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How did the Mughals establish their rule in India

Conference Paper · September 2019

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Kent Bob Huzen

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Dr. Kent Bob Huzen (University of Canterbury) 2012

Abstract: The Mughal Empire was an Indo-Islamic power that ruled a large portion of the

Indian subcontinent which began in 1526 and ended in the mid-19th century. The Mughal

Emperors were descendants of the Timurids. The "classic period" of the Empire started in

1556 with the accession of Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar, better known as Akbar the Great, it

ended with the death of Emperor Aurangzeb in 1707, although the dynasty continued for

another 150 years.1

Introduction: Mughal period was often considered as the most enlightened period in Indian

history. During this period, the Empire was marked by a highly centralized administration

connecting the different regions of the country. The Mughals reshaped India by all their huge

sociopolitical and economic manifestation. Their flamboyant legacy which was characterized

by the expansion of Persian cultural influenced in the Indian subcontinent even in the present

days.

Zahir ud-din Muhammad Babur, the founder of the Mughal Dynasty was roaming as a

wanderer after losing his principality Farghana. In 1526, Babur defeated the last of the Delhi

Sultans, Ibrahim Shah Lodi, at the First Battle of Panipat. It was a clear victory of Babur

because of his advanced military knowledge use of firearms and cannons. To secure his

newly founded kingdom, Babur then defeated Rana Sanga of Chittor. Babur's son Humayun

succeeded him in 1530, but suffered reversals at the hands of the Pashtun Sher Shah Suri and

1
Edward Balfour, The Encyclopaedia Asiatica, Comprising Indian Subcontinent, Eastern and Southern Asia,
(London: Cosmo Publications, 1976) pp. 460-488.

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lost most of the empire before it could grow. From 1540 Humayun became ruler in exile but

Humayun returned and recaptured Delhi in 1555.2

Akbar succeeded his father on 14 February 1556. Akbar’s three great achievements were

reforms, religious tolerance and firm grip on finance. The Mughals also adopted an absolute

sovereignty. This particularly took shape during the times of Akbar, when he issued the

famous mazhar in 1579.3 He became known as Akbar, as he was a wise ruler, set fair but

high taxes. He investigated the production in a certain area and taxed inhabitants one-fifth of

their agricultural produce. As Akbar was born in a Hindu Rajput household, he was more

liberal in his approach to the non-Muslim subjects of the Empire. He also set up an efficient

bureaucracy and was tolerant of religious differences which softened the resistance by the

locals. He made alliances with Rajputs and appointed Hindu generals and administrators in

his royal court. Later in life, he devised his own brand of religion based on tolerance, and

inspired by viewpoints of Hinduism and Islam.

Jahangir, son of Akbar, ruled the empire from 1605–1627. In October 1627, Shah Jahan, son

of Jahangir succeeded to the throne, where he inherited a vast and rich empire. At mid-

century this was undoubtedly the greatest empire in the world. By 1700 the empire reached

its peak under the leadership of Aurangzeb Alamgir with major parts of present day India,

Pakistan and most of Afghanistan under its domain. Aurangzeb was the last of what are now

referred to as the Great Mughal kings.

2
John F. Richards, “The Mughal Empire”, in New Cambridge History of India, Vol. 1.5, (Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, 1996).

3
http://www.i3pep.org/mughal-empire/ Last accessed on 6-10-2010

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Mughal Influences: Art, Culture and Trade

A major Mughal contribution to India was their unique architecture; the palaces, tombs and

forts built by the dynasty stands today in many parts of India. Mughal influence can be seen

in cultural contributions such as, Centralized, imperialistic government; Persian art and

culture mixed with Indian art and culture; the development of Mughal cuisine; Landscape

gardening and new trade routes to Arab and Turkic lands.4

The Mughals have also greatly contributed in Indian economic history. As from Central

Asian legacy where trade had the major economic activity, Mughals understood the

importance of trade. Their main objective in conquering Gujarat, Bengal and Sindh was to

gain control over sea-trade. To consolidate their dynasty, moreover, they facilitated the

development of overland trade routes to control over Kabul and Kandahar. Unlike other

contemporary regimes, Mughals did not make trade a royal monopoly. They wished to have a

free trade regime in which different trading groups had a fair chance. 5

An important aspect of the Mughal rule was the creation of a military-bureaucratic system

named the Mansabdari system. By adopting a very liberal attitude, the Mughals also helped

the development of the Bhakti and the Sufi movement in the country.

Conclusion: It is often considered that the Mughals had come to India as invaders but on the

other hand they also considered this country as their own and settled here. Their policy of

reform, tolerance, liberal religious views and marriages between the Mughals and Hindu

4
Robert L. Canfield, Turko-Persian in Historical Perspective, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991)
p.20.

5
http://www.i3pep.org/mughal-empire/ Last accessed on 6-10-2010

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princesses brought a period of understanding between the people of two faiths, Hindu and

Muslim. It also minimise the hostilities that generally characterised the Hindu-Muslim

relations during the medieval times. It also led to cooperation between the Mughals and the

Rajputs and various other local kings to bring political stability to medieval India. Thus

Mughal rule, transformed India forever.

Selected Bibliography

Primary Sources: Books

Baber, Zaheer. (1996) The Science of Empire: Scientific Knowledge, Civilization and

Colonial Rule in India, New York: State University of New York Press.

Balfour, Edward (1976) The Encyclopaedia Asiatica, Comprising Indian Subcontinent,

Eastern and Southern Asia, London: Cosmo Publications.

Basham, A.L.(1975) A Cultural History of India, Oxford: Clarendon Press.

Briggs, Martin S. (1975) “Muslim Architecture in India,” in A.L. Basham, (ed) A Cultural

History of India, Oxford: Clarendon Press.

Canfield, Robert L. (1991) Turko-Persia in Historical Perspective, Cambridge: Cambridge

University Press.

Chandra, Satish. (2001) Medieval India, Part-2: Mughal Empire, New Delhi: Har-Anand.

Craven, Roy C. (1976) Indian Art: A Concise History, London: Thames and Hudson.

Embree, A. T. (1988) Sources of Indian Tradition, 2nd edn. Columbia: Columbia University

Press.

Gascoigne, Bamber. (1998) The Moghuls, (Rev.edn) London: Constable and Robinson

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Hardy, P. (1988)“Islam in Medieval India,” in A.T. Embree, Sources of Indian Tradition, 2nd

edn. Columbia: Columbia University Press.

Mehta, J.L. (1988) Advanced Study in the History of Medieval Times, Vol-2, London:

Sterling.

Richards, John F. (ed.) (1978) Kingship and Authority in South Asia, South Asian Studies,

Madison: University of Wisconsin Press

Richards, John F. (1978) “The Formulation of Imperial Authority under Akbar and Jahangir,”

in John F. Richards (ed) Kingship and Authority in South Asia, South Asian Studies,

Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.

Richards, John F. (1996) “The Mughal Empire” in New Cambridge History of India, vol. 1.5,

Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Rizvi, S.A.A. (1987) The Wonder That was India, Vol-2, London: Sidgwick and Jackson.

Savage-Smith, Emilie. (1985) Islamicate Celestial Globes: Their History, Construction and

Use, Washington D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.

Sharma, S.R. (1940) “Akbar and the Foundation of a New Order,” in Religious Policy of

Mughal Expansion, Calcutta: Oxford University Press.

Secondary Sources: Journals

Blake, S.P. “The Patrimonial-Bureaucratic Empire of the Mughals”, in Journal of Asian

Studies, 39 (1979) pp. 77-94.

Moosvi, Shireen. “The Evolution of the Mansab System under Akbar until 1596-7,” in

Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, (1981) pp.173-185.

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Moreland, W.H. “Rank (mansab) in the Mughal State Service,” in Journal of the Royal

Asiatic Society, (1936) pp. 641-665.

Subrahmanyam, S. “The Mughal State-Structure or Process? Reflections on Recent

Historiography,” Indian Economic and Social History Review, 29 (3) (1992) pp. 291-320.

Watson, G. “Interpretations of Central Asian Influences on Mughal India: The Historical

Debate,” in South Asia, New Series, 17 (1995) pp. 1-22.

Mughal Empire; from the British Museum

Mughal Empire; from the BBC

Websites:

http://www.webindia.com/history/medieval/mughal.htm

http://www.i3pep.org/mughal-empire/

http://www.MSN Encarta/Mughal Empire.edu

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