What the History of Mughal Dynasty?

Following Babur, the Mughals would often refer to their dynasty as Gurkani, meaning sons-in-law. The empire was also referred to as Hindustan, a Persian term referencing the Indus River and Valley that is still widely used today an alternate name of India.

Akbar's son Jahangir takes a special interest in painting, and his requirements differ from his father's.

The Mughal Empire reached its peak territory around 1690, covering nearly all of the Indian Subcontinent (present-day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh) and parts of present-day Afghanistan.

The half-sister of Humayun, Gul-badan Begum was the one who wrote ‘Humayunama’. The book carries the life of Humayun. This one book also made her the only woman historian of medieval India.

He is more likely to want an accurate depiction of a bird which has caught his interest, or a political portrait showing himself with a rival potentate

Akbar introduced a new religion to his countrymen which was known as Din-i-Illahi. This religion was a combination of a few other religions which include Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, Jainism, and Zoroastrianism. Din-i-Illahi means the religion of god.

. At its peak, the Mughal Empire was 122% the size of the current geographical size of the Republic of India. Only the Maurya Empire in 250 BC and the British Raj prior to the Partition of India in 1947 commanded more territory.

In either case the image requires clarity and conviction as well as finely detailed realism.

Being an alcoholic, Jahangir was unable to rule the Mughal emperor. And, so his wife, Empress Noor Jahan become the real power behind the throne and ruled the empire for around 16 years.

The ornate architectural features of Mughal buildings and monuments were matched by the exquisitely manicured gardens that surrounded them. The Mughal gardens were heavily influenced by Persian landscaping conventions, which in turn were inspired by references to gardens in the Quran.

The artists rise superbly to this challenge. In Jahangir's reign, and that of his son Shah Jahan, the Moghul imperial studio produces work of exceptional beauty.

The gardens were often quadrilateral in design and contained water features like pools and fountains. One of the most famous Mughal gardens is the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore (in present-day Pakistan), which were commissioned during the reign of Shah Jahan.

The descendant of Jahangir, Shah Jahan has led the Mughal empire towards the Golden Age of Mughal architecture. He has constructed epic monuments like the Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Tomb of Jahangir mausoleum, Jama Masjid in Delhi, and Shalimar Gardens in Lahore.

In Shah Jahan's time even the crowded narrative scenes, so popular with Akbar, are peopled by finely observed and convincing characters.

At its peak in the 17th century, the Mughal Empire was the world’s largest economic power. It made up nearly a quarter of the world’s entire GDP. Relying on a large workforce, the Empire became one of the world’s leading manufacturing powers and ushered in an era of proto-industrialization—a precursor to the great Industrial Revolution that took place in Britain during the 18th century.

Aurangzeb killed all his brothers and captured his father, Shah Jahan to become the sixth ruler of the Mughal Empire.

During the reigns of Shah Jahan and his son Aurangzeb, the policy of religious toleration introduced by Akbar is gradually abandoned.

At its peak in the 17th century, the Mughal Empire was the world’s largest economic power. It made up nearly a quarter of the world’s entire GDP. Relying on a large workforce, the Empire became one of the world’s leading manufacturing powers and ushered in an era of proto-industrialization—a precursor to the great Industrial Revolution that took place in Britain during the 18th century.

It is considered that the great Mughal emperor, Akbar had 36 wives and more than 300 children harem (a Muslim household reserved for wives and female servants).

It has been largely followed by Shah Jahan's father, Jahangir - though at the very start of his reign he provides the Sikhs with their first martyr when the guru Arjan is arrested, in 1606, and dies under torture.

For its time, the Mughal Empire was highly urbanized. At its peak in the 17th century, 15% of the population resided in major urban centers; a mark that would not be reached in Europe until 200 years later. During the reign of Akbar, there were 120 cities and 3,200 townships. The biggest cities in the Mughal Empire were Agra, Delhi, Lahore, and Dhaka.

In 1632 Shah Jahan signals an abrupt return to a stricter interpretation of Islam when he orders that all recently built Hindu temples shall be destroyed.

The hookah or waterpipe (also known as shisha) is thought to be a Mughal era invention. It was developed by one of Emperor Akbar’s doctors after the introduction of tobacco to the Mughal Empire by Jesuit missionaries in the 16th century.

A Muslim tradition states that unbelievers may keep the shrines which they have when Islam arrives, but not add to their number.

Smoking hookah became a popular pastime amongst the wealthy of the empire, as evidenced by its numerous depictions in Mughal era artwork.