27 - Mughal Empire (abridged)

Delhi Sultanate

Islamic empire that ruled large parts of the Indian subcontinent from 1206-1526; desecrated or destroyed many Hindu temples; was conquered and succeeded by the Mughal Empire

Timur-i Lang

leader of Turkic nomads; beginning in 1360s from base at Samarkand, launched series of attacks in Persia, the Fertile Crescent, India, and southern Russia; empire disintegrated after his death in 1405

Babur

founder of Mughal dynasty in India; claimed descent from Timur-i Lang; first led invasion of India in 1526; died in 1530

Mughal Empire

established by Babur in India in 1526; the name is taken from the supposed Mongol descent of Babur, but there is little indication of any Mongol influence in the dynasty; became weak after rule of Aurangzeb in first decades of 18th century

Akbar

(1542-1605) son and successor of Humayan; oversaw building of military and administrative systems that became typical of Mughal rule in India; pursued policy of cooperation with Hindu princes; attempted to create new religion to bind Muslim and Hindu populations of India

Din-i-Ilahi

syncretic religion initiated by Akbar in Mughal India; blended elements of the many faiths of the subcontinent; key to efforts to reconcile Hindus and Muslims in India, but failed

Shah Jahan

(r. 1628-1658) Mughal emperor best remembered for his many architectural monuments, including the Taj Mahal in Agra which entombs his wife, Mumtaz Mahal

Taj Mahal

most famous architectural achievement of Mughal India; built as a mausoleum to entomb the wife of Shah Jahan, Mumtaz Mahal

Aurangzeb

(r. 1658-1707) Mughal emperor who succeeded Shah Jajan; known for his religious zealotry; tried to purify Islam of Hindu influences; extended rule to nearly all of the Indian subcontinent; under his reign India had the world's largest economy and most manufacturing power but incessant warfare depleted the empire

Sikhism

sect in northwest India; early leaders tried to bridge differences between Hindu and Muslim, but Mughal persecution led to anti-Muslim feeling

Maratha rebellion

western Indian peoples who rebelled against Mughal control early in 18th century; credited to a large extent for ending Mughal rule in India