Mogul (Mughal) Empire

Category
Indian
Begin
1526
End
1857
Region
South Asia
Reference
For list of Moghal rulers, see Smithsonian, p. 475.
Excerpts from Books and Wikipedia
Babur, descendent of Mongols, invades northern India; Humayun, Babur's son, rules (1530-1540); Akbar, Humayun's son (1556-1605); Jahangir, Akbar's son, (1605-1627); Taj Mahal built (1632); Aurangzeb (1658-1707); Sepoy Rebellion (1857) ends dynasty; "Although himself a Muslim, the philosophical Akbar invited scholars of many faiths to his court and appointed Hindus to high government posts. He married a Hindu princess and allowed his subjects to worship as they pleased." He put down fiercely the occasional uprisings. "Mogul occupation created a melting pot of Arab and Persian thought in India. . . . Although the British backed a Mogul emperor until 1857, by the beginning of the 1800s English supremacy in India had become a reality." [National Geographic Almanac, p. 194-5] "In later life, he rejected orthodox Islam in favor of a more mystical universal faith." [DK Timelines, p. 282] "Despite the sheer size of the kingdom at its height and the military genius of some of its emperors, despite the brilliance of its courts and the craftsmanship of its luxury products, despite even a sophisticated banking and credit network, the system was weak at the core." [Kennedy: Great Powers, p. 9-13]

This period is linked to the following events

Event Name
Category
Date
Beginning of Mughal Empire--Babur defeats Lodi Sultanate at the Battle of Panipat
War
1526
Sikh founder, Guru Nanak, dies at the age of sixty-nine
Religion
1539
13-year old Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar becomes Mughal emperor
Government
1556
Second pivotal Mughal victory at Panipat--this one won by 13-year old Akbar
War
1556
Akbar threatens southern India after capturing the fort at Asirgarh
War
1599
East India Company founded
Trade
1600
Dutch United East India Company (VOC) establishes monopoly over spice trade
Trade
1602
Shah Jahan I builds Taj Mahal in Agra to commemorate his wife, Mutaz Mahal
Architecture
1631
Aurangzeb succeeds his father after brothers fight for Mughal throne
Government
1658
Bijapur annexed to Mughal Empire by Aurangzeb
War
1686
Indians attack fort of British East India Company & put prisoners in Black Hole
War
1756
Robert Clive wins Battle of Plassey after bribing the enemy's military commander
War
1757

This period is linked to the following movies

Movie title
Genre
Released
Jodhaa Akbar (Hindi)
Historical
2008
Beacham House
Historical
2020