The Mughal Dynasty and Its Influence in India

Introduction

• Muslim-majority countries on the Indian subcontinent: Pakistan (west) and Bangladesh (east).
• The Mughal Dynasty influenced Muslims in these regions and India.

Background and Sponsors

• Video sponsored by Magellan TV, a streaming service with history and other genre shows, many available in 4k with no ads.
• Recommended documentaries: Promises and Betrayals and Iran: Hundred Year War.
• Part of a bigger collaboration called The Discovery of India.

Early Islamic Influence

• 8th Century: Umayyad Caliphate conquers Sindh (now Pakistan).
• 11th Century: Mahmud of Ghazni invades India, establishes Turkic rule in 1030.
• Post-Ghazni: Various dynasties under the Delhi Sultanate.

Rise of the Mughal Empire

• 1526: Zahir ad-Din Muhammad Babur, descendent of Timur and Genghis Khan, invades India and defeats the Lodi Dynasty at Panipat.
• Babur founds the Mughal Dynasty, known as the Gurkani Dynasty.
• Babur dies in 1530; succeeded by his son Humayun.

Humayun's Rule

• Humayun defeated by Sher Khan Suri in 1539.
• 1545: Sher Shah Suri dies and Humayun regains control by 1555 but dies in 1556.

Akbar the Great

• Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Akbar becomes ruler at 12-13 years old.
• Expands empire to include Gujarat, Bihar, Bengal.
• Faces legitimacy problems and reconciles different religions, creates Din-I Ilahi.
• Abolishes Jizya tax, finances Hindu temples, translates Mahabharata into Persian.
• Establishes Mansabdari bureaucracy system.
• Akbar dies in 1605.

Jahangir and Shah Jahan

• Nur ad-Din Muhammad Jahangir succeeds Akbar; unable to expand further, faces Deccan resistance.
• Jahangir dies in 1627; Shah Jahan takes over, builds Taj Mahal, faces Deccan struggles.
• Shah Jahan overthrown by son Aurangzeb in 1658.

Aurangzeb's Rule

• Aurangzeb imposes Islamic policies, composed Fatawa al-Alamgiriyya, employed merit-based officials.
• Extensive military campaigns, fails to maintain control, depletes treasury.
• Dies in 1707, causing internal strife and civil war.

Decline of the Mughal Empire

• Post-Aurangzeb: Bahadur Shah and successive rulers struggle; Nadir Shah and Maratha invasions.
• Marathas control Delhi by 1757; later, British East India Company assumes control.
• Empire ends in 1857 after Indian Mutiny; last emperor Bahadur Shah II dies in captivity.

Legacy of the Mughals

• Cultural fusion of Turko-Persian culture with local traditions.
• Urdu language emergence and architectural marvels like the Taj Mahal and Red Fort.
• Significant spread of Islam in the subcontinent.

Conclusion

• Importance of Mughal influence on Indian culture, architecture, and religion.
• Video is part of The Discovery of India collaboration.