MUGHALS

- Originally: Turks.
- Period is also known as “Second Classical Age” – First Classical Age – “Gupta Era”
- The Mughals believed in Divine Right concept of Kingship.
- Under Akbar the Mughal empire had 18 provinces or Subas but there were 21 under
Aurangazeb. The head of the Suba was Subadar or Sipahsalar.
- The Revenue system under the Mughals had various features such as Zabti System, Batak Nasaq,
Kankut, Karoris and Dashala systems.
- The Mansabdari system of Akbar made the nobility and the army rolled into one. Its basis was
Mongol’s decimal organisation of the army. The ranks of the officers were divided into Zat and
Sawar.

MUGHAL STATE AND ADMINISTRATION

- There was no official censorship of writers in Mughal India.

- Under the Mughals, Persian became a common language of diplomacy.
- Urdu emerged as a common language of India.
- In pictorial motifs a major contribution of Christian art to Mughal art was the halo. (the halo was
first used in ancient India to depict the aura of Buddha.)
- The term ‘Urdu’ (Hindustan) is derived from the Turki word Ordu meaning military camp.
- The Agra Fort, The Diwani-Aam, Diwani-Khas, were built in Akbar ’s period. Akbar built the
Agra fort after demolishing the old Lodhi Fort Mausoleum of Jahangir at Lahore were contruded
un der Jahangir. Jama Masjid at Agra and Hira Mahal, Moli Reng Mahal and Red Fort at Delhi
were built by Shajahan.

Founder: Babur
- From father’s side: Timur’s descendant and from mother’s side: Changez Khan’s descendant.
- He became ruler of Smarkhand at 11.
- First attack on India was in 1519 and Bhera was the first place to be captured.
- Contemporary of Krishnadeva rai of Vijaynagar
- Babur was a distinguished author, Calligrapher and composer.
- He said “I don’t like India and Indians”
- First Mughal ruler to keep Kohinoor diamond in hand.
- First Battle of Panipat in 1526 against Ibrahim Lodi (Invited to India by Daulat Khan, IL’s bro)
- Tomb at Kabul, first Mughal to buried outside India. Captured Kabul in 1504.
- Autobiography: Tuzuk-i-baburi in Turki
- Translated to Persian (Baburnama) – Abdur Rahim Khanekhana
- To English by – Madam Bebrige
- Defeated Rana Sangha of Mewar at khanwa – 1527
- Defeated: Rajputs under Medini Rai – Battle of Khanwa – 1528.
- Defeated Mohd. Lodi at: Ghagra - 1529
- First ruler to use gunpowder and artillery during war.

Humayun
- Mother: Mahim Sultana.
- Battle of Dhuria, he defeated Mahod. Lodhi.
- According to Abul Fazl, Babur’s last words to Humayun were – “do nothing against your
brothers, even though they may deserve it.”
- Humayun a mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, poet and an inventor, took painting lessons.
Kamran, brother of Humayun was a poet.
- Occupied Delhi again in: 1555
- Was in exile from 1540-1555
- Sher Shah Suri – two battles – Kannauj(1540) and Chausa(1539)
- Escaped to: Iran
- Died while climbing down the stairs of his library at Din Panah (his grand capital on the site of
Purana Qila against Bahadurshah in Gujarat) in 1556. DP = aka = Sher Mandal. Also built
mosques at: Falehabad and Agra. DP was constructed by him.
- Buried in: Delhi India’s first garden tomb by his wife Bega.
- Humayunnama: Gulbadan begum, sister.

Akbar
- Regent: Bairam Khan (He was known as a poet).
- Second Battle of Panipat 1556 Hemu (Hindu General of Adil Shah who had occupied Agra and
had accepted the title Maharaja Vikramaditya) and Bairam Khan. After the battle Akbar got the
title “Ghazi”.
- Akbar was a philosopher, skilled in art, architecture and music.
- Petticoat government: 1560-62 under Bairam Khan
- Resisted in Rajasthan by: Uday Singh, Pratap and Amar Singh.
- Pratap was defeated by the armies under Man Singh. Battle of: Haldighati (Haldighat is a
mountain pass in Aravali ranges).
- Jalali was a square rupee issued by Akbar.
- Tobacco was introduced for the first time by Portugese in 1604.
- Battle of Ahmednagar with: Chand Bibi.
- Made Persian the official language of Mughals.
- First ruler to organize Hajj. Pilgrimage at governemtn expense. Port Cambay in India = Gate way
to Mecca from Mughal India.
- Founded new religion: Din-i-ilahi. Only Hindu Follower: Birbal. Based on the good values taken
from Hindu, Islam, Jainism and Cristianity.
- Abolished Jaziya. Jaziya is a per capitayearly tax historically levied by Islamic states on certain
non-Muslim subjects—dhimmis—permanently residing in Muslim lands under Islamic law. It
was introduced by Firoz Shah Tughlaq.
- Founded Fatehpursikhri (City of Victory) after conquering Gujarat, he built it near Agra. BUland
Darwaza is the gateway to FS.
- Mansabdari system
- He issued Infallibility Decree by which he made himself the supreme head in religious matters.
- In 1580, the first Je suit missionaries arrived in his court.
- Ibadtakhana (Prayer house in Fatehpur SIkhri)
- Din-i-ilahi- Means Divine Faith. For universal peace and believed in monotheism. It was syncretic
(combined religious beliefs of various religions).
- He started a new calendar by the name of Ilahi calendar.
- Military system – Mansabdari system. It accorded value (Mansab) to the civil and military
officers. They were meant for fixing salries and allowances of officers. Nobles were granted
rights to hold a jagir , which mean revenue assignments (not the ownership or control over land)
for services rendered by them but authority given to them was not unbridled but with direct
control of these nobles in the hands of the king.
- Built: Fathepur, Agra fort, Humayun’s tomb and Allahbad fort, Buland Darwaza (after victory
over Gujarat, Lahore Fort
- Navratanas of Akbar
1. Birbal – administrator, killed in the Battle with Yusufzai Empire. Original name – Mahesh
Das.
2. Abul Fazl – Scholar. Murdered by Bir singh Bundela. Wrote – Akbar nama (an official
chronicle of the reign of Akbar) and Ain-i-akbari (the third volume of Akbar nama).
3. Faizi – scholar (Brother of abul Fazl) Translated Mahabharata into Persian by the name of
Razam Namah.
4. Todarmal – Finance minister. Dahsala system/ zabti system. Crops’ assessment after every
10 years. He translated Bhagvata Purana into Persian. (Bhagvata Purana – It is one of the
eighteen puranas of Hinduism which promotes Bhakti of Krishna and calls it the ultimate
path to Mokhsa. It is in opposition to the vedas.)
5. Tansen –Musician. Rag Megh Malhar – Rain. Original name – Ramtanu Pandey. He created
Rag Darbari for Akbar. Tansen was a native of Gwalior. He was taken to the court of Akbar
from the court of Raja of Rewa in 1563.
6. Mulla do pyaza
7. Man Singh and his father – Military commander.
8. Bhagwan das
9. Abdur Rahim Khanekhana who translated Baburnama.
- Tulsidas – Ramacharitamanas also lived during his reign. Gandhi described his work as the
greatest book in all of devotional literature. Surdas was a singer in Akbar ’s court. Shakespeare
was also their contemporary.
- Buried at: Sikandara, near Agra.
- Divided empire into 12 sabhas.
- Gave one official language: Persian.
- First Muslim ruler to abolish: Salvery
- Contemporary of Queen Victoria. The East India Company was founded on December 31, 1600.
- Died in 1605.
- Akbar’s artists main work was to illustrate manuscripts. Daswanth was a celebrated artist in
Akbar’s court. He illustrated Razinnama, a Persian translation of Mahabharatha.
- Akbar favoured the Nastaliq school of calligraphy. The best exponent of it was Muhamad
Hussain of Kashmir, who had the title Zarrin - Kalam or ‘Golden Pen’.
- Bas Bahadur, the former ruler of Malwa, was musician in Akbar’s Court whom Abul Fazl
described as “a singer without rival”.

Jehangir
- Zanjir-e-adal system. It was a system which had metal bells hanging. Anyone who desired justice
could get it by ringing them. (Chain of Justice)
- Married: Mehr-u-nisa, aka Nurjahan aka Padhshah Begum. Built Mirza Ghyas Beg’s tomb in
Shaahdara bagh, Pakistan which uses Pierta Dura. Mirza Ghyas Beg was the father of Mumtaz
Mehal and grandfather of Nur Jahan. Pietra Dura is an art of using precious stones to produce
intricate designs. Also used in Taj Mahal. Mirzā Ghiyās Beg was originally a Persian Amir in
exile, who had been given the title of I'timād-ud-Daulah (pillar of the state). It was the first
Mughal building entirely in white marble.
- 1608 – William Hawkins came to India.
- Jahangir an ardent naturalist, and landscaper, and an authority on painting.
- Jahangir introduced the Duaspa-Sih-aspa (two horses and three horses) system. if out of 4,000
Sawars, 1,000 were du-aspa sih-aspa, the remaining 3,000 were Barawurdi. For the latter
portion the noble was paid at the same rate as for the ordinary rank and his obligations were
also on the same scale, while for the du-aspa sih-aspa, his pay and obligations both were
doubled.
- Shauqi, the mandolin player, (the wonder of the age) was in Jahangir’s court.
- Jahangir was the first Mughal ruler to put his portrait on coins.
- Granted permission to Thomas Roe, ambassador of King James I, to establish trading port at
Surat in 1617.
- His son Khusrau rebelled, sought refuge in guru Arjun Dev, who was executed for granting it.
- Memoirs: Tuzuk-i-Jehangiri.
- Buried in: Shahdra, Lahore.
- Had Shalimaar Gardens and Nishant Gardens in Srinagar, J&K.

Shah jahan
- Married: Arzumand begum aka Mumtaz.
- Imprisoned by son till death at Agra Fort along with his daughter Jahan Ara as they favoured
Dara Shikoh over Shah Jahan. Dara Shikoh was a skilled scholar and author. He buily the Moti
Masjid there. Aurangzeb also built another Moti Masjid at Red Fort.
- Buried at: Taj (Agra)
- Shahjahan excelled in architecture and was an authority of gems and jewelry, devoted to music
and dance and a proficient vocalist.
- Built: Taj Mahal (It is being polluted by Sulphur dioxide, mixed with mosture in the air to
produce Sulphuric acid). The Chief architect of the Taj was Ustad Ahamad Lahori or Ahamad
Mimar.
- The plot for the construction of Taj was purchased from Raja Jai Singh, grand -son of Raja Man
Singh.
- Sheesh Mahal was also constructed by him in the Lahore Fort Complex.
- Shahjahanbad (New capital in Delhi from Agra.)
- Shahjahannama - Inayat khan and Muhamad Salih
- Red Fort (It is built on the model of Agra Fort by Akbar). INA Trail and Mahatma Gandhi’s
assassination trail, both took place at Red Fort. Gateway of Red Fort is Lahore Gate- where PM
hoists the National Flag and addresses the nation on Independence Day.
- Jama Masjid- The biggest masjid in India. First masjid in India: Malik Ibn Dinar built it in Kerala at
Kodungallur.
- Takht-i-taus (peacock throne) at Diwan-i-khas. It was stolen by Nadir Shah in 1739 during the
incasion of Delhi. It is now kept at London Tower Museum, Britain. He invaded during the reign
of Mohd. Shah Rangeela. The Diwan-i-Khas, or Hall of Private Audiences, in the Red Fort of
Delhi was the place where the Mughal emperor received courtiers and state guests. It was also
known as the Shah Mahal.
- The Diwan-i-Am, or Hall of Audience, located in the Red Fort of Delhi was where the Mughal
emperor Shah Jahan (1628-1658) and his successors received members of the general public
and heard their grievances.
- French travellers Bernier and Tavernier and Italian traveler Manucci visited India during
Shahjahan’s period.

Aurangzeb
- Marathas under Shivaji. Died and succeeded by Sambhaji who was murdered by Aurangzeb.
- Captured Guru Teg Bahadur, 9th Guru and executed for not converting to Islam.
- 10th Guru, Gobind Singh formed Khalsa to fight muslim tyranny, murdered by: an Afghan at
Nander.
- Buried at: Daulatabad, Maharashtra.
- Called: Zinda Pir (living saint) and Alamgir (Conqueror of the world).
- Jaziya re-introduced.
- Disconitnued Navroz festival – the Iranian New Year.
 - Discontinued: Jharaoka Darhsan (The act of addressing thepublic every morning by the
emperor)
- He played veena.
- The Moti Masjid in Red Fort and Badshahi Mosque at Lahore were built by Aurangazeb.
- Banned sati custom and hindu festivals
- Built: Bibi ka makbara. It is the tomb of his wife Rubiad Daurani at Aurangabad in Maharashtra.
It is known as Mini Taj Mahal.
- Zebunnissa, his daughter was a zelous patron of learning and culture. She wrote books of odes
and quatrains under the pen name Makhfi “the concealed one”.
- Re-imposed Jaziya.
- Raqqat-i-Alamgiri - Aurangazeb
- Padshahnama - Abdul Hamid Lahori and Mohamad Warish
- Alamgir namah - Mirza Muhamad Kazim

Further
- Muhammad Shah “Rangeela”: Nadir Shah invaded during his reign and took away the Peacock
throne and Kohinoor diamond. Khayal Music was promoted during his reign by Sadarang and
Adarang. Khayal (imagination) is the basis of classification of many important Gharanas of Indian
music. (Gwalior, Kirana, Agra, Bhendi Bazaar, etc)
- Ahmedshah – His period saw the invasion of Ahmed Shah Abdali.
- Akbar Shah II – Conferred the title of “Raja” upon Ram Mohan Roy.
- Bahadur Shah Zafar – Premier during revolt of 1857, sent to Yangon and died in exile in 1862.
His tomb is at Pyirmana, capital of Myanmar. He was a famous Urdu poet. The title “Zafar” was
bestowed upon him Zafar – poet.
- Shah Alam II – Fought Battle of Buxar in 1764 + Shuja-ud-daullah + Mir Qasim vs. East India Co.
Defeated. Treaty signed: Treaty of Allahabad – 1765, Gave Diwani rights of Orissa, Bengal and
Bihar to British.

SUR Empire

Founder: Sher Shah Suri

- Real name: Farid Khan.
- From Bahar Khan Lohani of Bihar got the title: Sher Khan.
- Battle of Surajgarh (1534): Made him master of Bihar and Bengal.
- After Chausa (1539), he assumed the title of Sher Shah.
- While he was operating artillery at Kalanjar, a Rajput State Fort. He ordered for the fort to be
blown up by gunpowder. He was fighting against Raja Kirat Singh.
- Revenue system was copied by –Akbar.
- Gold coins called the Mohur weighing 169 grains and copper coins called Dam were also
minted by his government
- Issued coin: Rupiya, British also used same coin.
- Built : GT Road (runs from Kabul in Afghanistan to Chittagong in Bangladesh). Now it is National
Highway – 2.
- What did he construct in Delhi? Purana Qila. He demolished Din Panah by Humayun.
- Died in 1545 by an explosion of gunpowder at Sasaram, Bihar where he is buried.
- Last: Mohd. Adil Shah
- Built: Rohtas Fort (A world Heritage Site in Pakistan)
- Tarikh-i-Sher Shahi (History of Sher Shah), written by Abbas Khan Sarwani, a waqia-navis under
later Mughal Emperor, Akbar around 1580, provides a detailed documentation about Sher
Shah's administration.

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SIKHISM
- Sikh – means “Disciple”
- Guru Nanak –Founder. First Guru. He nominated Angad Guru as his successor.
- Langar or free community dining was introduced by Angad.
- Guru Amar Das was next. He introduced Manji system i.e. Branches for the propagation of Sikh.
He made Guru-ism hereditary.
- Ramdas was the fourth Guru. He founded the city of Amritsar. The place was donated by Akbar.
- Under 5th Guru Arjun/Arjan Dev, Sikhism became an organized religion. Compiled “Adi Granth” –
Sacred book of the Sikhs.
- Built a temple at Amritsar (Har Mandir Sahib) which later came to be known as Golden Temple.
- He helped Prince Khusro to rebel so he was executed by Jehangir at Lahore in 1606.
- Sixth Guru, Hargovind, created an army against Shah Jahan. He founded a place opposite to Har
Mandir Sahib, called “Akaltakht”. He adopted title of “Sacha Badshah”.
- Seventh Guru was Har Rai, succeeded by Har Kishan, who became a Guru at the age of five, the
youngest Guru ever.
- Title was not adopted by the next Guru Teg Bahadur, who was assassinated by Aurangzeb
- 10th and last Guru was Guru Gobind Singh. He introduced “Panchkakar” – 5Ks = Kesh, Kanga,
Kripan, Kacha, Kara.
- Introduced Baptism and wanted every Sikh to bear community surname ‘Singh’
- He was killed by an Afghan in 1708. Autobiography = Vichitra Natak
- After himself, he claimed Guru Granth Sahib to be the eternal Guru.
- Guru Gobind Singh – born in – Patna. Shri Harminder Sahib built on his birthplace. His 350th
Birth Anniversary was celebrated.