The Muslim Empires

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The Muslim Empires
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Timeline
570 -Muhammad born 632 -Death of
Muhammad 632-634 -Ridda Wars under Abu
Bakr Sunnis (backed Umayyad) vs. Shia (backed
Ali) 661-750 -Umayyad caliphate (Sunnis) (711
Sind Kingdom of India taken-Muhammad ibn
Qasim) 732 -Battle of Tours -Muslims defeated by
Charles Martel (France) 744-750 -(3rd civil war)
(anger at Umayyad luxurious living). Abbasid-
traced heritage from Muhammads uncle, al-Abbas
(Sunnis who used Shia supporters) 750 Abbasid
caliphate begins (victory at the Battle of the
River Zab). Abu al-Abbas dinner party-slaughtered
Umayyads. Nickname al-Saffah meaning the blood
shedder! 786-809 Reign of Harun al-Rashid
(thousand and one nights) Excesses! 777
-Independent dynasty in Algeria, 788- Morocco,
800- Tunisia 809 -First war between Abbasid
princes over succession after death of Harun,
idea of body guards and personal armies developed
? 846 slaves mercenaries murdered the caliph and
ruled through the Abbasid caliph.
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945- Persian Buyids (Shia) capture Baghdad
(remember they had advised various Abbasid
caliphs). Abbasid rule became weak b/c of slave
armies and taxes so independent kingdoms formed
in former lands. Called themselves
sultans. 1055-Seljuk Turks (Sunnis) ruled in
name of Abbasid caliphs like the Buyids 1096-1099
First Christian Crusade, 1099 Jerusalem taken and
Muslim/ Jewish inhabitants massacred. 12th
century Muslims united under Saladin
(Salah-ud-Din) and they reconquered. Last
crusader kingdom fell with fall of Acre in
1291 1206 Delhi sultanate in India Mahmud of
Ghazni (Turkish slave dynasty who seized
Afghanistan in 962) led expeditions and Muhammad
of Ghur who conquered (assassinated 1206 by
Qutb-ud-din Aibak who took power) 1258- Mongols
(Hulegu) captured Abbasid capital of Baghdad and
killed the 37 caliph. 1260- Ain Jalut-Mongols
defeated by Mamluks (Turkish slave army that
ruled Egypt) 1281 Ottoman dynasty
founded 1453-Ottomans capture Constantinople
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1402- Timur the lames invasions
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The Tiger

• Babur became the 1st Mughal emperor of India!
• He claimed heritage to rule parts of central Asia
  from Chinggis Khan (mothers side) and Timur
  (fathers side). However, his empire was quite
  small and realistically they kept losing many
  battles! ?
• He also lost some lands to the powerful Muslim
  Safavid dynasty in the early 1500s!
• He set his eyes on taking control of northern
  India which had been controlled by various Muslim
  dynasties out of Delhi. He was outnumbered 10 to
  1, plus the Lodi sultan (Ibrahim) had war
  elephants! Babur won by using cannons which
  panicked the elephants causing them to trample
  their own warriors! He also had superior
  firepower which allowed him great advantage too.
• By the end of 1530 Tiger was the ruler of
  northern India and was the founder of a new
  dynasty, the Mughal dynasty of India. They ruled
  various parts of India for some 300 years!

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• Three major Muslim dynasties of this time
  Ottoman Empire, the Safavid Empire, and the
  Mughal Empire
• They came to power after the fall of the Mongols
  and the harsh rule of Timur (power vacuum), they
  were created by warrior leaders, and were
  Turkish-speaking nomadic groups.
• The Mughals were successful because they relied
  on cannons and muskets whereas other armies were
  not as skilled yet in that technology!
• However the Mughals differed in that their
  conquest were not launched out of religious
  desires like the Ottoman and Safavid Empires
• Rival dynasties-sunni and shia split
• Science declined, but art/ architecture
  flourished! Exchange between the 3 Muslim empires

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Ottoman Empire (13-14 century)

• Prior to the rise of the Ottoman Empire Turkish
  peoples had played key roles in Abbasid Empire as
  soldiers and administrators
• Able to seize power because of the fall of the
  Seljuk Turks and invasion of Mongols starting in
  1243
• Eastern Anatolia turned into a chaotic state with
  warring Seljuk sultans and people fleeing
  Mongolian raids. One such group, Ottomans, began
  building a new empire in the western part of the
  Anatolia. They were named after their leader,
  Osman.
• By 1350s expanded beyond the Bosporus straits
  and in 1453 Ottoman sultan Mehmed II conquered
  Constantinople. Pillaged and looted for 3 days!
  Other sultans extended into Syria and Egypt while
  also expanding into Europe in the Balkan
  peninsula and Hungary! Ottomans captured major
  Mediterranean cities and began to control
  Mediterranean trade Rhodes, Crete, and Cyprus
  were all captured. The Ottomans also drove the
  Venetians and Genoese from Eastern Mediterranean
  and even threatened southern Italy with invasion.

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Fall of Constantinople Mehmed II

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Great Ottoman leaders

• Mehmed II (1432-1481) one of the greatest
  military geniuses of world history. He
  consolidated the expansion of the Ottoman Empire
  in Asia Minor and in 1453 organized the siege of
  Constantinople. He personally directed the
  combined land and naval assault and brilliantly
  improvised the tactics that led to the fall of
  the city. The fall of Constantinople to the
  Ottomans was a watershed.
• Suleiman the Magnificent (1520-1566) Dynastic
  Wars of Europe He entered into an alliance with
  Francis I of France to control the powers of
  Charles V of Spain and the Holy Roman Empire. He
  then captured places like Budapest and and really
  threatened Europe! The Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis
  in 1559 ended the conflict. The Habsburgs
  couldnt dislodge the Ottomans from Hungary while
  they fueled their New World wars. 1557 Spain and
  France declared bankruptcy ? Francis I son, Henry
  II, never forgave his father for abandoning him
  in France and sought to make Charles V (his
  jailer pay). He celebrated the treaty as a great
  victory and had a big feast and entertainment
  including a jousting tournament in which he
  died!!!!

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A State geared to warfare

• Importance of military leaders directly affected
  the economy. A warrior aristocracy developed
  where warriors were granted control over lands
  and peasants in order to support their households
  and military retainers
• Warrior aristocracy began to compete with
  religious leaders, administrators, and even the
  sultan for power (revenue and labor control)
• mid 15th century imperial forced made up of
  infantry divisions called Janissaires (many
  conscripted in conquered areas as adolescents).
  The boys were legally slaves even though they
  were well educated and converted to Islam. Some
  even served in palaces but the majority became
  Janissaries. (there when Constantinople was
  sacked)
• Controlled the artillery and firearms of the
  Ottoman war machine and became the most powerful
  component of the military. Began to want
  political influence and by the 16th century could
  depose the sultan and name which son would
  succeed him!

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Sultans and court

• Caliph was an absolute monarch, but realistically
  needed to work with the various fractions within
  the state and pit them against each other
  warrior elite, Janissaries, religious scholars,
  legal experts, traders- both Muslim and dhimmis
  people of the book-Christian and Jewish.
  Sultans were often capable rulers who had
  effective administration and gave tax relief to
  peoples
• As wealth and empire grew so too did the sultans
  lavish lifestyle with many wives and a large
  harems. The day to day administration was
  carried out by the large bureaucracy headed by
  the wazir (vizier). The vizier was the head of
  the administration and held more real power than
  the sultan. However, early sultans did like to
  lead their men into battle!
• Inherited succession problems like other Muslim
  empires (vague principles over succession ?) This
  could and did led to warfare! Muhammads lack of
  naming an heir would still plague Muslim empires
  well into the early modern period

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Constantinople Restored

• After Mehmed II sacked Constantinople in 1453 he
  then moved to restore the city to its former
  position of splendor. Specifically the Hagia
  Sophia. Improved the city via Muslim advancements
  in architecture. Each sultan created beautiful
  mosques and palaces like Suleymaniye built by
  Sulieman (Suleyman) the Magnificent.
• Schools, hospitals, mansions, rest houses, and
  gardens were built around the city to make it
  beautiful
• Built coffeehouses where men would come to
  gossip, read, and debate. These men like to smoke
  tobacco coming out of America. Merchants and
  artisans were members of guilds and the Ottoman
  regime regulated business, weights and
  measurements, and commercial exchange.
• Language switch from Arabic to Persian to Turkish
  
• Ottoman Empire combined European, African, and
  Asian peoples

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Problem of Ottoman Decline

• The decline of the Ottoman Empire was somewhat
  slow and went by in stages, however, the Ottoman
  Empire is a story of great success. The dynasty
  ruled for more than 600 years!!!! They ruled
  until the 20th century with internal revolts and
  pressures from Russia (Crimean War), Austria,
  Spain, and even the Safavid empires just to name
  a few.
• By 17th century the main power of the Ottoman
  Empire was in decline. As conquest diminished and
  lands were lost to enemies the Ottomans couldnt
  maintain its oversized bureaucracy and military ?
  Corruption followed and local officials began to
  retain more and more revenue from the sultan ?
  local officials also squeezed the peasants more
  for labor and taxes which cause peasant
  rebellions and peasants to flee! ? Changed how
  they treated potential princes where princes were
  kept like hostages instead of given military and
  political positionsmade them weak and
  inexperienced ? Decline of the caliber of the
  Ottoman rulers had devastating effects on
  governmentno more warrior/ rulers and the
  discipline of the government and armies decline
  while weak rulers gave into the pleasures of the
  palace drinking, drugs, and their harems!
• Battle of Lepanto in 1571 when the Spanish under
  King Philip II defeated them! Christian victory
  and marked the beginning of the Ottoman decline
  in European power politics ?

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Military Reverses

• Along with the political decline the military
  began to decline too. The Janissaries didnt want
  to give their power up and continued to control
  artillery and firearms, but failed to develop and
  keep up with the technology of their European
  counterparts ?
• West- light field artillery
• 1571 Battle of Lepanto ? -lost power on the sea
  in Eastern Mediterranean. Still launched an
  assault into N.Africa to preserve Islam there.
  Also, the Europeans were increasing ship
  technologies for Atlantic trade like galleons.
• Also failed to defeat the Portuguese from the
  Indian Ocean and the coast of Africa ? (worked
  with Indian allies)
• Portugal also imported from Africa directly into
  Portugal and thus cut out the middle man of the
  Muslim empire. The Ottomans no longer could tax
  the trade and make their critical revenue because
  Europeans made direct trade links to Africa and
  India
• The economy was only further set into decline
  because of the large amount of bullion that
  started to flow into the country from the
  Americas. The influx of bullion effected all
  countries including the Ottoman Empire and caused
  long term inflation in the already slow and
  declining economy ?
• The idea that what happened in Europe was of
  little consequence also negative effected the
  Ottomans. They failed to recognize the
  revolutionary advances going on in Europe as such
  the Ottomans didnt develop a strong country that
  could resist European dominance ?

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Battle of Lepanto 2nd painting obviously a
Christian perspective!
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Shia Challenge of the Safavids

• First years of the 16th century the Safavids
  founded a dynasty that ruled in modern day Iran
  restoring the Persian empire. They became the
  political power, culturally creative, and the
  center of Shiism! (Remember the Buyids from
  Persia were Shia)
• They were frontier warriors that spread a
  militant form of Islam. They were also Turkish
  nomadic peoples who took advantage of the power
  vacuum created after the Mongols and Timur (much
  like the Ottomans)
• Safavids were Shia while Ottomans were Sunni!!
• Sunni believed the 1st 3 caliphs (Bakr, Umar,
  and Uthman) vs. Shia ( Ali Mohammads cousin/
  son-in law succession)
• Over time the difference between Sunni and Shia
  became much more than just succession, but also
  doctrine, ritual, and law disagreements!
• Also, division started within the different sects
  too
• The Ottoman vs. Safavid became one of the most
  sectarian struggles in the history Islam
  (sectarian related to sect)

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• Safavid dynasty (Red Heads) were created from
  Sufi mystics and religious preachers
• Sail al-Din (leader and where name comes from)
  led a militant campaign to reform and spread
  Islam. Participated in fierce local fighting that
  killed the first 3 leaders.
• 1501 victory at TabrizIsmail named shah (or
  emperor) of Safavids
• The Safavids later conquered Persia and advanced
  into Iraq. They drove out the Ozbegs (their
  enemy) and even found success along the Ottoman
  border with conversion from Sunni to Shia!
• Chaldiran (Aug. 1514) epic battle between the
  Ottoman Sunni vs. Safavid Shia. This was fueled
  by Safavid persecution of Sunni and borderland
  support of Shia. While the Ottoman sultan called
  for the open slaughter of all Shias in the
  empire.
• Ismails forces were busy fighting in the east
  and therefore his full forces werent at the
  battle. While the Ottoman sultan, Selim, had
  muskets and cannons and his full forces were at
  the battle.
• Huge Safavid defeat!!! But the Ottomans were not
  able to conquer so the Safavids recovered.
  However, Safavid expansion westward stopped along
  with the expansion of Shiism too.

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Safavid ruler Shah Esmail(Ismail) killingUzbek
leader in battle, 1510
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Politics and War Under Safavid Shahs

• Ismail retreated to his palace after his defeat
  at Chaldiran to escapethis led to turmoil within
  the empire ? He was overthrown by Shah Tahmasp I
  (1534-1576) who moved to restore power and check
  the Turkish chiefs and Ozbegs (which he
  subsequently did).
• Shah Abbas I (1587-1629) (the great) was the shah
  during the height and prosperity of the Safavid
  empire. He created a warrior nobility out of the
  Turkish chiefs and allowed them control over
  villages with peasants providing food and labor
  for their needs. Powerful warriors also held key
  posts in the administration. They were seen as a
  threat so the Safavid leaders started to recruit
  Persian to work in court and imperial
  administration.
• Safavid leaders also start a similar practice to
  Ottomans with Janissaries. They have a slave army
  of young boys from southern Russia which they
  educate and convert. They hold power over
  firearms in the military and gain power. They
  begin to also hold political powers over time
  like the Janissaries.
• The Safavid also called on Europe for assistance
  against the Ottomans. The Sherley brothers from
  England taught the Safavids about cannons and
  muskets and the Safavids created special slave
  infantry and a special regiment of musketeers
  with the knowledge. This helps the Safavids to
  become stronger and promised security to its
  people.

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Shah Abbas I and Isfahan
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State and Religion-Safavids

• Turkish language gave way to use of Persian
  language.
• Safavid leaders took on Persian titles like
  padishah or king of kings
• Claimed to be divine or Shia imams descents of
  Ali
• Shia ideology modified to be a pillar of society
  and was upheld by the state
• -relied on Persian scholars
• -Mullahs- state supported mosque leaders who
  went along with the planned and direct state
  religion
• -Holy day of the weekFriday and they had to
  give sermons cursing the first 3 caliphs each
  Friday!
• Most Iranians converted to Shiism during the
  Safavid rule. Safavids also pressured other
  religions like Christians and Jews to convert.
• Religion- ideological and institutional support
  of Safavid dynasty. Religion became part of the
  Safavid peoples identity and culture had Shia
  religious celebrations and festivals that were
  only found in Safavid Shiism like the pilgrimage
  to Karbala in Iraq. These difference set Safavid
  Shiims apart for other Arab and Turkish
  neighbors.

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Elite Affluence and Artistic Splendor

• Safavid rulers built and restored the land and
  great cities. The greatest patron of art/
  architecture/ restoration was Shah Abbas I
• Shah Abbas I (1587-1629) created great mosques,
  public bath, gardens, roads, rest houses for
  merchants/ travelers, and even workshops where
  manufactured goods like silk and carpets were
  made. Abbas I also encouraged the economy by
  making trade and travel safer. He encouraged
  trade within the Safavid empire and also
  international trade with India, China, and Europe
  (Portuguese and later the Dutch and English
  became increasing familiar in the Persian Gulf
  and Arabian sea)
• Abbas I greatest projects were found in his
  capital at Isfahan.

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Society and Gender (Ottoman and Safavid)

• Both ruled by absolute monarchs and both had
  warrior aristocracy along with powerful slave
  armies! In both societies the demands by the
  warrior aristocracy on peasants created many
  problems and abuses. This led to banditry,
  peasant uprisings, and peasants fleeing.
• Both dynasties established imperial workshops
  were products like weapons, rugs, and silks were
  manufactured. Both created policies to encourage
  international trade. The Ottomans here proved
  more successful in the short run because they had
  more access (location and people with overseas
  trade links). The Safavid economy was not as
  developed as the Ottoman economy and remained
  backward.
• Both dynasties patronized the arts and
  architecture
• In both dynasties, women were disadvantaged
  legally and socially subordinate to fathers,
  husbands, no real political or religious power.
  In settled areas patriarchal and restrictive
  practices like seclusion and veiling were imposed
  on women, especially the elite! Evidence of a
  struggle where some women were found not to cover
  and to wear brightly colored garments. Many women
  active in trade and even money-lending. Wives and
  concubines influences rulers and princes. Court
  records reveal that women had Islam laws that
  protected their rights to inheritance, decent
  treatment by spouse, and divorce in extreme
  cases. However, these are exceptions and most
  women lived lives of low contact and full of
  domestic chores and hobbies. Women during these
  great Islamic civilizations disappeared from
  history ? ? ?

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The Rapid Demise of Safavids

• Shah Abbas I (1587-1629) reflected the Safavid
  Empire at its height. But the Safavid Empire
  would rapidly fall from powerdue in part to this
  great and wise shah ?
• Abbas I fear was to be overthrown (usurped) by
  his sons. With conspiracy theories feed to him
  like honey from his advisors, Abbas I reacted
  with violence. He killed or blinded all who could
  legitimately succeed him (remind of you of
  perhaps Ivan IV???)
• Abbas I had a very weak grandson who was placed
  on the throne after his death b/c it was thought
  that he could be easily manipulated ? Princes
  started to kept in the court much like in the
  Ottoman Empire which led to the decline in the
  quality of ruler! There were other able shahs
  like Abbas II (1642-1666) but they were too few
  of them to halt the decline of the empire!
  Factional disputes, rebellions within in empire
  while nomadic raiders, Ottomans, and Mughals
  armies took lands!
• March 1722 Isfahan attacked by Afghani tribes. By
  October 80,000 people in the city died ? With the
  fall of Isfahan the Safavid Empire ended.
• Nadir Khan Afshar tried to restore the Safavid
  Empire and proclaimed himself shah in
  1736short-lived though. The area of the Safavid
  Empire became a battleground for neighbors!

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Mughals and Apex of Muslim India

• India was a very diverse area and much larger
  than we think of it today. There were many, many
  kingdoms controlled by local princes.
• Muslims started their advance in 711 with the
  conquest under the Umayyads of the Sind Kingdom
• Then during the time period of the Abbasid Empire
  an Afghani slave army broke free of Abbasid
  control and began raiding into north India
• From 1206-1526 these Afghani Muslim leaders
  established a kingdom in north India Delhi
  Sultanate
• Under the Delhi Sultanate Islam continued
  progressing well into India and South East Asia.
  However, India had a much longer and very complex
  society and religion. Hinduism continued to be
  the main religion of India and from time to time
  conflict occurred between the two religions.
• The last century of the Delhi Sultante the sultan
  began to lose much power and many territories
  broke free of their control to form independent
  territories both Hindu and Muslim kingdoms
  formed (Gujerat, Malwa, Bengal muslim kingdoms)

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Mughal Dynasty

• Islam reached its peak in South Asia under the
  Mughal dynasty created by Babur in 1526
• Babur was a Turkish chieftain who was driven out
  of his lands by rival chieftains. His goal was
  always to retake Ferghana. However, as he tried
  to take back the kingdom, the Safavid Empire
  expanded cutting off his advance ?
• Babur expanded into N. Indian in order to gain
  booty to finance various campaigns to retake his
  lost kingdom, Ferghana. But they wars to retake
  Ferghana were unsuccessful so Babur decided to
  focus on India and to expand there. He defeated
  the Lodi Sultan of Delhi Delhi Sultanate. The
  Lodi Sultan had many more men and a large
  elephant force. He should have easily conquered
  Babur. However, Babur had firearms and during the
  conflict the sound scared the elephants who ended
  up actually getting confused and turning on their
  own army!
• Babur then conquered the Indus/ Ganges plains and
  began the Mughal dynasty in India that would rule
  parts of India for over 300 years!
• Babur was dynamic he was a fierce soldier/ great
  military strategist/ musician/ patron of art/
  even wrote histories and designed garden!
• Humayan-in 1530 Humayan the son of Babur took
  over rule at 18. Babur unexpectedly died at 48
  (he fell ill and died within days). With a very
  young son on the throne enemies quickly began to
  strike at the kingdom (Brothers, rajputs, and
  even Afghanis)! By 1540 Humayan was force to flee
  his empire and lived in the Safavid court in
  Persia. From there he began fighting his enemies.
  By 1556 Humayan restored Mughal rule in India in
  Delhi. He then started a campaign of expansion,
  but it was cut short! He fell down the steps of
  his library with books in hand on his way to
  prayer. He hit his head on the steps and died
  within days!

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Babur Akbar
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Akbar

• Ruled India at the same time that Elizabeth I
  ruled England, Philip II ruled Spain, and
  Suleyman the Magnificent ruled the Ottoman
  Empire! Akbar was one of the greatest rulers of
  all world history and fit within the other rulers
  of time.
• Akbar succeeded his father Humayan at 13 years
  after his unexpected fall. Being so young the
  Mughal enemies again fixes themselves to pounce!
  However, even at a young age Akbar proved to be a
  genius commander.
• Known for territorial and political
  centralization
• Akbar slept only about 3 hrs a night and worked
  constantly on improving the Mughal Empire
• -mission to unite India under 1 rule
• -personally oversaw building of military and
  administrative systems that were more effective ?
  Divided Empire into provinces, districts, and
  subdistricts. Started to pay some officials in
  money instead of land. Reformed the revenue
  collection of the country
• - patron of the arts
• -made important social reforms like encouraging
  intermarriage between Muslims and Indians,
  abolished the jizya or head tax on non-believers,
  made Muslims respect the scared Hindu cow, and
  promoted Hindus to higher offices in government.
• -policy of reconciliation and cooperation with
  Hindu princes and people. Would conquer Muslim
  kingdoms and depose leaders, but worked with
  rajputs who submitted to his power. He could pit
  the rajputs against powerful Turkish commanders
  and balance the powers of the empire better!

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Akbar

• Conquered the Muslim kingdoms of Gujerat,
  Malwa, and Bengal
• Akbar also married various rajput Hindu
  princesses to make alliance stick.
• New faith, Din-i-Ilahi, wasnt accepted by either
  Muslims nor Hindus ? Akbar thought it would unite
  his people and end conflict especially dealing
  with religion
• Mughals also had a warrior aristocracy given land
  grants with peasants forced to support them in
  return for loyalty and cavalry
• Revenue was gained via tribute and taxes
• Hindus held power if they swore allegiance to
  Mughals

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Social Reforms and Change

• Akbar Public works projects, improved the
  calendar, created living quarters for beggars/
  vagabonds, regulated consumption of alcohol (son
  alcoholic)
• Encouraged women to remarry if they were widows,
  prohibited the sati (?), was against child
  marriages (no law b/c it was so popular with
  elite), tried to work against the purdah or
  seclusion of women
• Akbar died in 1605 and outlived friends and
  family to see his sons fighting over the throne
  and the failture of Din-i-Ilahi. His successors
  (Jahangir/ Shah Jahan) were alive during the peak
  of the Mughal Empire, but were more interested in
  the pleasures of life and art rather than leading
  well (more poverty, less innovation/ science,
  less discipline esp. with soldiers!

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Jahangir and Shah Jahan

• Under their leadership the massive expansion of
  the Mughal dynasty and the centralization of the
  government continued.
• They conquered Muslim kingdoms of the Deccan AND
  made the powerful Muslim kingdoms of Bijapurt and
  Golkunda vassals to the Mughal Empire.
• They were best known for their love of art and
  architecture. There were many famous buildings
  constructed during their reigns.

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Mughal Splendor and Early European Contacts

• Developed trade during the 17th century with
  Europe! Remember the 7 Years War and the Black
  Hole of Calcutta
• India became known for its various industries,
  especially cotton! They made the best cotton in
  the world and our names for fabric are related
  directly to India
• Calico-(1494-1505) (a printed cotton cloth)
  Indian city of Calicut cloth
• Chintz-(1605-1615) (printed or glazed cotton
  fabric, typically bright
• Muslin-(1600) loosely woven cotton fabric
• Pajamas- (1870-1875) India loose fitting
  trouser
• Cotton was popular in Europe because it was
  cheap, colorful, and easy to wash.

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Artistic Achievement-Mughals

• Jahangir/ Shah Jahan continued with government
  and fought enemies while expanding the
  empire-much due to what Akbar had established.
  However, they were more interested in the good
  like drinking, female dancers, pleasure gardens,
  polo matches (Indian), ox, tiger, elephant
  fights, pachisi (life size version), fashion, and
  court ceremonies
• Jahangir and Shah Jahan were some of the greatest
  patron of art/ architecture in history of the
  world. They expanded painting workshops, build
  the Taj Mahal, Red Fort at Delhi, Akbars tomb at
  Sikandra blended Persian and Indian traditions
  with a fuse of Islamic traditions. They desired
  to created a paradise on Earth.

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Taj Mahal
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Red Fort at Delhi
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Akbars Tomb Sikandra
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Court Politics and Position of Elite/ Women

• Jahangir/ Shah Jahan did not handle the day to
  day administration of the Mughal government
  instead they left this to their bureaucrats.
  While they were focused on the pleasures of life
  their wives strove to influence their reigns and
  gain power.
• -Nur Jahan (light of the world) married
  Jahangir. She was a widow who later moved to the
  court and he noticed her beauty and decided she
  should be one of his wives. She was very
  intelligent and capable and became the true
  leader behind the powers of the sultan. Jahangir
  had became addicted to wine and opium and Nur
  Jahan took power in the court by placing
  relatives in important positions. She was a great
  patron to the arts and charity.
• -Mumtaz Mahal (Shah Jahans wife) He loved her
  and was so devoted that he built the Taj Mahal
  for her. In 1631 Mumtaz died around the age of 40
  giving birth to her 19th child! Shah Jahan said
  Empire has no sweetness and life has no relish
  for me now. To enshrine his wives memory, he
  ordered a tomb be built as beautiful as she was
  beautiful. Fine white marble and fabulous jewels
  were gathered from all over Asia while a
  workforce of 20,000 individuals worked for 22
  years to build the famous tomb called the Taj
  Mahal! Shah Jahan also built the Red Fort at
  Delhi and the Peacock Throne (priceless seat of
  gold encrusted with diamonds, rubies, emeralds,
  and pearls).
• Status of women declined lower age for child
  marriage (9), sati back, seclusion for elite
  women increased, Muslim women had to be veiled,
  and negative effects of dowry caused female birth
  to be looked down upon whereas boys were
  celebrated ?

39
Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal (moom-tahz)

• Nur Jahan the wife of Jahangir was basically
  ruling the state. She didnt have sons so
  Jahangirs other male children began to fight for
  the powers of the state. One son, Khusrau, even
  tried to usurp his father and take the throne by
  force. He unsuccessfully tried to murder his
  father. When Khusrau rebelled against his father,
  he turned to the Sikhs. This was a nonviolent
  religious group whose doctrines blended Buddhism,
  Hinduism, and Sufism (Islamic mysticism). Their
  leader, Guru Arjun, sheltered Khusrau and
  defended him. In response, the Mughal rulers had
  Arjun arrested and tortured to death. The Sikhs
  thus became the target of the Mughals particular
  hatred! Later, Khusrau was partially blinded by
  his father as punishment for the rebellion. Then,
  Shah Jahan won favor to with the help of his Nur
  Jahan. All possible rivals were assassinated. Nur
  Jahan then changed her support which led to Shah
  Jahan imprisioning her once he ascended to the
  throne.
• Shan Jahan built the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort at
  Delhi, and the Peacock Throne (priceless seat of
  gold encrusted with diamonds, rubies, emeralds,
  and pearls). While Shah Jahan built these
  magnificent buildings his people suffered. When
  Shah Jahan became ill in 1657 his four sons
  fought for the throne, Aurangzeb executed his
  older brother (his most serious rival), arrested
  and imprisoned his father, and seized power. Shah
  Jahan died a few years later in prison where it
  was said that he had a mirror in his cell that he
  would angle so that he could gaze upon the Taj
  Mahal.

40
Taj Mahal
41
Imperial Decline-Mughals

• Shah Jahan and Jahangir neglected the Mughal
  state
• -bureaucracy became bloated and corrupt
• -productivity and standard of living declined
• Aurangzeb (awr-uhng-zehb) seized power and
  imprisoned his father. He extended the empire and
  built the empire to its greatest size, but power
  weakened too! Aurangzeb oppressed the people by
  rigidly enforcing Islamic laws-outlawing
  drinking, gambling, and other vices ? He
  appointed censors to police his subjects morals
  and make sure they prayed at the appointed times.
  He tried to erase all Hindu gains, banned new
  construction of Hindu temples, and had Hindu
  monuments destroyed! He brought back the hated
  jizya (tax) on non-Muslim ? ? This pretty much
  outraged most Hindus around India.
• Hindu Rajputs, whom Akbar converted from enemies
  to allies rebelled against him! Aurangzeb
  defeated them repeatedly, but never completely.
  In the southwest, militant Hindus, called
  Marattas founded their own breakaway state.
  Aurangzeb captured their leader, but the Marattas
  turned to guerrilla warfare. Aurangzeb could
  never conquer them. Meanwhile the Sikhs
  transformed themselves into a militant
  brotherhood. They began building a state in the
  Punjab (northwest India). Aurangzeb had to levy
  heavy burdening taxes on the people to pay for
  these wars. He had abolished all taxes not
  authorized by Islamic law so he ended up doubling
  the taxes on Hindu merchants. This increased
  bitterness and led to further rebellions.
  Aurangzeb need ever increasing funds for his
  army. The more land he conquered the more
  desperate his situation became!

42
Aurangzeb (1658-1707)

• Closest to achieving chakravartin (bringing all
  of India under one king)
• Problems constant warfare, which led to
  increases of taxes, and he was away fighting
  instead of being in the capital to make sure
  everything was done correctly. Main problems were
  social and economic issues!
• Rajputs of Marwar rebelled against Aurangzeb over
  issue of Aurangzeb annexing their lands. Punjab
  sikhs rebelled over land and independence, and
  the Marathas also fought the Mughals.
• Aurangzeb didnt loses any territory and was able
  to contain these rebellions like with the
  Marathas in the battle of Panipat in 1761 were he
  defeated them just north of Delhi.
• 30 years after his reign independent states start
  to break off the Mughal Empire (1) governors had
  too many powers from the state and no longer
  listen to the sultan and became independent (2)
  entire provinces started to break free like
  Deccan, Oudh, and Bengal.
• Also, around this time the French and British
  show up in India to make commercial claims. The
  British East India Company works with local
  rajputs and gains grounds that way. So as the
  Mughal dynasty was receding, the local rajputs
  were growing in power, and the British were
  forging powerful alliances and building up their
  presence in India. Black Hole of Calcutta

43
Global Connections

• Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires were similar
  to the growth of Russia and China (they too had
  Muslim populations, absolute rule, centralized
  state, and expansion based on new military
  techniques
• Muslim empire retained active trade from Middle
  East, Africa, India, to Asia (slaves, spices,
  etc)
• Silver from the Americas flowed into areas like
  Asia to pay for luxury goods
• Europe became increasingly assertive by
  establishing merchant groups with their own laws
  not subject to state law!
• Technology and science slowed in Muslim empires
• Muslim empires didnt feel that Europe was a
  threat! The lack of meeting the growth of Europe
  led to their destruction and the weakening of
  their economies.
• Muslim empires couldnt compete politically or
  militarily with Europe
• Mughal decline opened the door for European
  control in India (British/ French Black Hole of
  Calcutta)