The mughal empire in india

Beginning in the 700’s, warlike Muslims tribes from Central Asia carves northwestern into many small kingdoms. The people who invaded descended from Muslim Turks and Afghans. Their leader was adescendant of Timur the Lame and the Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan. They called Mughals, which means “Mongols”. The 8th century began with a long clash between Hindus and Muslims in this land of manykingdoms. For almost 300 years, the Muslims were able to advance only as far as the Indus River valley. Between the 13th and 16th centuries, 33 different sultans ruled this divided territory from theirseat in Delhi. In 1494, an 11 year boy named Babur inherited a kingdom in the area that is now Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Babur was a brilliant general. In 1526 he led 12,000 troops to victory against anarmy of 100,000 commanded by a sultan of Delhi. Babur’s grandson was called Akbar, which means “Great”. Akbar certainly lived up to his name, ruling India with wisdom and tolerance form 1556 to 1605.Akbar recognized military power as the root of his strength; he was a genius as cultural blending. A Muslim, he continued the Islamic tradition of religious freedom. He permitted people of otherreligions to practice their faiths. As Akbar extended the Mughal Empire, he welcomed influences from the many cultures in the empire. The arts flourished at the Mughal court, especially in the form ofbook illustrations. These small, highly detailed, and colorful paintings were called miniatures. Akbar devoted himself to architecture too. With Akbar’s death 1605, the Mughal court changed to deal withthe changing times. Akbar’s son called himself Jahangir or “Grasper of the World”; he left the affairs of state to his wife, who ruled with iron hand. When Khusrau rebelled, he turned to the Sikhs.Jahangir’s son and successor, Shah Jahan, could not tolerate competition and secured his throne by assassinating all his possible rivals. The Taj Mahal, has been called one of the most beautiful...