history of western art: write 2 papers
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MughalEmpire.ppsxThe Mughal Empire of Hindustan
The Mughal Empire ruled most of northern India from the 1500s to the 1700s. The Mughal rulers practiced the religion of Islam. Most of the people they ruled practiced Hinduism. Even so, the Mughals were able to rule successfully. They worked to bring Muslims and Hindus together into a united India.
Babur
The founder of the Mughal Empire
He was descended from Genghis Khan, who had founded the Mongol Empire in Mongolia more than 300 years earlier.
Babur ruled Kabul (in modern Afghanistan), and in 1504 he decided to reconquer Tamerlane's old land in northern India. By 1526, Babur used his advanced gunpowder weapons to capture Delhi, and ruled a large empire, just as to his east the Ming Emperors ruled China, and to his west the Safavids ruled Iran.
The Empire he founded was a sophisticated civilization based on religious toleration. It was a mixture of Persian, Mongol and Indian culture. Under Babur, Hinduism was tolerated and new Hindu temples were even built with his permission.
Babur brought a broad-minded, confident Islam from central Asia. His first act after conquering Delhi was to forbid the killing of cows because that was offensive to Hindus.
When Babur died in 1530, his son Humayun took over. But the Indian people rebelled against him, and Humayun had to hide out with his friend Shah Tahmasp at the Safavid court. Just as Humayun was beginning to win back his empire in 1545, he died, leaving his general Bairam Khan and his widow, Hamida Banu, to rule for his 13 year old son Akbar.
Abu Akbar
Babur’s grandson
Akbar worked hard to win over the hearts and minds of the Hindu leaders. While this may well have been for political reasons - he married a Hindu princess (and is said to have married several thousand wives for political and diplomatic purposes) - it was also a part of his philosophy.
He established a form of delegated government in which the provincial governors were personally responsible to him for the quality of government in their territory.
Akbar's government machine included many Hindus in positions of responsibility - the governed were allowed to take a major part in the governing.
Akbar also ended a tax (jizya) that had been imposed on non-Muslims. This discriminatory tax had been much resented, and ending it was a popular move.
When Akhbar died he left the Mughal empire covering all of what is now northern India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
JAHANGIR
Akbar's son, Emperor Jahangir, readopted Islam as the state religion and continued the policy of religious toleration. His court included large numbers of Indian Hindus, Persian Shi'a and Sufis and members of local heterodox Islamic sects.
Jahangir also began building the magnificent monuments and gardens by which the Mughals are chiefly remembered today, importing hundreds of Persian architects to build palaces and create magnificent gardens.
Jahangir's approach was typified by the development of Urdu as the official language of Empire. Now, the official language of Pakistan.
Shah Jahan
Akbar’s grandson
Taj Mahal
The most famous monument of Mughal architecture is the Taj Mahal. It was built in the 17th century by Shah Jahan as a tomb for his beloved wife, Mumtaz-i Mahal, who died in childbirth.
The Taj Mahal was begun in 1632 and completed 22 years later. About 20,000 people were employed, including Asia’s finest craftsmen. Famous for its perfect symmetry, it is exactly as wide as it is high, and the dome is the same height as its façade.
By Jahan's period the capital had moved to the Red Fort in Delhi, putting the Fort at the heart of Mughal power. As if to confirm it, Jahan had these lines inscribed there: "If there is Paradise on earth, it is here, it is here.”
Paradise it may have been, but it was a pricey paradise. The money Jahan spent on buildings and on various military projects emptied his treasury and he was forced to raise taxes, which aggravated the people of the empire.
Aurangzeb
Expanded the empire to its greatest size.
However, mistreated Hindus and other non-Muslims.
This cost him the support of the people and eventually led the empire to weaken.
All comes to an end…
By the middle of the 1700s the Mughals ruled only a small area around the city of Delhi. The British took over this land in 1803. The last Mughal emperor was Bahadur Shah II. The British allowed him to reign until 1857. Then they forced him to leave India.
What did the Mughals bring to Hindustan?
Centralized government that brought together many smaller kingdoms.
Delegated government with respect for human rights.
Persian art and culture.
Persian language mixed with Arabic and Hindi to create Urdu.
Periods of great religious tolerance.
A style of architecture (e.g. the Taj Mahal).
A system of education that took account of pupils' needs and culture
