The Mughal Empire ruled most of India and Pakistan in the 16th and 17th centuries.It consolidated Islam in South Asia, and spread Muslim (and particularly Persian) arts and culture as well as the faith.The Mughals were Muslims who ruled a country with a large Hindu majority. However for much of their empire they allowed Hindus to reach senior government or military positions.

BABUR(1526-1530) THE FIRST MUGHAL

HUMAYUN (1530-1556)THE LUCKLESS LEADER

Zahiruddin Babur (February , 14, 1483 – December 26, 1530) was a chieftain and prince from Fergana who defeated Hindu as well as other Muslim kings many times and founded the Mughal Empire in the Hindustan. Babur (1526 – 1530) was a descendant of Tamerlane from his father’s side and Genghis Khan from his maternal side, and was destined in turn to be the first ruler or founder of the Mughal Empire. Many people from India consider him to have been a great emperor. In 1525 Babur set out to conquer India. He had only about twelve thousand men with him but he had been promised help by Daulat Khan Lodi, the governor of Punjab. They planned to march together against the ruling Sultan Ibrahim Lodi, who was the king of Delhi at that time. Babur started off to Delhi with his small army of men. The two armies met at the famous First Battle Of Panipat, at a small village near Delhi.

Babur’s favorite son Humayun took the reins of the empire after his father succumbed to disease at the young age of forty-seven. Humayun lost control of his kingdom early on in his reign, but later with Persian aid, he would eventually regain an even larger one. His official residence was the Purana Quila at delhi.In 1539, seeking to expand his realm, Sher Khan met Humayun at the battle of Chausa. Humayun was defeated and barely escaped with his own life.Humayun was a keen astronomer. He died after falling down the stairs of his own library in 1556. Thus Humayun ruled in India for barely ten years and died at the age of forty-eight, leaving behind the then only thirteen-year-old Akbar as his heir.Humayuns’ tomb is located in Delhi and is made up of red sandstones.

Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar was the greatest Mughal ruler of Hindustan. He was only 13 when he ruled under the guidance of Bairam Khan. He is also known as Akbar the Great. He was born on October, 15, 1542 and died on October 27, 1605 . He was the son of the Mughal ruler Humayun and his wife Hamida Begum. His son's name was Salim also known as Jehangir. Akbar's favorite courtier was Birbal. Akbar was very eager to learn about other religions and faiths and even though he could not read he loved to have people reading to him. Akbar had also built a city called Fatehpur Sikri which served him as a capital from 1565-81.He had Navratnas or nine gems, his famous nine ministers and advisers, in his court. He captured most of North and Central India. He had friendly relations with the Rajputsand treated them with equal respect. His tomb is located at Siakandra in Agra. Akbar's rule is considered to be the best period of Mughal India and a 'classical' age or era of prosperity and liberality.

Jahangir was born on 9 September 1569 at Fatehpur Sikri. Jahangir married Mehrunissa, the young widow of a Mughal officer. She soon became Jahangir's favorite queen and assumed the title of Nur Jahan, 'Light of the World‘. Under Jahangir, the empire continued to be a war state attuned to conquest and expansion. Jahangir lacked the political enterprise of his father Akbar. But he was an honest man and a tolerant ruler. He strived to reform society and was tolerant towards Hindus, Christians and Jews. The English East India Company sent Captain William Hawkins and Sir Thomas Roe to Jahangir’s court to secure trade concessions. Jahangir died on the way back from Kashmir near Gujrat in 1627. To preserve his body, the entrails were removed and buried in the Gujrat. The body was then transferred to Lahore to be buried in Shahadra Bagh, a suburb of Lahore. He was succeeded by his third son, Prince Khurram who took the title of Shah Jahan.

Prince Khurram ascended the throne in 1628 and took the title of Shah Jahan. The name "Khurram" was chosen for the young prince by his grandfather, Akbar, with whom the young prince shared a close relationship. The period of his reign is considered as the golden age of Mughal art and architecture. Shah Jahan is best known for erecting many splendid monuments, the most famous of which in all the world, is the Taj Mahal at Agra, built in 1632–1648 as a tomb for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. He was also the founder of the new imperial capital called Shahajanabad, now known as Old Delhi. At a young age, he was chosen as successor to the Mughal throne after the death of his father, Emperor Jahangir, in 1627. He is considered one of the greatest Mughals. His reign has been called the Golden Age of the Mughals and one of the most prosperous ages of Indian civilization. Like Akbar, he was eager to expand his vast empire. In 1658, he fell ill and was confined by his son Emperor Aurangzeb in Agra Fort until his death in 1666.

Aurangzeb was given the title "Alamgir" or "world-seizer," by his father and is known for his acceptance of Islam law. During his reign, the Mughal empire reached its greatest extent . He became the emperor in 1658 after killing his three brothers and imprisoning his father. At first he was made the viceroy of Deccan. But when he came three weeks later after his sister’s death in a fire, Shah Jahan got angry and exiled him from the post of viceroy of Deccan. His relationship with his father got bitterer when he favored Dara Shikoh the elder brother of Aurangzeb as the emperor. During his reign he banned singing, dancing and playing musical instrument in his empire. He was not open-minded and was not able to tolerate other religions. He destroyed many Hindu temples. Aurangzeb spent many of his years fighting against the rebellions. During his time Shivaji established the Maratha Empire. The Sikhs rebelled against the emperor and fought many battles. He died on 20 February 1707. He was the last famous Mughal emperor and after his death, Mughal empires declination started. His mausoleum is located in khuldabad.

The head of the judiciary

was the Chief Quazi and Mir

Adl was an official of the

judiciary.

The MughalEmpire was divided into

subas, under a subedar,

which were further divided

into Sarkars. The Sarkar was further divided into Parganaswhich were made up of

villages.

The Mansabdari

System was a new form of

administrative organization

introduced by Akbar.

A Mansabdarwas a holder of a rank in

the administration, appointed personally by the emperor.