Rahul DevashishCourseHistory Mughal

12 Jul 2025·9 min read·

Mughal

Foundation of the Mughal Empire

Founder: Babur, defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat (1526)
Dynasty of Turko-Mongol origin; descended from Timur (father’s side) and Genghis Khan (mother’s side)
Introduced modern warfare (gunpowder, artillery) in India

📝 PYQ (BPSC 66th): Who was the founder of the Mughal Empire? → Babur
📝 PYQ (BPSC CDPO 2022): First Battle of Panipat was fought between? → Babur and Ibrahim Lodi

Major Mughal Rulers

Babur (1526–1530)

Major Battles

1526: First Battle of Panipat – Defeated Ibrahim Lodi
1527: Battle of Khanwa – Defeated Rana Sanga (Rajputs)
1529: Battle of Ghaghra – Defeated Afghans and Sultan of Bengal
Contribution: Introduced field artillery, wrote Baburnama (in Turkish)

Humayun (1530–1556)

Faced defeat by Sher Shah Suri at the Battle of Chausa (1539) and Kanauj (1540)
Spent 15 years in exile; regained throne with Persian help
Died in 1556 after falling from stairs
Notable Fact: His tomb in Delhi is the first garden tomb in India

📝 PYQ (BPSC 63rd): Who defeated Humayun at Chausa and Kanauj? → Sher Shah Suri

Akbar (1556–1605)

Crowned at age 13; Bairam Khan acted as regent
Defeated Hemu in the Second Battle of Panipat (1556)
Launched policy of Sulh-i-Kul (peace with all), abolished Jizya
Formed Din-i-Ilahi, a syncretic religion
Introduced Mansabdari and Zabt revenue system
Built Fatehpur Sikri, Buland Darwaza
Nine gems (Navratnas) at his court included Birbal, Tansen, Abul Fazl

📝 PYQ (BPSC 65th): Who introduced Din-i-Ilahi? → Akbar
📝 PYQ (BPSC 68th): In whose court were Navratnas present? → Akbar

Jahangir (1605–1627)

Son of Akbar, continued liberal policies
Married to Nur Jahan – held real power
Issued golden chain of justice
Patronized painting and Persian literature
British got permission to trade under his reign (1615 – Sir Thomas Roe)

📝 Expected: Which Mughal emperor allowed British to trade? → Jahangir

Shah Jahan (1628–1658)

Known as the Golden Age of Mughal architecture
Built Taj Mahal, Red Fort (Delhi), Jama Masjid, Shah Jahanabad
Reintroduced Jizya, became conservative
Faced Deccan revolts and war of succession among sons
Imprisoned by Aurangzeb at Agra Fort

📝 PYQ (BPSC 67th): Who built the Taj Mahal? → Shah Jahan

Aurangzeb (1658–1707)

Orthodox Sunni Muslim; reimposed Jizya
Opposed Sufism and music at court
Longest-reigning Mughal emperor
Conquered Deccan but faced resistance from Marathas, Sikhs, and Rajputs
Executed Guru Tegh Bahadur, imprisoned Shivaji (escaped later)
Empire reached greatest territorial extent but declined after his death

📝 PYQ (BPSC CDPO): Last powerful Mughal ruler? → Aurangzeb

Decline of Mughal Empire

Weak successors after Aurangzeb
Rise of regional powers: Marathas, Sikhs, Bengal Nawabs
Invasion by Nadir Shah (1739) – looted Delhi, took Koh-i-Noor
Battle of Buxar (1764) – Shah Alam II was defeated by British
Ended in 1857 after the Revolt of 1857, last emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar exiled to Burma

📝 PYQ (BPSC 64th): Which Mughal ruler was exiled after 1857? → Bahadur Shah Zafar

Mughal Administration and Economy

Mansabdari System: Military-cum-civil ranks
Jagir System: Revenue assignment in place of salary
Efficient revenue system under Raja Todar Mal
Trade flourished with Central Asia and Europe
Minted standardized coins of gold, silver, copper

Bihar Under Mughals

Strategically important; connected North and Bengal
Akbar included Bihar in Subah of Bengal, later made separate
Sufi centers like Bihar Sharif, Maner, Patna flourished
Patna became a major trade center for rice, saltpeter, textiles

📝 Expected: Which Mughal ruler developed Patna as a trade center? → Shah Jahan

Quick Revision Points

Founder: Babur (1526) – First Battle of Panipat
Akbar: Din-i-Ilahi, Mansabdari, Navratnas
Shah Jahan: Taj Mahal, Delhi Red Fort
Aurangzeb: Orthodox, empire at peak, but decline began
End of empire: 1857 with exile of Bahadur Shah Zafar

Sources Used

NCERT Themes in Indian History – Part II
Lucent GK – Medieval History
Drishti Bihar Special Notes
Ghatna Chakra PYQs – BPSC/CDPO/Teacher
Ministry of Culture Archives

Akbar – BPSC Prelims Notes

Rise to Power

Became emperor in 1556 at age 13 after Humayun’s death
Faced threat from Afghan forces under Hemu
Won the Second Battle of Panipat (1556) with help from Bairam Khan

📝 PYQ (BPSC 65th): Who defeated Hemu in the Second Battle of Panipat? → Akbar

Expansion of Empire

Consolidated Mughal rule over Delhi, Agra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bengal, and Deccan
Adopted friendly policy with Rajputs
→ Married Rajput princess Jodha Bai
→ Appointed Rajput nobles like Raja Man Singh to high positions

Religious Policy

Followed Sulh-i-Kul (peace with all) policy of tolerance
Abolished Jizya tax in 1564
Encouraged interfaith dialogue at Ibadat Khana (Fatehpur Sikri)
Founded a new religion in 1582 – Din-i-Ilahi (Religion of God)
→ Combined ideas from Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Christianity

📝 PYQ (BPSC 65th): Who introduced Din-i-Ilahi? → Akbar

Administrative Reforms

Introduced Mansabdari System → ranking of nobles by Zat and Sawars
Revenue reforms led by Raja Todar Mal
→ Introduced Dahsala system for tax assessment
Divided empire into Subahs governed by Subahdars

📝 Expected: Who was Akbar’s finance minister? → Raja Todar Mal

Architecture and Cultural Contributions

Built impressive structures:
→ Fatehpur Sikri, Buland Darwaza, Agra Fort
Promoted Persian and Sanskrit literature
Patronized miniature painting and architecture

Akbar’s Navratnas (Nine Gems)

Famous personalities in Akbar’s court included:
→ Abul Fazl – historian (Akbarnama)
→ Birbal – court wit and advisor
→ Tansen – musician
→ Faizi – Persian poet
→ Raja Todar Mal, Raja Man Singh, Mulla Do Piaza, Hakim Humam, Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khana

📝 PYQ (BPSC 68th): Navratnas were in the court of? → Akbar

Akbar and Bihar

Bihar initially part of Bengal Subah; later made separate Subah under Akbar
Administrative centers developed at Patna, Bihar Sharif, Maner
Encouraged Sufi orders like Chishti, Firdausi
Boosted trade and urban development

📝 Expected: Who reorganized Bihar into a separate Subah? → Akbar

Legacy

Considered the greatest Mughal ruler
Established centralized administration and inclusive governance
Created a culturally rich, politically stable empire
Laid foundations for future expansion by his successors

Quick Revision Points

Reign: 1556–1605
Defeated Hemu in 1556
Sulh-i-Kul, Din-i-Ilahi, Mansabdari System
Patron of art, architecture, literature
Navratnas in his court
Bihar made a separate Subah

Sources Used

NCERT Themes in Indian History – Part II
Lucent GK – Medieval History
Drishti Bihar Special Notes
Ghatna Chakra PYQs – BPSC, CDPO
Ministry of Culture Archives

Jahangir – BPSC Prelims Notes

Ascension and Background

Jahangir (real name: Nur-ud-din Muhammad Salim) was the son of Akbar
Became emperor in 1605, ruled until 1627
Known for justice, diplomacy, and patronage of art

Political Administration

Continued Akbar’s administrative policies
Introduced the Golden Chain of Justice
→ A bell for direct complaints to the emperor
Governance was largely influenced by his wife Nur Jahan

📝 Expected: What was Jahangir’s symbol of justice? → Golden Chain of Justice

Role of Nur Jahan

Jahangir’s wife, Nur Jahan, gained significant political power
Effectively ruled the empire during later years of Jahangir’s reign
Created her own group of loyal nobles (Nur Jahan Junta)
Issued farmans, coins in her name, participated in state matters

📝 Expected: Which Mughal empress wielded real power? → Nur Jahan

Foreign Relations

British East India Company got permission to trade in India
→ Sir Thomas Roe (British ambassador) arrived in 1615
→ Given trade privileges in Surat

📝 PYQ (BPSC Expected): Who allowed the British to establish trade? → Jahangir

Art and Culture

Patron of Mughal painting
→ Focus on naturalism, detailed portraits, and flora-fauna
Jahangir was a lover of nature and art
Commissioned many paintings of birds, flowers, and animals
Wrote his autobiography Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri (Jahangirnama)

Military Campaigns

Dealt with rebellion of his son Khurram (later Shah Jahan)
Suppressed Afghan uprisings and Rajput revolts
Successfully captured Kangra Fort after 14-month siege

Jahangir and Bihar

Continued Akbar’s policies in Bihar
Bihar saw expansion of Sufi centers like Bihar Sharif and Maner
Trade, especially in saltpeter, continued to thrive in Patna
Maintained strong administration through Subahdars

📝 Expected: Major export item from Patna during Mughal period? → Saltpeter

Legacy

Known as a just ruler and connoisseur of art
Patronized Persian literature and fine arts
His reign marks a peak in Mughal painting and naturalistic depiction
His rule also paved way for British expansion through trade agreements

Quick Revision Points

Reign: 1605–1627
Wife Nur Jahan held major political influence
Introduced Golden Chain of Justice
Allowed British East India Company to trade (Sir Thomas Roe)
Patron of Mughal painting, wrote Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri
Encouraged Sufism and trade in Bihar

Sources Used

NCERT Themes in Indian History – Part II
Lucent GK – Medieval India
Drishti Bihar Special Notes
Ghatna Chakra PYQs – BPSC, CDPO
Ministry of Culture Archives

Shah Jahan – BPSC Prelims Notes

Accession and Reign

Full name: Shahab-ud-din Muhammad Shah Jahan
Reign: 1628–1658
Son of Jahangir, came to power after defeating his brothers
Known for grandeur, architecture, and conservative policies

Governance and Policies

Maintained centralized administration set up by Akbar
Strengthened Mansabdari and Jagirdari systems
Revived Islamic orthodoxy: reintroduced Jizya, restricted public celebrations
His rule witnessed peace, prosperity, and magnificence

Architectural Achievements

Golden Age of Mughal Architecture
Built several iconic monuments: → Taj Mahal (Agra) – in memory of Mumtaz Mahal
→ Red Fort (Delhi)
→ Jama Masjid (Delhi)
→ Moti Masjid (Agra)
→ Planned and built Shahjahanabad (modern Old Delhi)

📝 PYQ (BPSC 67th): Who built the Taj Mahal? → Shah Jahan
📝 Expected: Builder of Red Fort and Jama Masjid? → Shah Jahan

Military and Foreign Policy

Initial campaigns in the Deccan (Ahmadnagar, Bijapur) were partially successful
Faced resistance from regional kingdoms and local rebellions
Central Asian expeditions failed to recover ancestral lands in Samarkand

Cultural Contributions

Patron of Persian literature, poetry, and calligraphy
Encouraged gardens, palaces, and urban development
Era marked by luxurious lifestyle, court refinement

Shah Jahan and Bihar

Bihar developed as a strategic and economic hub
Patna became important for saltpeter and textile trade
River transport and trade networks enhanced under imperial supervision
Administrative and cultural activity increased in cities like Bihar Sharif, Maner

📝 Expected: Major trading commodity exported from Patna during Shah Jahan’s reign? → Saltpeter

War of Succession and Later Life

In 1657, Shah Jahan fell ill → triggered war among his sons
Aurangzeb emerged victorious, imprisoned Shah Jahan in Agra Fort
Lived under house arrest until death in 1666

Legacy

Remembered for architectural brilliance and artistic patronage
Oversaw one of the most prosperous and stable periods in Mughal history
Also criticized for lavish spending and ignoring administrative reforms

Quick Revision Points

Reign: 1628–1658
Built: Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Jama Masjid
Founded Shahjahanabad (Delhi)
Revival of Jizya, orthodox policies
Trade flourished in Patna, especially saltpeter
Imprisoned by Aurangzeb in Agra Fort

Sources Used

NCERT Themes in Indian History – Part II
Lucent GK – Medieval History
Drishti Bihar Special Notes
Ghatna Chakra PYQs – BPSC, CDPO, DPRO
Ministry of Culture and ASI Archives