Mughal Empire and its founders

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Mughal Empire and its founders
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The transition from Sultanate to Mughal Period c.
1500s

• The integration of South Asia into the Mughal
  domains was very gradual
• Mughal rule was built not only on the surviving
  administrative features of the Sultanate, but
  also traditions borrowed from Central Asias
  Timurid states (see Map)
• By the time the Mughals come to India in 1526,
  Sultanate culture had become indigenized to a
  vast extent

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Sultanate-era Influences

• Adoption of Indian language, dress, cultural
  norms among the Afghan-Turkish elite
• Intermarriage between ruling families
• The use of Persianate vocabulary in common speech
• The existence of composite theological
  borrowings, but also of new traditions that went
  beyond a hybrid or syncretic approach, ex.
  Sikhism and Guru Nanak
• The Imperial structure of the empire was laid by
  the third Emperor, Akbar, but the reign of the
  first two emperors is very significant to
  understanding the choices made by Akbar.

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Zahir ud-din Mohamad Babur, b.1484/ r. 1526-1530

• Ruler of the Farghana Valley in Afghanistan,
  descended from both Timur (Tamerlame) and Ghengis
  Khan. He comes to the throne at age 12.
• Early rule in Afghanistan beset with troubles
  with the Uzbeki tribe, and occasional support by
  the Persian Emperor Shah Ismail. By the time he
  was 15, he would have won and lost Ferghana
  twice, and eventually started a new kingdom in
  Kabul.
• Intimate knowledge of his life from Baburnama,
  Begum Gulbadans work, other histories

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• Babur reading his memoirs

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• Baburs life appears heavily influenced by some
  of the changes sweeping through the Timurid
  Khanates
• Persianization of culture, shift from peripatetic
  to fixed courts
• Early adoption of Guns and canons to cavalry and
  siege tactics
• The new emphasis on courtly life mirroring the
  cultivation of an inner spiritual, aesthetic,
  cultivated world (sp. Use of Persian)
• Close relationships among the young begs,
  Turkish/timurid nobility

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Ferghana Valley
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Early Conquests and motivations

• Clearly not as concerned about creating an empire
  as on reclaiming the Fergana valley
• Intentions towards South Asia were mixed
• In 1519 Babur first invades India, seizes Bajaur
  in the Northwest, but goes no further. He sends
  an envoy to Ibrahim Lodi, the Sultan at Delhi to
  give him the Panjab province, but gets no reply.
• Successive battles in Kabul and Lahore, defending
  his own territories distract Babur from his
  original target.

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First Battle of Panipat, April 21 1526

• Early capitulation of the governor of Lahore
  crucial
• Odds of Mughal victory unevenabout 12000 men v.
  Lodi army of about 100, 000 plus 1000 war
  elephants
• Strategy was innovative and relied on new cannons
  and flanking cavalry movements
• Treasure from the Lodi conquests very important
  to attracting help from other Turkish Begs,
  securing main cities of Delhi and Agra

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Baburs Short Reign

• Sources reflect the efforts of attempting to
  adapt to new, south asian environment were
  difficult
• Considerable worries about the support of the
  Begs that mirror the problems of the iqta system
• Babur does put in considerable effort into
  sorting out questions of succession and division
  of duties within the royal family
• Attempts to collect information about local
  customs, society, flora, fauna
• Plants new gardens, orders the creation of new
  buildings that signal an acceptance of India as
  the new base of his empire
• Short and unexpected death curtail Baburs plans
  and also our knowledge of his intentions.

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Humayun, 1508/r.1530-1556

• Babars fours sonsHumayun, Kamran, Askari, and
  Hindal all compete with each other, even though
  they inherit different regions in the north west.
• Humayun himself relies on persuasion rather than
  orders
• Women of the court take a primary role in
  mediating disputes, making alliances, preserving
  the Empire
• Humayun has to deal with simultaneous rebellions
  in Gujrat and Bihar, along with troubles with his
  brothers
• Makes the fatal error of moving too many troops
  to Gujrat, allowing Sher Shah Suri of Bihar to
  quickly establish control over the east

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Conq. by Babur
Base for Suri
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How Humayun lost his Empire

• In 1535 moves to Gujrat to annex kingdom of
  Bahadur Shah, has useful seaports
• During the next five years Sher Shah Suri uses
  his base in Bihar to forge an Afghan-Rajput
  alliance and capture Bengal
• Humayun marches back to the Gangetic plain and
  loses key battles in Chausa (1539) and Kanauj
  (1540)
• Goes to Persia in exile.

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Who is Sher Shah Suri?

• Sher Shah completely reorganizes the iqta
  system, and classifies and records the land
  assignments.
• He encourages trade by making roads, carvanserais
  (rest-stops), and imposing law and order on major
  trade routes.
• For five short years, 1540-45, his conquests are
  brought into the framework of a well-run state.
• When Sher Shah dies, his descendent are unable to
  hold on to their gains.
• His reforms are copied by Akbar

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Humayuns comeback

• Long years of exile in Persia
• Birth of Akbar and influence of this early period
• Struggles of Humayun with addiction to alcohol
  and opiumdelegation of powers to important Begs
  (chiefs), Begums (Royal Women)
• 1555, with help of Begs and Persian Emperor, new
  in-laws regains Afghanistan, Lahore
• Difficult choices about Kamran
• Sudden death in fall from library steps

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Consequences of these Early Years

• Great emphasis within the family of preserving
  Timurid traditions, particularly among women, yet
  ambivalent feelings on this by Akbar, Humayuns
  successor
• Signals early power struggle between family,
  Begs, and Emperor
• Explains some of the innovative and radical
  choices made by Akbar in his own reforms

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Influences on Akbar

• Designation of an heir, their education and
  mentoring, emphasis on hands-on experience
• Emphasis on adapting to local, south Asian
  traditions
• Balancing the influence of family with a
  bureaucratic administration
• Emphasizing a cult of loyalty to the emperor
• Perhaps even explains his ambivalent
  relationships with Timurid origins, esp. female
  relatives