Essays

Moguls were a Muslim dynasty in India from fifteen twenty- six to about. Eighteen fifty-seven. Let's first define the word Mogul. The word Mogul means an Indian Muslim of or descended from one of several conquering groups of Mongol, Turkish, and Persian origin. The word Mogul is the Arabic and Persian vers-o.i of Mongol. The Moguls were a Muslim dynasty founded in fifteen twenty-six by a man named Babur. Babur was a descendent of both Genghis Kahn and Timur the dynasty ruled much of the Indian subcontinent until the mid eighteenth century.

Babur claimed the subcontinent as his right of inheritance because of the conquest of Delhi by his ancestor Timui-. Bahur was a highly cultured man from parsia who disliked many facets of Indian life but nonetheless established the most glorious empire in India's history . Babur reigned util tifteen thirty and was a man of culture as well as a military genius. Babur defeated the last Lodi kind of the Delhi Sultanate at panipat. He then established a policy of tolerance toward his Hindu subjects even though he disliked India. Babur had a son named Humayun. Humayun ruled from fifteen thirty to about fifteen-forty. Ten years or so and again from fifteen  fifty-five to fifteen fifty-six. He ruled despite the challenge mounted by the Afghan Sher Shah who ruled north India for five years. Humayun spent most of his reign attempting to unsolidate Mogul rule over Baburs conquests.

Humayun had a son named Akbar. Akbar was said to be the greatest of all Moguls in India. Akbar and hi successors,  jahangir. Shah Jahan, and Auramgzeb are generally considered to be one of the finest group's of kings that ever ruled in succession over such a long period of time. Akbar built the administrative machinery that forms the basis for many present day practices in India. Akbar was one of the most tolerant Moguls in India. Akbar abolished a discriminatory tax on Hindus and did much to combine Hindu and Muslim motifs in palace architecture, art, literature and music. Akbars son and successor Jahangir was a heavy drinker who reveled in luxurious living. Jahangir's son Shah Jahan followed very closely in his father's footsteps. He too was a heavy drinker and also loved the luxurious lifestyle. Shah Jahan was best known for his great building program, which culminated in the Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan was also instrumental in extending the Mogul Empire to the Deccan Plateau.

Shall Jahan had a son named Aurangzeb who was to follow his father to the throne in India. Both Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb were much less tolerant of Hindus than their predecessors had been. After the death of Aurangzeb the Mogul Empire disintegrated quickly. Although the Moguls were diminishing quickly ineffective rulers remained on the throne at Delhi until 1858.

Following the Indian Mutiny of 1857 the British exiled the last Mogul emperor, Bjahadur Shah II. The mogul's main legacy to India consisted of an administrative machine, land-tenure patterns and a system of revenue collection. All of these ideas have lasted a very long time. Also the magnificent Mogul art and architecture have had a lasting impact on Indian lifestyles.