The Mughal Empire

By 0hjizard@ahs.bucks.sch.uk
  • 1494

    Babur inherited his father's kingdom of Fergana in Uzbekistan at the age of Twelve.

  • Period: 1494 to 1530

    Babur's Reign

  • 1497

    Babur captured Samarkand

  • 1499

    Babur lost Samarkand and Fergana

  • 1504

    Babur in Kabul

    After losing his father's kingdom, Babur set up base in Kabul and started raiding India
  • 1505

    Raid on Hindustan

    He pillaged Hindustan, and killed anyone who refused to pay tributes of Gold and produce.
  • 1508

    The Birth of Humayun

    The birth of Babur's first child, and next Mughal emperor- Humayun
  • 1508

    Raids on India

    Following the birth of his son, his raids on India intensified.
  • 1525

    The Invasion into Punjab

    Babur took his army of around 12,000 men to Punjab. They took cannons and Matchlock Muskets, which were supplied by the ottoman Turks. They easily defeated Sultan Ibrahim, who was ruler at the time
  • 1526

    Agra and Delhi

    Babur send his son, Humayun to seize Agra and take the treasures, while Babur himself goes to Delhi to visit gardens, shrines and palaces. He was proclaimed emperor and went to Agra. He decided to stay in Hindustan, instead of returning to Kabul.
  • 1526

    The battle of Panipet

    Panipet-**** Babur invaded Northern India, and won the Battle of Panipet. To celebrate, he built a Mosque and garden where they won, which was the first Mughal Building in India
  • 1527

    Assassination attempt

    Babur treated the mother of his enemy (Sultan Ibrahim) with respect. He allowed her to remain in Agra, and gave her a pension. She persuaded the cooks to sprinkle poison into his food. Babur was ill, but cured himself with opium and milk. The cook who put the poison into the dish was skinned alive, though Ibrahim's mother was shown mercy.
  • 1527

    The Rajput confederacy

    In spring, Rana Sanga and his army, the Rajput Confederacy, marched to Agra in an attempt to create a Hindu empire in Hindustan. This attempt was ultimately unsuccessful, and Rana Sanga was wounded, but managed to escape. Again, Babur's use of firepower helped his victory
  • 1528

    The feast of 1528

    In 1528, Babur gave a feast in the court in Agra. It was attended by his wives, children, and loyal followers. He gave gifts to those who served him, and there was dancing, wrestling, and animal fights alongside the food and wine.
  • 1529

    Babur's rule 1526-1530

    Babur is most remembered for three things:
    1. Creating a walled garden next to the river in Agra.
    2. Starting to build a large library of books
    3. Making an Autobiography from the notes he made during his travels.
  • 1530

    The start of Humayun's Rule

    After his father (Babur) died, Humayun took over at the age of 22.
  • 1530

    Humyun's Brothers

    When Humayun ascended into power, he let his 3 half brothers rule over a provenience each. All of the half-brothers wanted to seize power for themselves though, and gave Humayun trouble during the first year of his reign.
  • Dec 26, 1530

    The End of Babur

    In 1930, Babur began suffering from a bowel disorder. He died on the 26th of December.
  • Period: Dec 30, 1530 to 1540

    Humayun's Reign (Part One)

  • 1531

    Facts about Humayun

    Humayun was interested in astrology, and rules were based on his spiritual beliefs
    1. His court was based on the cosmos
    2. The branches of his administration were organised according to the natural elements
    3. He identified each day of the week with a different planet.
  • 1533

    Din-panah

    Humayun started to make the foundations for a new city called Din-panah in Delhi. He wanted the city to be a centre for learning and thinking
  • 1535

    Bahadur Shah

    Bahadur Shah (ruler of Gujarat) to the south
    Bahadur invaded Afghanistan, but the Mughals pushed them back, and captured Champanir for themselves. They withdrew from Gujarat without taking it due to Humayun's indecisiveness.
  • 1539

    Sher Shah

    Sher Shah (ruler of Bihar) to the east
    Sher Shah was a growing threat to Humayun after 1537. The Mughals faced them in Chausa in 1539 and were defeated. Humayun almost drowned in the Ganges river.
  • 1540

    Exile

    After the battle, Humayun was exiled.
  • 1541

    Sindh

    In 1541, Humayun and his followers tried to gain military support from Sindh in the south. Sindh didn't want to offend Sher Shah, so did not provide the support Humayun wanted.
  • 1542

    Rajasthan

    After being denied help from Sindh, Humayun went to Rajasthan to ask for assistance from him. Again, he was denied, and they had to leave through a desert.
  • 1542

    Humayun's son

    Humayun's 14 year old wife (A persian girl called Hamida) was pregnant during the time in the desert. She gave birth to Akbar (future Mughal ruler) in October, giving Humayun an heir.
  • 1543

    Askari

    In July of 1543, Humayun started to go towards Kandahar, to ask his half-brother (Askari) for aid. He didn't even reach Kandahar before Askari's hostile troops started to approach. Humayun was forced to flee.
  • 1544

    Shah Tahmasp

    Humayun got to Persia in 1544, and Shah Tahmasp let him stay, gave him clothes, and food. In return, Humayun gave him Jewels. In Persia, he met two painters that he convinced to move to Delhi.
  • 1545

    Kamran in Afghanistan

    With the added military force from Shah Tahmasp, Humayun went to confront his brothers. He easily managed to take Kandahar and Kabul. He couldn't bring himself to kill his brother, so instead he blinded him.
  • 1553

    Sher Shah's rule

    Sher Shah was ruler of Hindustan whilst Humuyan was is exile, but in 1545, Sher Shah was killed in an explosion. His successors weren't able to rule as well, and Hindustan was split into four provinces.
  • 1554

    Punjab

    Humayun managed to take control of Punjab in Northern India.
  • 1555

    Humayun's return

    In 1555, Humayun managed to reclaim Delhi. He managed to do so, and the Mughal empire was re-established
  • Period: 1555 to 1556

    Humayun's Reign (Part Two)

  • 1556

    Humayun's final year

    Humayun returned, and started his reign again
    He built the Sher Mandal, which was a octagonal building and was used as an observatory and library.
    He started to develop administration, based on Sher Shar Sur's sensible methods. He died in 1556 when he slipped and cracked his skull.
  • 1556

    The beginning of Akbar

    Akbar was 13 when he became emperor. He was very different from his father, and was more ambitious and determined. For the first 5 years of his reign, Bairam Khan helped him, and ruled on his behalf.
  • Period: 1556 to 1560

    Bairam Khan, ruling for Akbar

  • Period: 1556 to

    Akbar's Reign

  • 1557

    Bairam's contributions

    In the years that Bairim was ruling for Akbar, he started expanding the Mughal empire, and teaching Akbar skills, like shooting and Hunting.
  • 1560

    Bairam khan steps down

    In 1560, Bairam Khan stepped down, after Akbar started to assert his own power (Fuelled by Adham Khan- his foster brother). Bairam Khan went on a pilgrimage to Mecca, but was killed by hostile forces.

  • Jahangir becomes Leader

    Jahangir becomes Leader
    After Akbar's death in 1605, Jahangir took over. The painting is a painting of him, holding a picture of Akbar, meant to represent the power transfer.
  • Period: to

    Jahangir's Reign

  • The Twelve decrees

    Jahangir set out 12 rules at the start of his reign:
    1.Stamp-taxes and Port-Dues were forbidden.
    2.On roads where robbery frequently took place, shelters were ordered to be built.
    3.No one was allowed to open merchant's packages without consent, and Property was allowed to be inherited.
    4.Wine and Liquor were forbidden to be made or sold.
    5.No one can seize the house of another and no more cutting ears or noses off of criminals.
    6.Owners of land were not allowed to take the property of peasants.

  • The 12 Decrees (Pt.2)

    1. More hospitals were ordered to be built.
    2. After his birthday each year, however old he was, that number of days afterwards, no animals were allowed to be killed.
    3. On Sundays (and one other day a week) It was forbidden to kill animals.
    4. General confirmation of commands and fiefs.
    5. Confirmation of grants.
    6. All Prisoners were released, to symbolise the new start of the empire.

  • Jahangir's first year.

    During the first year of his reign, Jahangir set up a 'Chain of Justice'. This was around 60 bells which stretched from the red fort in Agra, to the river below it. It premise of this was that if anyone had been denied justice from their local ruler, they could pull the cord, and the emperor would hear their case.
  • Period: to

    Shah Jahan's Reign

  • Period: to

    Aurangzeb's Reign