March 18th reading notes

Question: How did women assert power within empires ruled by men?

Parshati Dutta, “Za Nur Jahan Begum ain Sara Abad: Viewing Inscription and Reading Architecture in the Caravanserai of a Mughal Empress”

• there is a limited availability of primary source materials on women of the Mughal court, eventhough they had wealth, power, and involvement in the court

• architecture matronised by Mughal women - creations where women have been agents in their own representation and what Dutta argues is a valuable primary source.

• Serai Nur

  • caravanserai between Agra and Lahore, constructed by Empress Nur Jahan (Jahangir)

    • enables travel

    • offers charity

  • good road networks are important for imperial integration

    • First three of Jahangir’s Twelve Decrees to improve passage through the empire (1605-1607)

      • 1. forbading certain taxes

      • 2. construction of caravanersais with a well on roads with bandits or that are far away

      • 3. merchant must consent to having their sack opened.

Peirce