How the empire began
Babur, a ruler with Central Asian roots, defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the Sultan of Delhi, at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526. This victory started the Mughal Empire. His son Humayun lost the throne for a time, but regained it before his death.
Akbar the Great (1556-1605)
Akbar expanded the empire and built a strong administration, including the mansabdari system of ranked officials. He promoted religious tolerance through the idea of Sulh-i-kul, meaning peace with all, and built the city of Fatehpur Sikri.
Jahangir and Shah Jahan
Under Jahangir the court became famous for painting and gardens. Shah Jahan (r. 1628-1658) is best known for the Taj Mahal at Agra, begun around 1632, and for the Red Fort in Delhi and the Badshahi Mosque tradition of grand imperial architecture.
Aurangzeb and the decline
Aurangzeb (r. 1658-1707) ruled the largest area in Mughal history, but long wars, particularly in the Deccan, strained the treasury. After his death in 1707 regional powers grew stronger and the empire weakened.
The end of the empire
By the 19th century Mughal rulers had little real power as the British East India Company expanded. After the uprising of 1857, the last emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, was deposed and exiled to Rangoon, and the empire formally ended.
Legacy
The Mughals shaped South Asian architecture, cuisine, miniature painting and administration, and Persian was long the language of the court. Their monuments are still among the region's most visited sites.
Key dates
- 1526: First Battle of Panipat, empire founded
- 1556-1605: reign of Akbar
- c. 1632: Taj Mahal begun
- 1707: death of Aurangzeb
- 1857: last emperor deposed