The Mughal Empire

What led Babur to invade India and create the Mughal Empire?

Three things led Babur to invade India and create the Mughal Empire. He wished to reclaim what he saw as ancestral lands and was ambitious to make a large empire; rival empires also pressured him.

What conditions in India made this possible?

India was fragmented and unstable, with much internal strife, weak leadership, and a military.

How did the empire nearly collapse under Humayun?

Humayun lost several wars as ruler and had no support from his brothers. He was exiled after losing one of his wars, leading to the Mughal Empire's instability.

What steps did Akbar take to build the empire's material and political strength?

Akbar established a hierarchy for his military and led it to expand through conquest, made a centralized government, and made policies of political and religious integration.

What was the empire’s role in the world economy?

The Mughal empire was a major exporter and producer of goods with valuable resources and a well-made trade network on land and sea.

How did it manage trade and relations with Western powers?

Trade and relations with Western powers were complex. At first, things were good with mutual gain and trade, but eventually, as the Mughal empire began to falter, Western powers became more exploitive.

What conflict resulted from this?

This led to many wars, most notably the child’s war in the 16^th century, because they couldn’t agree on trading terms.