1. 1500-1700 (India) The mughal empire

2. HISTORY OF INDIA IN 1400S • Lush country  many cities & temples • Hindu lower classes labored for Muslim/Hindu masters • Gupta Empire collapsing • 1st Ottomans (Timur the Lame) conquers New Delhi, then… • Huge clash between Hindus (India) & Muslims (Ottomans)  Hindus won • New Delhi is destroyed and weak

3. BABUR • 1494 – 11 yr. old boy, BABUR, inherits kingdom in N. India  But elders drove him away • He moved south & later set groundwork for MUGHAL EMPIRE • Strong & sensitive leader; “Renaissance Man” • Defeated massive RAJPUT army (“sons of kings” or Turkish warlords & moved into New Delhi • Area weak, so nomadic people invade India, called Mughals or “Mongols” (Muslim)

4. AKBAR: THE GOLDEN AGE • Grandson of Babur; aka “Great One” • 1556 – 1605: comes to power, gains land & builds a unified Mughal Empire – Golden Age • He is a Muslim

5. AKBAR’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Rules with religious tolerance • Abolishes special taxes on non-Muslims • Bureaucracy of educated officials rules efficiently • Reorganized taxes to represent % of crops (more $) • War-like – armies are equipped with heavy artillery • Employs some potential enemies

6. AKBAR’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS CONTINUED • Cultural diffusion – many cultures/languages combined • Upper class spoke Persian • Common people spoke Hindi (Persian & local language) ; Army people spoke Urdu (Arabic, Persian & Hindi) • book illustrations – miniatures were detailed, colorful stories • library & schools • architecture – massive, graceful, decorated with stonework of Hindu themes

7. JAHANGIR • Akbar dies in 1605; his son rules • aka “Grasper of the World” • weak ruler & relied on his wife, NUR JAHEN • Raises taxes & neglects people • Persecutes Sikhs religion that blends Buddhism, Hinduism, & mysticism • Ended religious toleration

8. SHAH JAHAN • Secured throne through assassination of all rivals • Greatest accomplishment: built TAJ MAHAL, tomb for his deceased wife, Mumtaz Mahal • BUT country suffered because spent so much time & money to build it  increased taxes

9. TAJ MAHAL

10. AURANGZEB • Shah Jahansick, so 3rd son, AURANGZEB, takes throne (kills brother & puts S. Jahan in prison) • EXPANDS MUGHAL EMPIRE TO ITS GREATEST SIZE • BUT empire is weak because of oppression of his people (harsh laws & destroys temples)

11. EMPIRE’S DECLINE & DECAY • Long line of weak rulers  Mughal Emperor now only wealthy figurehead • Empire no longer united because of corruption; now bunch of independent states

12. EUROPEANS MOVE IN TO TRADE • Europeans (Portuguese, Dutch, French, & English) had trading outposts in Mughal Empire the whole time  Mughals not threatened by them • Aurangzeb gave them port of Bombay  big mistake , BIG important city for trade in the future. • TRADE: British wanted Indian textiles, mostly COTTON & SPICES