get weaker. The British and French What happened after Aurangzeb died? What did they do? They played one Indian prince off against another to win control for themselves. . British Indian money It gained power and influence by offering military support to powerful Indian states. The ruler of Hyderabad died. Because of this, the British and French forces fought for control. The British won. It helped the British gain importance and power. It also lowered the prestige of the French in India. What did the British East India Company do? What happened in 1748? Why was this significant?

When did the British East India Company close down? The End of the Mughal Empire The British East India Company expanded to control much of India. It closed down after the Indian Mutiny in 1858. What happened over the next hundred years? What happened after the British East India Company closed down? Britain took direct control of India from London. This was called the British Raj (Rule). It was the end of the Mughal Empire. British East India Company soldiers defending Delhi, 1857 Can we still see the influence of the Mughal Empire in India today? Yes, we can see it everywhere, especially in northern India. Many of India’s most impressive forts and buildings date back to this time. The Mughal Empire left us with a wealth of art, culture, and traditions, all of which form the complex and exciting world we find in modern India. The Gateway to India, built by the British Raj

Vocabulary architecture n. the art of planning, designing, and constructing buildings be descended from v. phr. to be born into the family of

Vocabulary diamond n. a hard, bright, precious stone which is clear and colorless chaos n. a state of utter confusion

Vocabulary fort n. a strong building or place made secure enough to be defended during a war intelligence n. the ability to learn, understand, and make judgments or have opinions that are based on reason

Vocabulary tolerance n. the act of accepting the ways, beliefs, and customs of others oversee v. to watch a job or an activity to make sure that it is done correctly