Mughal Empire
Indian History · मुगल साम्राज्य · 24 facts
Built Fatehpur Sikri (near Agra) — his capital for 14 years. Buland Darwaza (tallest gateway).
Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri — hall for religious discussions with scholars of all faiths.
Abolished Jaziya tax (tax on non-Muslims). Reimposed by Aurangzeb later.
Akbarnama written by Abul Fazl. Ain-i-Akbari (part of Akbarnama) = administrative manual.
Built Grand Trunk Road (GT Road) — Calcutta to Peshawar (~2500 km). Still exists today!
Introduced Rupiya (silver coin) — basis of modern 'Rupee'
Built Sarais (rest houses) for travelers on highways
Efficient land revenue system — measured land, fixed taxes
Tomb at Sasaram (Bihar) — built in an artificial lake
Babur founded Mughal Empire (1526), won 1st Battle of Panipat vs Ibrahim Lodi
Humayun lost to Sher Shah Suri, died falling from library stairs
Sher Shah Suri: GT Road + Rupiya + Sarais (rest houses)
Akbar: Greatest Mughal, Din-i-Ilahi, abolished Jaziya, 9 Gems, Fatehpur Sikri
Akbar won 2nd Panipat (1556) at age 13 (general: Bairam Khan)
Jahangir: Chain of Justice, married Nur Jahan, patronized painting
Shah Jahan: Taj Mahal + Red Fort + Jama Masjid. Golden Age of architecture.
Taj Mahal architect: Ustad Ahmad Lahori. 22 years to build. UNESCO site.
Aurangzeb: reimposed Jaziya, banned music, killed Dara Shikoh, imprisoned Shah Jahan
Aurangzeb = largest Mughal empire by area, called 'Zinda Pir'
Bahadur Shah Zafar = last Mughal emperor, exiled to Rangoon (1857)
Panipat battles: 1526 (Babur vs Lodi), 1556 (Akbar vs Hemu), 1761 (Abdali vs Marathas)
Haldighati 1576: Akbar vs Rana Pratap. Man Singh led Mughal army.
Abul Fazl wrote Akbarnama. Todar Mal = revenue minister (Zabt system).
Baburnama (autobiography) in Turkish. Humayunnama by Gulbadan Begum.