Short Notes on Mughal Empire - Part I

By Shantanu Sanwal|Updated : May 7th, 2019

Get the important General Awareness Study Notes for SSC & Railway exams. In this article, we have discussed GK Study Notes based on Mughal Empire. We will be publishing History Notes based on Mughal Empire in two parts. This is the first part of Mughal Empire.

History Notes Mughal Empire (Part I)

Mughal Empire

1526 – 1530 AD

Babur

Founder of Mughal empire after the 1stBattle of Panipat

1530 – 1540 AD

1555 – 1556 AD

Humayun

He was defeated by Sher Shah

1540 – 1555 AD

Sur Empire

Sher Shah defeated Humayun and ruled from 1540-45 AD

1556

2nd Battle of Panipat

Akbar Vs. Hemu

1556 – 1605 AD

Akbar

Established Din-i-illahi, expanded Mughal empire

1605 – 1627 AD

Jehangir

Captain William Hawkins and Sir Thomas Roe visited Mughal court

1628 -1658 AD

Shahjahan

The pinnacle of Mughal empire and art and architecture

1658 – 1707 AD

Aurangazeb

Beginning of the decline of Mughal empire

1707 – 1857 AD

Later Mughals

Decline and disintegration of Mughal empire with gaining strength of the British

Babur (1526 - 1530)

  • Babur, the founder of Mughal Empire in India, traced his ancestry to the Timurid dynasty.
  • In 1517 Ibrahim Lodhi succeeded Sikander Lodhi.
  • Embassies from Daulat Khan and Rana Sanga inviting Babur to displace Ibrahim Lodhi led to the 1st Battle of Panipat in 1526.
  • Babur used an Ottoman (Rumi) device in this war.
  • Babur also heavily used Gunpowder in this war, though it was known in India in earlier times.
  • The Battle of Khanwa (1527) was fought between Rana Sanga and Babur. With the defeat of Sanga, Babur’s position got strengthened in the Gangetic plains.
  • He declared the war as a Jihad and assumed the title Ghazi after his victory.

Literature:

  • Babur composed Tuzuk-i-Baburi, a Masnavi and the Turkish translation of a well-known Sufi work. Tuzuk-i-Baburi was translated into Persian as Baburnama by Abdur Rahim Khankhana

Architecture

  • Babur also established a tradition of Gardening by laying out a number of formal gardens with running water.
  • He built two mosques, one at Kabulibagh, Panipat and another in Sambhal, Rohilkhand

Humayun (1530 – 1540 and 1555 - 1556)

  • Humayun became the Mughal Emperor on 29 December 1530 at the age of 23.
  • In the Battle of Chausa, 1539, Humayun was defeated for the first time by Shershah Suri.
  • In the next year (1540) Shershah completely defeated Humayun in the Battle of Kanauj and founded the Sur dynasty.
  • After the lapse of 15 years Humayun re-captured the Empire by defeating the last Sur ruler Sikhandar Shah Suri in the Battle of Sirhindh, 1555, after which he ruled only for 6 months.
  • The period from 1540 to 1555 is known as the period of temporary eclipse of the Mughal.
  • Humayun died by an accidental fall from the straicase of his Library ‘Shermandal’ at the Puranakwila in Delhi on 24 January 1556.
  • Humayun was an accomplished mathematician and astronomer. He earned the title Insan-i-Kamil (Perfect Man), among the Mughals
  • Humayun’s biography Humayun Namah was written by Humayun’s sister Gulbadan Begum. The language used to write this biography was a mixture of Turkish and Persian.

Architecture during Humayun’s Period

  • The Purnakwila was constructed by Humayun but its construction was completed by Shershah.
  • Humayun’s tomb is situated in Delhi (first building in India having double domes) which was built by Haji Begum
  • Humayun tomb is known as predecessor of Tajmahal, because Taj was modeled after this, also known as a dormitory of the house of Timur. Mirak Mirza Ghias was its architect.
  • In 1533 Humayun built the city of Dinpanah (world refuge) in Delhi.

Sher Shah Suri (Sur Empire)

  • Shershah’s original name was Farid.
  • His family came to India from Afghanistan.
  • In the Battle of Chausa, 1539, Sherkhan defeated Humayun for the first time and assumed the name Shershah.
  • Later in 1540 he completely defeated Humayun in the Battle of Kanauj and founded the Sur dynasty.

Architecture:

  • Shershah constructed the Grand Trunk Road from Sohargaon to Attock (Calcutta to Amritsar) He introduced the National Highway concept for the first time in India. Now the Grand Trunk Road is known as Shershah Suri Marg. Its part from Delhi to Amritsar is known as National Highway -1.
  • He also built roads from Agra to Jodhpur and Chitoor and Lahore to Multan. He built Sarais at a distance of every two Kos. These sarais later developed into Market towns, Qasbas. They were also used as stages for news-services, Dak-Chowkis.
  • He built the Purana Qila in Delhi (its Construction was started by Humayun) and his own Mausoleum (Tomb) at Sasaram in Bihar.
  • He also constructed the Khooni Darwaza (blood stained gate) the gate way of Firozshah Kotla in Delhi.

Economy and Administration

  • He was the first ruler to introduce Silver Rupiya (one rupiya was equal to 64 dams) and gold coin Ashrafi.
  • Administrative divisions:
    1. Iqta – Province under Haqim or Amin
    2. Sarkar – District under Shiqdar-i-Shiqadaran or Munsif-i-Munsifan
    3. Pargana – Taluk under Shiqdar or Munsif
    4. Gram – Village under Muqqadam or Amil
  • He made local Muqaddams/Zamindars responsible for local crimes
  • Hindi poet Malik Muhammed Jayasi completed his Padmavat, during his reign. 

Akbar (1556 - 1605)

Year

Significance

1556

Akbar ascends the throne at the age of 14

1556

2nd Battle of Panipat between Hemu and Bairam Khan(khan-i-khannan). Hemu gets defeated in the battle

1560

Akbar becomes independent at the age of 18 and dismisses Bairam Khan

1564

Abolition of Jizyah tax

1571

Foundation of Fatehpur Sikri, near Agra was laid

1574

Mansabdari system introduced

1575

Ibadatkhana was built

1576

Battle of Haldihatti fought between Rana Pratap and Mughal army led by Raja Man SIngh

1580

Dahsala Bandobast system introduced

1582

Din-i-illahi – a new religion was propounded by Akbar which was s synthesis of values taken from several religions like Hinduism, Islam, Jainism etc. It was a move against religious orthodoxy and bigotry. He followed the policy of Sulh-kul or peace to all.

  • Akbar was an illiterate person, but he was a patron of men of eminence. He maintained a Scholastic Assembly (Navratnas) in his court. They included the following personalities.
  • Abul Fazal: Akbar’s court historian who wrote Akbar’s biographical works Ain-i-Akbari and Akbar Namah.
  • Abul Faizi: Persian poet and brother of Abul Fazal. He translated Mahabharata into Persian in name ‘Razam Namah’ and Bhaskaracharya’s mathematical work Leelavati into Persian.
  • Mian Tansen: His original name was Ram Thanu Pande. He was the court Musician of Akbar. He composed a Raga, Rajdarbari in honour of Akbar.
  • Birbal: His real name was Mahesh Das. He was the court jester of Akbar.
  • Raja Todarmal: Raja Todarmal was Akbar’s finance or revenue minister. He formulated Akbar’s revenue system Zabti and Dashala systems. Raja Todermal also translated Bhagavatapurana into Persian.
  • Maharaja Man Singh: Akbar’s military commander.
  • Bhagawandas: Son of Bharmal
  • Abdur Rahim Khankhana: Hindi Poet
  • Mulla Do Pyaja

Administration

Land revenue

  • Akbar started the Annual assessment system where land was assessed by Qanungos or hereditary holders of land and tax collected by Karoris.
  • In 1580, a new system Dahsala (prices over last 10 years) were calculated. Land was measured using the Zabti system which was an improvement over the Dahsala system. It was also known as Todarmal’s Bandobast
  • In Batai system, the production was divided in fixed proportions.
  • In Nasaq system, rough calculation of Peasant’s payments over the past years were calculated and the empire’s share was fixed.
  • Types of Cultivable Lands
    1. Polaj – land under cultivation every year
    2. Paratti – fallow land
    3. Chanchar – land fallow for 2-3 years
    4. Banjar – land fallow more than 2-3 years
  • Taccavi – loans to the peasants
  • Land divisions for the purpose of revenue
    1. Khalisa – lands kept separately to meet the expenses of the emperor
    2. Jagir – land given to nobles or mansabdars to meet their expenses
    3. Inam – land given to religious persons

Mansabdari System: This was introduced to maintain a huge army. Ranks (Mansabs) were awarded to nobles. They were divided into Zat (Personal status) and Sawar (Cavalryman required to maintain). Along with this, Dagh and Chehra system were also followed. Mansabdars were assigned Jagirs which they used to pay the salary of soldiers

Important Posts:

  • Wazir/Diwan – Head of Revenue department
  • Subedar – Governor of a province
  • Mir Bakshi – head of Military who was also the head of nobility
  • Barids – Intelligence officers
  • Waqia-navis – news reporters
  • Mir Saman – in charge of imperial households and royal workshops (Karkhanas)
  • Chief Qazi – head of Judicial departments
  • Chief Sadr – responsible for charitable and religious endowments
  • Diwan-i-am – open durbar
  • Ghusal Khana – private consultation chamber

Architecture during Akbar’s period:

  • He built Agra fort, Lahore fort, Allahabad fort, Humayun’s tomb and Fatehpur Sikri near Agra.
  • At Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar built Ibadat Khana or Hall of Prayer in which he called selected theologians and mystics with whom he discussed religious and spiritual topics.
  • Akbar built Buland Darwaza at Fatehpur Sikri in 1601 to commemorate his victory over Gujarat.
  • He opened Ibadat Khana to people of all religions and took liberal views in discussing on religions.
 

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