Mughal Empire — TNPSC Group II/IIA History
Overview
The Mughal Empire (1526–1857 CE) was one of India's greatest empires, covering nearly the entire subcontinent at its peak. For TNPSC Group 2/2A, focus on the six great Mughal emperors (Babur to Aurangzeb), Akbar's administrative innovations especially the Mansabdari system, major architectural achievements, and the reasons for decline.
The Six Great Mughal Emperors
| Emperor | Period | Key Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Babur | 1526–1530 | Founded Mughal Empire; First Battle of Panipat |
| Humayun | 1530–1556 | Lost and regained empire; Sur interlude |
| Akbar | 1556–1605 | Greatest Mughal; Mansabdari, Sulh-i-Kul, Din-i-Ilahi |
| Jahangir | 1605–1627 | Patron of arts; Nur Jahan's influence |
| Shah Jahan | 1628–1658 | Golden age of Mughal architecture; Taj Mahal |
| Aurangzeb | 1658–1707 | Largest territorial extent; religious intolerance; decline begins |
Babur (1526–1530)
- Birth name: Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur
- Descended from Timur (father's side) and Genghis Khan (mother's side)
- Invited to India by Daulat Khan Lodi and Rana Sanga (later betrayed)
Key Battles
| Battle | Year | Opponent | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Battle of Panipat | 1526 | Ibrahim Lodi | Founded Mughal Empire |
| Battle of Khanwa | 1527 | Rana Sanga | Defeated Rajput confederacy |
| Battle of Chanderi | 1528 | Medini Rai | Consolidated control over Rajputana |
| Battle of Ghaghra | 1529 | Afghan chiefs | Secured Bengal frontier |
- Autobiography: Baburnama (Tuzuk-i-Baburi) — written in Chagatai Turkish
- Introduced gunpowder and artillery in India — decisive advantage at Panipat
Humayun (1530–1540 & 1555–1556)
- Lost empire to Sher Shah Suri at Battle of Chausa (1539) and Battle of Kanauj (1540)
- Spent 15 years in exile in Persia and Afghanistan
- Regained empire in 1555 with Persian help (Battle of Sirhind)
- Died falling from the stairs of his library, Sher Mandal (1556)
- His tomb in Delhi is the first great Mughal garden tomb — prototype for Taj Mahal
Sur Interlude (1540–1555) — Sher Shah Suri
- Sher Shah Suri was the greatest interruption to Mughal rule
- Built Grand Trunk Road from Kabul to Sonargaon (Bengal)
- Introduced Rupiya (silver rupee) — forerunner of modern rupee
- Reformed land revenue system — direct settlement with cultivators
- Built the Rohtas Fort and Qila-i-Kohna mosque
Akbar (1556–1605) — Most Important for TNPSC
Military Campaigns
- Battle of Panipat II (1556): Akbar defeated Hemu (Hem Chandra Vikramaditya) — re-established Mughal rule
- Conquered Rajputana through both war and diplomacy
- Married Rajput princess Harka Bai (Jodha Bai) — daughter of Raja Bharmal of Amber
- Extended empire to Kabul, Kandahar, Bengal, Gujarat, Deccan frontier
Mansabdari System (Most Frequently Tested)
The Mansabdari system was Akbar's military-administrative ranking system:
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Mansab | Numerical rank of an officer |
| Zat | Personal rank — determines salary |
| Sawar | Number of cavalry to be maintained |
| Mansabdar | Officer holding a rank |
Ranks: Ranged from 10 to 5000 (Akbar), later extended to 7000 under Aurangzeb
Key features:
- Ranks were not hereditary — granted and revoked by emperor
- All ranks were direct servants of the emperor
- System unified military, civil, and court hierarchy
- Replaced the old Iqta system
- Pay given either in cash (Naqdi) or as land assignments (Jagir)
Revenue System — Todar Mal's Reforms
- Raja Todar Mal (finance minister) introduced the Dahsala system (1580)
- Land measured and classified: Polaj, Parauti, Chachar, Banjar
- Revenue fixed based on average of 10 years' produce
- Abolished tax farming; direct state-peasant revenue settlement
Religious Policy — Sulh-i-Kul
- Sulh-i-Kul = "Peace with all" — universal tolerance
- Abolished Jizya (tax on non-Muslims) in 1564
- Abolished pilgrimage tax on Hindus
- Organized debates among scholars of all religions at Ibadat Khana (Fatehpur Sikri)
- Proclaimed Din-i-Ilahi (1582) — syncretic religion; very few adopted it
- Married Rajput, Christian, and Muslim women
Akbar's Nine Gems (Navaratnas)
| Person | Role |
|---|---|
| Birbal | Wit and advisor |
| Tansen | Musician |
| Abul Fazl | Author of Ain-i-Akbari and Akbarnama |
| Faizi | Poet Laureate |
| Raja Todar Mal | Finance Minister |
| Raja Man Singh | Military Commander |
| Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khana | Commander and poet |
| Mullah Do Piaza | Advisor |
| Fakir Aziao-Din | Advisor |
Fatehpur Sikri
- New capital built by Akbar (1571) — abandoned in 1585 (water shortage)
- Buland Darwaza: Built to commemorate Gujarat victory — 54 metres high
- Panch Mahal: Five-storey pleasure palace
- Jama Masjid, Tomb of Salim Chishti
Jahangir (1605–1627)
- Real name: Nur-ud-din Muhammad Salim
- Known for justice — hung a golden chain with bells (Chain of Justice)
- Patron of miniature painting — Mughal painting reached its peak
- Nur Jahan (wife) was the real power behind the throne after 1611
- Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri (Jahangirnama) — his autobiography
- Captain Hawkins (1608) and Sir Thomas Roe (1615) — British ambassadors came during his reign
Shah Jahan (1628–1658) — Golden Age of Architecture
| Monument | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Taj Mahal | Agra | Built for wife Mumtaz Mahal; UNESCO World Heritage |
| Red Fort | Delhi | New capital Shahjahanabad |
| Jama Masjid | Delhi | Largest mosque in India |
| Moti Masjid | Agra Fort | Pearl Mosque |
| Peacock Throne | Delhi | Most elaborate throne; later taken by Nadir Shah |
- Mumtaz Mahal died giving birth to 14th child — Taj Mahal built in her memory
- Taj Mahal took 22 years (1631–1653) to complete; 20,000 workers
- Deposed by son Aurangzeb in 1658; kept imprisoned at Agra Fort until death
Aurangzeb (1658–1707) — Decline Begins
Territorial Extent
- Mughal Empire reached its greatest geographic size under Aurangzeb
- Conquered most of Deccan kingdoms (Bijapur 1686, Golconda 1687)
- But prolonged Deccan wars (1682–1707) exhausted treasury and army
Religious Policy — Reversal of Akbar's Tolerance
- Reimposed Jizya on Hindus (1679)
- Banned music at court
- Demolished some Hindu temples
- Executed Guru Tegh Bahadur (9th Sikh Guru, 1675) — triggered Sikh hostility
- Executed Dara Shikoh (his own brother) for being pro-Hindu
Maratha Challenge
- Shivaji continuously challenged Mughal authority in Deccan
- Aurangzeb spent 25 years in Deccan trying to subdue Marathas — failed
- Marathas grew stronger; became dominant power after Aurangzeb's death
Later Mughals and Decline
| Cause of Decline | Details |
|---|---|
| Weak successors | 10 rulers in 50 years after Aurangzeb |
| Maratha expansion | Marathas controlled central India |
| Regional kingdoms | Hyderabad, Awadh, Bengal became independent |
| Nadir Shah's invasion | Looted Delhi (1739); took Peacock Throne and Koh-i-noor |
| Ahmad Shah Abdali | Three Battles of Panipat involvement |
| British expansion | East India Company gradually dominated |
- 1857 Revolt: Last Mughal Bahadur Shah Zafar deposed — formal end of Mughal Empire
Key Facts for TNPSC Group II/IIA
- First Battle of Panipat (1526): Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi — used artillery and gunpowder
- Baburnama is one of the earliest autobiographies in world literature
- Sher Shah Suri built Grand Trunk Road and introduced the silver Rupiya
- Akbar abolished Jizya (1564) and introduced Sulh-i-Kul (universal peace/tolerance)
- Mansabdari system: Zat (personal rank) and Sawar (cavalry) — two components — exam favourite
- Din-i-Ilahi (1582): Akbar's syncretic religion — only 18 people adopted it
- Abul Fazl wrote Ain-i-Akbari and Akbarnama — encyclopaedic accounts of Akbar's reign
- Taj Mahal built by Shah Jahan for Mumtaz Mahal — 1631 to 1653
- Nadir Shah invaded India in 1739 and took the Peacock Throne
- Bahadur Shah Zafar was the last Mughal — deposed after 1857 Revolt; exiled to Rangoon
Previous Year MCQ Patterns
Q: The Mansabdari system was introduced by which Mughal emperor? a) Babur b) Humayun c) Akbar d) Aurangzeb
Q: Which Mughal emperor built the Taj Mahal at Agra? a) Akbar b) Aurangzeb c) Jahangir d) Shah Jahan
Q: Which of the following statements about Akbar's religious policy is correct? a) He reimposed Jizya on Hindus b) He founded Din-i-Ilahi as a mass religion c) He abolished Jizya in 1564 and promoted Sulh-i-Kul d) He executed Sikh Gurus for political reasons
Frequently Asked Questions
Babur founded the Mughal Empire in India after defeating Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat on April 21, 1526. He was a descendant of Timur on his father's side and Genghis Khan on his mother's side.