What was Din-i-Ilahi?

Din-i-Ilahi (Divine Faith) was a syncretic religion introduced by Akbar in 1582 AD. It blended elements of Islam, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, and Christianity. It had few followers and died with Akbar.

Who were Akbar's Navratnas?

Akbar's Navratnas (nine gems) were nine exceptional people at his court: Birbal, Tansen, Todar Mal, Raja Man Singh, Abu'l-Fazl, Abul Faizi, Mulla Do Piazza, Fakir Aziao-Din, and Raja Bhagwan Das.

Who built the Taj Mahal and why?

Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal at Agra as a mausoleum for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631 AD while giving birth to their 14th child. The Taj was completed around 1648 AD.

Mughal Empire — TNPSC Group 4 History Notes

Overview

The Mughal Empire (1526–1707 AD, extended nominally to 1857) was one of the greatest empires in world history — at its peak controlling nearly all of the Indian subcontinent with a GDP estimated at 24% of global output. The Mughals created magnificent architecture, blended Persian and Indian cultures, and maintained one of the most sophisticated administrations of the pre-modern world.

Key Rulers

Ruler	Period	Key Fact
Babur	1526–1530	Founded empire; First Battle of Panipat (1526)
Humayun	1530–1540, 1555–1556	Lost to Sher Shah Suri; regained with Persian help
Akbar	1556–1605	Greatest Mughal; Din-i-Ilahi; Fatehpur Sikri
Jahangir	1605–1627	Patron of painting; Nurjahan's influence
Shah Jahan	1628–1658	Taj Mahal; Red Fort; Peacock Throne
Aurangzeb	1658–1707	Extended empire; but policies led to decline

Babur (1526–1530)

Babur (Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur) was a Timurid prince from Fergana (Uzbekistan). He invaded India five times and at the First Battle of Panipat (1526), he defeated Ibrahim Lodi. His military advantages: artillery (guns) which Lodi's army had never faced, and the Tulughma (flanking) tactic.

He also defeated Rana Sanga of Mewar at the Battle of Khanwa (1527) and the Afghan rulers at the Battle of Ghaghra (1529), consolidating the empire.

Babur was a refined intellectual who wrote his autobiography Baburnama (Tuzuk-i-Baburi) in the Chagatai Turkic language — one of the finest autobiographies in Asian literature.

Akbar — The Greatest Mughal

Akbar (1556–1605) ruled for nearly 50 years and transformed a military empire into a stable, multi-ethnic state.

Administration:

Mansabdari system: ranking system for nobles and military commanders (mansabdars) based on performance
Land revenue reforms: Todar Mal's Ain-i-Dahsala (ten-year average revenue assessment based on actual productivity)
Abolished Jizya (tax on non-Muslims) in 1564
Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri — hall for religious discussions

Religious policy: Akbar's concept of Sulh-i-kul (universal peace) — tolerance and respect for all religions. He married Hindu Rajput princesses and gave Hindu commanders high positions.

Navratnas — The Nine Gems:

Birbal (wit and wisdom), Tansen (music), Todar Mal (revenue), Raja Man Singh (military), Abu'l-Fazl (historian — wrote Akbarnama and Ain-i-Akbari)

Shah Jahan — The Builder

Shah Jahan (1628–1658) ruled during the zenith of Mughal architecture:

Taj Mahal at Agra (1648) — mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal; UNESCO World Heritage Site
Red Fort (Lal Qila) at Delhi — his new capital Shahjahanabad
Jama Masjid at Delhi — largest mosque in India
Peacock Throne (Takht-i-Taus) — encrusted with precious gems; looted by Nadir Shah of Persia in 1739

Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb in the Agra Fort in 1658 and died there in 1666, reportedly gazing at the Taj Mahal.

Aurangzeb — The Beginning of the End

Aurangzeb (1658–1707) was the last great Mughal emperor. He extended the empire to its greatest territorial extent — but his policies sowed the seeds of decline:

Reimposed Jizya on non-Muslims (1679) — alienated Hindus
Destroyed several Hindu temples and imposed strict Sharia
Constant wars against Marathas (under Shivaji and his successors) drained resources
After his death (1707), the empire rapidly fragmented

Important for Exam - Babur founded Mughal Empire at First Battle of Panipat, 1526 - Humayun lost to Sher Shah Suri (1540) and regained the throne in 1555 - Akbar's Din-i-Ilahi = 1582 (syncretic faith) - Taj Mahal = built by Shah Jahan for Mumtaz Mahal - Akbar's revenue system = Ain-i-Dahsala (by Todar Mal) - Aurangzeb reimposed Jizya in 1679

Previous Year TNPSC Questions

Click an option to reveal the answer and explanation.

Who founded the Mughal Empire in India?

The Taj Mahal was built by?

Akbar's nine jewels (Navratnas) did NOT include?

Din-i-Ilahi was introduced by?

The revenue system "Ain-i-Dahsala" was introduced by?

Which Mughal ruler reimposed Jizya tax on non-Muslims?

Frequently Asked Questions

Babur founded the Mughal Empire by defeating Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat (1526 AD). He used artillery and a flanking tactic called Tulughma to defeat the much larger Lodi army.