The Mughal Empire: A Tale of Splendor and Decline

Babur’s Triumph:

Mughals, also called the Mongols, were actually descendants of Genghis Khan, the great Mongol chief who conquered the China in 13th century and created one of the largest empire in world history.

At the beginning of the year 1526 on the arid fields of Panipat a Chagatai Turkic prince Babur wrote his history. The battle of Panipat therefore can be said to have been the starting point of Mughal Empire. It is now appropriate as we compare Brumfitt and Timms that we look into Babur’s outstanding vision and the key features of this grand dynasty.

Akbar: Unity Architect and Light of Enlightenment

Akbar was the third Mughal emperor and the emperor that ruled during what could be referred to as the ‘the golden period’. His reign was even consistent with all types of religion, he supported Hindus, Muslims and other groups of people. He followed the policies of the liberal approach which provided an environment for the synthesis of the Hindu and the Muslim culture, continuity of the developments as well as finest example of initiative for architecture and historical monument such as the Red Fort, Fatehpur Sikri and so on.

Religious Syncretism and Tolerance

Akbar’s ‘Din-i Ilahi’ or Religion of God, aimed at the integration of the desirable elements of all religions. He invited scholars, poets, and thinkers to his court and thus, formed an environment that could be termed as the first multi-ethnic environment.

Fatehpur Sikri The Marvel

The monument of city built by Akbar for his beloved queen in Fatehpur Sikri with its overhanging balconies and protruding-columns from the walls is a example of Akbar’s architectural brilliance along with carvings. Some of the great structures which are standing testimony to architectural brilliance of such period includes the Buland Darwaza, the Panch Mahal, the Diwan-i-Khas and many more.

Shah Jahan:

From the details of movement and scale, as well as the architectural organization of space, through the creation of ornamental elements to the details of surface articulation, from the concept of ornament as a sculptural form revolving around the axis of symmetry to the challenges of carving grand figures of beauty and power in stone: all these issues collectively carry the title of the publication: Crafting Beauty in Stone.

Shah Jahan the fifth Mughal king made his presence extremely explicit on the geographical map of India. His passion for the grandeur resulted in the famous edifices of Taj Mahal, Red Fort and Jama Masjid. So let’s know about the royal splendor of his reign and the tragic romance of the Taj Mahal.

The Eternal Symbol:

The Taj Mahal is also signified by AT & T as a great monument which is located in Agra, India.

It is an ivory-white marble structure that was constructed by inserting her remains and tomb in memory of Mumtaz Mahal. To the eye, there are beautiful symmetrical gardens, detailed calligraphy and the celestial dome still succeeds in grabbing the attention of the onlooker.

The Red Fort:

For what is this castle but a citadel of power?

The Red Fort situated in Delhi was the architectural vision of Shah Jahan and was the palace from where the Mughals governed. It has its Diwan –i –Am, Diwan –i –Khas and the most famous door — the Lahori door that depicts his magnificence.

Aurangzeb

Ashrewd soldier rose step by step consolidating his authority over the empire but his ambitions gradually led to the unraveling of the empire.

Thus, Aurangzeb’s laws and practices were discriminating and more orthodox than Akbar’s polity. His long provoking wars empty the imperial treasury, demoralized the empire and paved way to its disintegration.

The Deccan Campaigns

Aurangzeb Alamgir besiged the Deccan sultanates in a jihad in an effort to conquer areas and forced ‘conversion’ of the locals to Islam and his rule left resources and locals rulers in the region disgruntled and dissatisfied. Thus, the empire’s borders started to collapse.

The Marathas and the British: The final blow

This is considered as the final blow to S&L because it proclaims its illiquidity, which implies that it has no capacity to change its assets into cash quickly or to borrow easily on reasonable terms.

The Marathas rose up against the Mughals and British East India Company entered the scene. The six year old Battle of Plassey (1757) and the takeover of Bengal entranced the Mughal empire and sealed its fate.

Thus, the history of the Mughal Empire was one of ambitious desire, refinements of culture, and architectural triumphs. Its decline though was through civil wars, foreign imperialism and the changing of sides. Although the ruling of the Mughals is no more today it is immortalized in history as the builders of a grand history.