03_Ch18: The Mughal Empire in India

Timeline: 4th C. - 17th C. CE

FS: Despite numerous invasions throughout history, the Indian Subcontinent nurtured great civilizations.

Main Idea: Mountains and deserts to the Northeast, mountains to the north, and large bodies of water on
all the other sides of this land mass. Yet, history presents a long list of invaders that worked their way into
the Indian Subcontinent. Some came as empire builders, others as permanent residents. All left their
inuence, which later contributed to 'fresh' expressions of an ancient culture.

CCSS...

I. Cultural Developments during an Interregnum
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After the collapse of the Gupta Empire in the 7th Century, the Asian subcontinent fractured into smaller
kingdoms with some developing into regional empires and reaching new heights in culture.
A. The Rajputs
1. As a people, they migrated from the Northwest region of the Indian subcontinent
(Present day Pakistan).
2. They...
a. converted to Hinduism and occupied the Kshatriya caste.
b. became Warrior-kings ruling small kingdoms in the Northern portion of the Indian
subcontinent.
3. Notable cultural attributes include...
a. Adhered to a code of honor
b. Women exercised greater social status & economic rights. However, their honor
remained tied to their expression of devotion to the husband. Consider the
practice of Suttee.2
c. The increased absorption of Buddhism into Hinduism. As The Buddha now
becomes a Hindu deity, the practice of Buddhism as a separate faith in Northern
India nearly #disappears.
B. The Arrival of Islam
1. 8th - 11th C.: The Asian branch of the Islamic-Arab invasions reaches the Indian
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subcontinent. Later, Islamic Turks continue the push eastward.
! Conict, fueled by the desire for plunder, results from the encounter between
'Turk' and 'Indian'.
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2. 13th - 16th C.: Turks establish the Delhi Sultanate (centered on the city of Delhi) in the
North. Independent Hindu kingdoms continue in the southern portion of the subcontinent.
a. Timur the Lame (Tamerlane to Europeans) invades and severely weakens the
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Sultanate. The subcontinent fragments into continually warring kingdoms.
b. Babur, using rearms, invades and brings an end to the Delhi Sultanate. He
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establishes the Mughal Empire.
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II. The Mughal Empire
This was part of a larger invasion that witnessed Arab-Islamic expansion into Africa, Iberia, and the Middle East.
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Central Asian
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Rajput
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A Turk from Central Asia who claimed to be a descendant of Chinggis Khan. Established a short-lived central
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Asian empire.
A Turk from Central Asia who claimed to be a descendant of Chinggis Khan and Timur the Lame.
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'Mughal' was a corruption of the word 'Mongol'.
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A. Notable Rulers and their Contributions
1. 16th - 17th C.: Akbar
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a. Defeated Rajputs in many battles to extend his rule over Northern and Central
portions of the subcontinent.
b. Tolerant towards Hindus, though he and the Mughals were Muslim.
c. Attempted, but failed, to create a religion that incorporated the teachings of
Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. Few Indians converted to the short-lived faith.
d. He was succeeded by less tolerant and less able rulers.
e. Vasco DaGama is the rst European mariner during the Age of Sail & Discovery
to arrive. The wealth from the spice trade encouraged more Portuguese
(Europeans) to undertake these commercial ventures. Soon thereafter, trading
bases were established in India and China by the Portuguese.
2. 17th C.: Nur Jahan: One of the most powerful and inuential of Indian women prior to
the modern period. She, however, did not rule outright. She exercised power through her
less able husband, Jahanjir.
3. 17th C.: Shah Jahan
a. One in a series of authoritarian rulers that abandons the tolerant policies of
Akbar.
b. Increased persecution of Hindus weakens the empire's grip over the
subcontinent.
c. Builds the Taj Mahal for his deceased wife.
d. Disparity of wealth between Mughal and poor is huge.
B. Cultural Diffusion
1. Unlike the past, Muslim invaders were not absorbed into Hinduism. The religions
remained distinct.
2. Among followers of the 2 faiths, diffusion could be seen in...
a. the wearing of similar clothing
b. the treatment of women- Purdah
3. 15th C.: Sikhs
a. Nanak: A guru who founded a faith that shared beliefs found in Hinduism and
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Islam.
b. "Sikh" means "Disciple".
c. As Mughal rule weakened, Sikh followers established an independent military
state in North-Western India.
III. A Future Full of Conict
####From 17th C. to the 20th C., the subcontinent is plagued with violence among and between its people.
A. Hindu vs. Muslim (Indian vs. Turk, Indian vs. Indian)
B. Muslim vs. Rajput (Turk vs. Indian, Indian vs. Indian)
C. Hindu vs. Sikh (Indian vs. Indian)
D. Christian vs. Hindu (European vs. Indian)
E. Christian vs. Muslim (European vs. Indian)

IV. Summary Activity: Why it matters today.
This region, for all it's prior greatness and contributions to human civilization, reects the diversity of its
past. This diversity has sometimes generated tensions and terrible violence.

Materials/Sources:#Refer to the course calendar for additional materials, assignments and pertinent due dates.

!Map of Eurasia
!Assorted Handouts
!World History: Perspectives on the Past
Arabic for Great
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A 'teacher' or 'master' in the Hindu tradition.
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!World History: Patterns of Interaction