The Mughal Empire — AP Class 7 History

1. About the Chapter

The Mughal Empire was one of the LARGEST and RICHEST empires in Indian history. 'For over 200 years, the Mughals shaped India — its politics, art, architecture, and culture.' This chapter traces the Mughals from Babur (1526) to Aurangzeb (1707) and the empire's decline.

Key Themes

• The six great Mughal emperors
• Akbar's policies: mansabdari, jagir, sulh-i-kul
• Mughal administration and military
• Decline of the Mughal Empire
• AP: Mughal relations with Golconda (Qutb Shahi dynasty)

2. The Six Great Mughals — Timeline

3. Babur and Humayun — The Foundation

Babur (1526–1530)

First Mughal emperor. Descended from Timur (on father's side) and Genghis Khan (on mother's side). 'Babur was a WARRIOR and a WRITER — he wrote his autobiography, the Baburnama.'

Humayun (1530–1540, 1555–56)

• Lost his empire to SHER SHAH SURI (an Afghan ruler)
• Spent 15 years in exile (Persia)
• Regained Delhi in 1555 with Persian help
• Died in 1556 — fell from his library stairs
• 'Humayun LOST an empire and REGAINED it. But he did not live long to enjoy it.'

Sher Shah Suri (1540–1545)

Although NOT a Mughal, Sher Shah's administration deeply influenced Akbar's system:

• Introduced rupiya (silver coin — basis of modern rupee)
• Built Grand Trunk Road (from Bengal to Punjab)
• Land revenue system based on measurement
• 'Sher Shah's ADMINISTRATION was the model for Akbar'

4. Akbar — The Greatest Mughal (1556–1605)

Military Expansion

Akbar inherited a small kingdom. At his death, he ruled from Afghanistan to Bengal and from the Himalayas to the Godavari River.

Sulh-i-Kul — Universal Peace

Akbar's GREATEST policy. 'Sulh-i-kul means PEACE WITH ALL — total religious tolerance.'

• Abolished Jizya (tax on non-Muslims)
• Abolished pilgrimage tax on Hindus
• Built Ibadat Khana (House of Worship) — scholars of all religions debated
• Introduced Din-i-Ilahi — a syncretic religious order (not FORCED on anyone)
• Appointed Hindus in top positions (e.g., Raja Todar Mal as Finance Minister)
• 'Akbar proved that DIVERSITY was a STRENGTH, not a weakness'

Mansabdari System

The backbone of Mughal administration:

• Every officer (mansabdar) held a rank (zat and sawar)
• Zat: personal rank (determined salary)
• Sawar: number of cavalrymen maintained
• Mansabdars were TRANSFERABLE — could not build local power
• 'You did NOT own the land — you SERVED at the emperor's pleasure'

Jagir System

• Mansabdars were paid through jagirs (revenue assignments)
• Jagirs were NOT hereditary
• Revenue was collected by the state, then assigned
• Raja Todar Mal introduced standardised revenue assessment
• 'One-third of the produce was the state's share — a STANDARD rate'

AP Context: Akbar and Golconda

Akbar did NOT conquer Golconda (the Qutb Shahi kingdom in AP/Telangana). Instead:

• Diplomatic relations were maintained
• Akbar tried to establish Mughal influence through MARRIAGE ALLIANCES
• 'Golconda remained independent — but paid TRIBUTE to the Mughals'

5. Jahangir and Shah Jahan

Jahangir (1605–1627)

• 'Chain of Justice' — a gold chain with bells outside his palace. 'Anyone could ring it and seek justice DIRECTLY from the emperor.'
• Nur Jahan, his wife, was the REAL power behind the throne — coins were minted in her name
• Mughal painting reached its PEAK under Jahangir
• Received Sir Thomas Roe (British ambassador from King James I) — FIRST contact with the British

Shah Jahan (1628–1658)

'The BUILDER Emperor. He turned STONE into POETRY.'

• His reign is considered the 'Golden Age of Mughal Architecture'
• BUT — spent heavily. Empty treasury by his death.

6. Aurangzeb — Expansion and Decline (1658–1707)

Military Expansion

Aurangzeb expanded the empire to its GREATEST size — from Kashmir to Tamil Nadu, from Afghanistan to Bengal.

AP Focus: Mughal Conquest of Golconda

In 1687, Aurangzeb besieged Golconda Fort for 8 months. 'The FORT was IMPREGNABLE — but a TRAITOR opened the gates at night.' The Qutb Shahi dynasty ended. Mughals now ruled AP/Telangana.

Controversial Policies

• Reimposed Jizya (1679) — reversed Akbar's policy
• Destroyed HINDU TEMPLES (e.g., Kashi Vishwanath, Somnath, Keshav Rai)
• Alienated Rajputs, Sikhs, Marathas
• 'Aurangzeb won TERRITORY but lost LOYALTY'

Decline Begins

Aurangzeb spent his LAST 25 years in the Deccan, fighting the Marathas. 'The Mughal treasury was EMPTY. The army was EXHAUSTED. Provincial governors became INDEPENDENT.'

7. Mughal Administration

Central Government

Provincial Government

The empire had 15 provinces (subas) by Akbar's time. Each province had:

• Governor (Subedar) — executive head
• Diwan — revenue officer
• Bakhshi — military officer
• Qazi — judge
• Faujdar — law and order

AP: Subedars of Deccan

After Golconda's annexation, the Mughals appointed Subedars to govern the Deccan region (including AP). These subedars later became INDEPENDENT — one of them, Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah I, founded the Asaf Jahi dynasty (Hyderabad state) in 1724.

8. Comparison Table: Akbar vs. Aurangzeb

9. Key Facts and Dates

• 1526: First Battle of Panipat (Babur defeats Lodi)
• 1556: Akbar becomes emperor (at age 13)
• 1563–64: Akbar abolishes pilgrimage tax and jizya
• 1575: Ibadat Khana built at Fatehpur Sikri
• 1600: British East India Company formed
• 1658: Aurangzeb becomes emperor
• 1687: Aurangzeb conquers Golconda (AP under Mughal rule)
• 1707: Aurangzeb dies. Mughal decline accelerates.

10. Common Mistakes

1. Calling the Mughals 'Turkish' — They were TIMURID (Turco-Mongol), not Turkish.
2. Thinking Akbar's Din-i-Ilahi was forced — It was VOLUNTARY and followed by very few.
3. Confusing jagir with iqta — Jagir was similar to iqta but Mughal system was MORE centralised.
4. Believing the Mughals were universally unpopular — Most people ACCEPTED Mughal rule. Only certain groups (Sikhs, Marathas) rebelled strongly.
5. Forgetting the Role of the Marathas — The Deccan wars EXHAUSTED Aurangzeb's treasury and manpower, leading to decline.

11. Exam Focus

2 Marks

Q: What is 'sulh-i-kul'? A: Akbar's policy of universal peace and religious tolerance.

Q: Who was the last great Mughal emperor? A: Aurangzeb (ruled 1658–1707).

4 Marks

Q: Explain the mansabdari system. A: Mansabdari was the Mughal administrative system where officers held ranks (zat and sawar). Zat determined salary; sawar determined number of cavalrymen. This was a TRANSFERABLE system — officers could be moved anywhere, preventing local power accumulation.

6 Marks

Q: Analyze the Mughal relationship with the Golconda kingdom (AP). A: Initially, under Akbar, the relationship was diplomatic — Golconda paid tribute but remained independent. Under Aurangzeb, this changed. In 1687, after an 8-month siege, Aurangzeb conquered Golconda. This brought present-day AP under Mughal rule but at a HUGE cost — the Mughal treasury was drained. The later Mughal subedars of Deccan included the founder of the Asaf Jahi dynasty (Hyderabad Nizams), showing how Mughal expansion in AP led to the rise of successor states.

12. Quick Self-Test

1. Who defeated Ibrahim Lodi at Panipat? Answer: Babur

2. Which Mughal emperor introduced sulh-i-kul? Answer: Akbar

3. What does 'mansabdar' mean? Answer: A rank-holder in the Mughal administration.

4. Which Mughal emperor conquered Golconda? Answer: Aurangzeb

5. What was the Ibadat Khana? Answer: Akbar's House of Worship for religious debates.

6. Who was Sher Shah Suri? Answer: An Afghan ruler who defeated Humayun and introduced the rupiya and Grand Trunk Road.

7. Who was the Mughal subedar who founded the Asaf Jahi dynasty? Answer: Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah I

8. What was the 'Chain of Justice'? Answer: Jahangir's gold chain outside his palace for citizens to seek justice directly.

13. Conclusion

The Mughal Empire was a GOLDEN AGE of Indian history. 'From Babur's courage to Akbar's wisdom to Aurangzeb's ambition — the Mughals left an UNFORGETTABLE mark on India.' For AP, the Mughal period ended with the conquest of Golconda (1687) and the establishment of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, which ruled Hyderabad until 1948.

Key takeaways:

• Six great Mughals shaped India for 200+ years
• Akbar's sulh-i-kul and mansabdari system were revolutionary
• Mughal architecture (Taj Mahal) is world-famous
• Aurangzeb's policies led to decline
• Mughal-Golconda relations directly shaped AP history