SSC History Mughal Empire PPT Slides Download (LEC #17)

In this article we are going to share SSC History Mughal Empire PPT Slides Download (LEC #17) so, The Mughal Empire (1526–1857 AD) is the most important and richest chapter in SSC Medieval and Modern Indian History. For three centuries, the Mughals created one of the world’s most magnificent civilisations – leaving behind the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, a sophisticated administrative system, a flourishing of art and literature, and a cultural synthesis that defines much of Indian identity to this day.

This article is built around the SSC History Mughal Empire PPT Slides – Lecture #17 – the ABSOLUTE LARGEST PPT in the Complete Foundation Batch series, with a record-breaking 326 slides and 92 MB (Serial Number #42) at slideshareppt.net. The size of this PPT reflects exactly how important and exam-dense this chapter is – SSC CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO, and Railways NTPC collectively draw 6–10 questions from the Mughal Empire chapter in every exam cycle.

From Babur’s artillery revolution at Panipat in 1526 to Aurangzeb’s Deccan quagmire and the final collapse – every emperor, every battle, every reform, every monument, and every cultural achievement is covered in this comprehensive guide.

About the PPT Slides

Detail	Information
Series Name	Complete Foundation Batch for All SSC and Other Exams (PPT Series)
Subject	Medieval Indian History – Mughal Empire (मुगल साम्राज्य)
Lecture Number	Lecture #17
Total PPT Slides	326 PPT Slides – ABSOLUTE LARGEST in the entire series
File Size	92 MB
Serial Number	#42
Period Covered	1526 AD (First Battle of Panipat) to 1857 AD (formal end of Mughal Empire)
Best For	SSC CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO, GD, Railways NTPC, UPSC Prelims, State PSCs
Source Website	slideshareppt.net

SSC History Mughal Empire PPT Slides Download (LEC #17)

Note: If you wish to download the entire SSC series (PPT slides), simply visit this redirect page. –REDIRECT PAGE

Complete Timeline Table: Mughal Empire – All Key Dates

This is the most comprehensive timeline in SSC Medieval History. Every row has generated multiple SSC MCQs. Memorise rulers, dates, and key events until they become automatic.

Year (AD)	Event	Ruler / Person	Key SSC Fact
1526	First Battle of Panipat – Babur defeats Ibrahim Lodi	Babur vs Ibrahim Lodi	21 April 1526; Babur uses artillery for first time in India; Delhi Sultanate ends; Mughal Empire begins
1527	Battle of Khanwa – Babur defeats Rana Sanga	Babur vs Rana Sanga (Sangram Singh) of Mewar	Rajput resistance to Mughal rule crushed; Babur takes title ‘Ghazi’ (holy warrior)
1528	Battle of Chanderi – Babur defeats Medini Rai	Babur vs Medini Rai (Chandela chief, Chanderi)	Chanderi captured; Rajput resistance further weakened
1529	Battle of Ghaghra – Babur defeats Afghan chiefs	Babur vs Afghan chiefs (Bihar and Bengal)	Last major battle of Babur; Afghan resistance in east suppressed
1530	Death of Babur at Agra; Humayun succeeds	Babur (died at Agra, age 47)	Babur wrote Baburnama (autobiography in Turki/Chagatai Turkish) – the first true autobiography in Indian literary tradition
1530–1540	Humayun’s first reign	Humayun	Fought brothers (Kamran, Askari, Hindal); weak administration; lost empire to Sher Shah Suri
1539	Battle of Chausa – Humayun defeated by Sher Shah Suri	Humayun vs Sher Shah Suri	Humayun narrowly escaped by swimming the Ganga; Sher Shah becomes supreme
1540	Battle of Kannauj (Bilgram) – Humayun completely defeated	Humayun vs Sher Shah Suri	Humayun loses the empire completely; goes into exile for 15 years; Sher Shah becomes emperor
1540–1545	Sher Shah Suri – the great interregnum	Sher Shah Suri (Sur dynasty)	Grand Trunk Road; postal system; revenue reforms; Rupiya (silver coin); defeated Humayun twice; died in Kalinjar fort explosion 1545
1545	Death of Sher Shah Suri in explosion at Kalinjar Fort	Sher Shah Suri	Died in an accidental gunpowder explosion at Kalinjar Fort (Madhya Pradesh) during a siege
1555	Humayun regains Delhi – Battle of Sirhind (Machhiwara)	Humayun vs Sikandar Shah Sur	Humayun regains his lost empire after 15 years in exile; crosses from Persia through Afghanistan
1556	Humayun dies – falls from library stairs	Humayun	Fell down the stairs of his library (Sher Mandal) at Purana Qila, Delhi; Akbar succeeds at age 13
1556	Second Battle of Panipat – Akbar (Bairam Khan) defeats Hemu	Akbar (with regent Bairam Khan) vs Hemu (Vikramaditya)	Hemu (a Hindu general serving Sur dynasty) briefly controlled Delhi; defeated by Akbar; last real challenge to Mughal rule in North India
1556–1605	Akbar’s reign – the greatest Mughal emperor	Akbar (Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar)	Mansabdari system; Ibadat Khana; Din-i-Ilahi; Sulh-i-Kul; Fatehpur Sikri; Navaratna; Todarmal’s land revenue; Rajput matrimonial alliances
1562	Akbar abolishes slavery	Akbar	Among several religious and social reforms; also abolished forced labour (begar)
1563	Akbar abolishes pilgrim tax on Hindu pilgrims	Akbar	Progressive religious tolerance policy
1564	Akbar abolishes Jizya (tax on non-Muslims)	Akbar	Major statement of religious tolerance; first Delhi ruler to abolish Jizya since its imposition
1571	Akbar begins construction of Fatehpur Sikri	Akbar	New capital near Agra; built to honour Sufi saint Sheikh Salim Chishti (who predicted the birth of Salim/Jahangir); capital until 1585
1575	Akbar builds Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri	Akbar	House of Worship – where scholars of all religions (Muslim, Hindu, Jain, Christian, Parsi, Sikh) debated; showed Akbar’s genuine intellectual curiosity about all faiths
1579	Akbar issues the Infallibility Decree (Mahzar)	Akbar	Declared himself the final arbiter in religious matters in India – not the Caliph of Baghdad; gave him supreme religious authority
1582	Akbar announces Din-i-Ilahi (Divine Faith)	Akbar	A syncretic religious movement blending elements from Islam, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Jainism; had very few followers; NOT a new religion but a philosophical school; Birbal was the only Hindu to join
1585	Akbar moves capital from Fatehpur Sikri to Lahore	Akbar	Fatehpur Sikri abandoned – possibly due to water shortage; Lahore became capital for northwest campaigns
1600	Queen Elizabeth I grants charter to British East India Company	East India Company (England)	Marks the beginning of British commercial interest in India
1605	Death of Akbar; Jahangir succeeds	Akbar (died at Agra)	Akbar’s greatest achievements summarised in Abul Fazl’s Ain-i-Akbari and Akbarnama
1605–1627	Jahangir’s reign	Jahangir (Salim) – Nuruddin Muhammad Jahangir	Married Nur Jahan (greatest influence); Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri (his memoirs); Thomas Roe (British ambassador 1615); great patron of miniature painting
1611	Jahangir marries Mehr-un-Nissa (Nur Jahan)	Jahangir + Nur Jahan	Nur Jahan = ‘Light of the World’; became the most powerful woman in Mughal history; effectively co-ruled the empire; her name appeared on coins and farmans
1615	Thomas Roe arrives at Jahangir’s court	Thomas Roe – British ambassador	First official British ambassador to the Mughal court; sent by King James I; sought trading rights for the East India Company; stayed until 1619
1627–1658	Shah Jahan’s reign – ‘Golden Age of Mughal Architecture’	Shah Jahan (Shahab-ud-din Muhammad Khurram)	Taj Mahal; Red Fort (Delhi); Jama Masjid; Peacock Throne; captured by son Aurangzeb and imprisoned at Agra Fort
1631	Death of Mumtaz Mahal; Shah Jahan begins Taj Mahal	Shah Jahan + Mumtaz Mahal	Mumtaz Mahal died giving birth to their 14th child; Shah Jahan built Taj Mahal in her memory
1632–1653	Taj Mahal constructed at Agra	Shah Jahan + Chief architect Ustad Ahmad Lahauri	22 years to build; 20,000 workers; finest Mughal architecture; UNESCO World Heritage Site; one of Seven Wonders of the Modern World
1638	Red Fort (Lal Qila) construction begins at Delhi	Shah Jahan	Completed 1648; Shah Jahan shifts capital from Agra to Delhi (Shahjahanabad)
1648	Shah Jahan shifts capital from Agra to Delhi (Shahjahanabad)	Shah Jahan	The new city of Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) built; Red Fort and Jama Masjid its centrepieces
1658	Aurangzeb defeats Shah Jahan’s sons; imprisons Shah Jahan	Aurangzeb (Muhiuddin Muhammad Aurangzeb)	War of succession among Shah Jahan’s four sons (Dara Shikoh, Shah Shuja, Aurangzeb, Murad); Aurangzeb wins; Shah Jahan imprisoned at Agra Fort until his death in 1666
1658–1707	Aurangzeb’s reign – the last great Mughal emperor	Aurangzeb (Alamgir – ‘World Conqueror’)	Reimposed Jizya; destroyed temples; Deccan campaigns; Fatwa-i-Alamgiri; longest reign; empire at greatest extent but also beginning of decline
1675	Aurangzeb orders execution of Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur	Aurangzeb	Guru Tegh Bahadur (9th Sikh Guru) executed for refusing to convert to Islam; his son Guru Gobind Singh becomes 10th Guru and transforms Sikhism militarily
1680	Shivaji founds the Maratha Empire (officially)	Shivaji Maharaj	Shivaji is the greatest challenge to Aurangzeb’s Deccan ambitions; founded an independent Hindu Maratha kingdom
1686–1707	Aurangzeb’s Deccan campaigns – the fatal quagmire	Aurangzeb	Spent his last 25 years personally campaigning in the Deccan; destroyed the Bijapur and Golconda Sultanates (1686–1687); but Maratha guerrilla warfare wore down the Mughal army; Aurangzeb died in Deccan (1707) having achieved nothing decisive
1707	Death of Aurangzeb at Ahmadnagar	Aurangzeb	Died at 88 in the Deccan; left a depleted treasury, a weakened army, and a fractured empire; rapid Mughal decline follows
1739	Nadir Shah invades India; sacks Delhi	Nadir Shah (Persian ruler)	Defeats Muhammad Shah (Mughal); takes Peacock Throne and Kohinoor diamond to Persia; Delhi massacre; Mughal prestige shattered forever
1761	Third Battle of Panipat – Maratha defeat	Ahmad Shah Abdali vs Marathas	Maratha expansion halted; Mughals and Marathas both weakened
1857	Last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar exiled	Bahadur Shah Zafar II	After the 1857 Revolt (First War of Indian Independence); exiled to Rangoon (Myanmar) by the British; Mughal Empire formally ends

All Mughal Emperors – Quick Reference Table

Emperor	Period	Nickname / Title	Capital	Key Achievement / SSC Fact
Babur	1526–1530	Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur – ‘Founder’	Agra	First Battle of Panipat (1526); introduced artillery to India; wrote Baburnama in Turkish
Humayun	1530–1540, 1555–1556	‘Unlucky’ – lost and regained empire	Agra → Exile → Agra/Delhi	Lost to Sher Shah (Chausa 1539, Kannauj 1540); regained 1555; died falling from library stairs 1556
Akbar	1556–1605	‘The Great’ – greatest Mughal emperor	Agra → Fatehpur Sikri → Lahore → Agra	Mansabdari system; Din-i-Ilahi; Sulh-i-Kul; Navaratna; abolished Jizya; Fatehpur Sikri
Jahangir	1605–1627	‘World Conqueror’ (Jahangir = World Conqueror)	Agra	Nur Jahan (co-ruler); Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri; Thomas Roe (British ambassador); miniature painting
Shah Jahan	1627–1658	‘King of the World’; Shah = King, Jahan = World	Agra → Shahjahanabad (Delhi)	Taj Mahal; Red Fort; Jama Masjid; Peacock Throne; imprisoned by Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb	1658–1707	Alamgir (World Conqueror); also Zinda Pir (Living Saint)	Aurangabad (mostly in Deccan)	Reimposed Jizya; temple destruction; Fatwa-i-Alamgiri; longest reign; executed Guru Tegh Bahadur; Deccan wars killed the empire
Bahadur Shah I	1707–1712	Shah Alam I	Delhi	First post-Aurangzeb ruler; empire in rapid decline
Farrukhsiyar	1713–1719	–	Delhi	Gave East India Company important trading privileges (Firman of 1717)
Muhammad Shah	1719–1748	‘Rangila’ (pleasure-loving)	Delhi	Nadir Shah’s invasion (1739) – Peacock Throne taken; Kohinoor diamond taken
Shah Alam II	1759–1806	–	Delhi (nominal)	Battle of Buxar (1764); accepted British protection; Mughal emperor became a British pensioner
Bahadur Shah Zafar II	1837–1858	Last Mughal emperor	Delhi	Led the 1857 Revolt symbolically; captured by British; exiled to Rangoon; Mughal Empire formally ends

Part I: Babur (1526–1530 AD) – The Empire’s Founder

Aspect	Detail
Full Name	Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur
Origin	Born 1483 in Ferghana (modern Uzbekistan); descended from Timur (Tamerlane) on his father’s side and Genghis Khan on his mother’s side
First Battle of Panipat (1526)	Fought on 21 April 1526; Babur vs Ibrahim Lodi (last Delhi Sultan); Babur won using field artillery (tofkhana) and the flanking tactic (tulughma); Ibrahim Lodi killed; Delhi Sultanate ends, Mughal Empire begins
Battle of Khanwa (1527)	Fought on 17 March 1527; Babur vs Rana Sanga (Sangram Singh) of Mewar – the most powerful Rajput ruler; Rana Sanga led a huge coalition; Babur won by superior tactics and artillery; Babur called himself ‘Ghazi’ (holy warrior) after this victory
Battle of Chanderi (1528)	Babur vs Medini Rai (a Rajput chief at Chanderi fort, MP); Chanderi captured
Battle of Ghaghra (1529)	Babur vs Afghan chiefs of Bihar and Bengal (led by Mahmud Lodi, brother of Ibrahim Lodi); last battle of Babur; Afghans defeated
Artillery Use	Used field cannon (guns) for the first time in Indian warfare – a decisive technological advantage that Indian armies did not possess
Tulughma Tactic	Flanking encirclement – dividing the army into units that attacked from the flanks while the centre feigned retreat; classic Central Asian cavalry tactic
Baburnama	His autobiography written in Chagatai Turkish – the first true autobiography in Indian literary history; describes his life, campaigns, observations of nature, geography, and Indian culture in remarkable detail
Capital	Agra (initially; was building Delhi as a second centre)
Death	1530 AD at Agra; age 47; succeeded by his son Humayun
Humayun’s Request	According to tradition, when Babur fell ill, Humayun prayed at his bedside to take his father’s illness upon himself; Babur allegedly said ‘I have prayed the prayer of exchange; I have taken it’ – and both fell ill; Humayun recovered and Babur died

SSC Exam Tip – Five Key Babur Facts: (1) First Battle of Panipat = 21 April 1526 = vs Ibrahim Lodi = artillery used. (2) Battle of Khanwa = 1527 = vs Rana Sanga. (3) Baburnama = autobiography = Chagatai Turkish = first autobiography in Indian tradition. (4) He introduced artillery/gunpowder to Indian warfare. (5) Descended from Timur (father’s side) and Genghis Khan (mother’s side).

Part II: Humayun (1530–1540, 1555–1556 AD) – The Lost and Found Emperor

Aspect	Detail
Full Name	Naseeruddin Muhammad Humayun
Humayun’s Name Meaning	Humayun means ‘Fortunate’ in Persian – ironic given his reign
Problem with Brothers	Three brothers (Kamran – Kabul and Punjab; Askari – Sind; Hindal – Alwar) all had their own territories and were a constant political challenge
Battle of Chausa (1539)	Fought on 26 June 1539 on the banks of the Ganga near Buxar; Humayun vs Sher Shah Suri; Humayun defeated; escaped by swimming the Ganga; Sher Shah became dominant
Battle of Kannauj/Bilgram (1540)	Fought on 17 May 1540; Humayun vs Sher Shah Suri near Kannauj; Humayun completely routed; fled with a small group; lost the empire entirely
15 Years in Exile	1540–1555: wandered through Sindh, Rajasthan (where his son Akbar was born in 1542 at Amarkot, Sind/Rajasthan border), Persia (where the Safavid Shah Tahmasp gave him troops and hospitality), and Afghanistan
Akbar Born	Akbar was born on 23 November 1542 at Amarkot (modern Sindh, Pakistan) while Humayun was in exile – a humble beginning for India’s greatest emperor
Return and Recovery	With Persian Safavid support, Humayun recovered Kabul and then Kandahar from his brothers; defeated Sikandar Shah Sur at Battle of Sirhind (1555) to reclaim Delhi
Death	24 January 1556: fell down the steep stairs of his library (Sher Mandal) at Purana Qila, Delhi; died from injuries; aged 47; some say he stumbled while hearing the call to prayer and trying to kneel quickly
Sher Mandal Library	The Sher Mandal building in Purana Qila, Delhi – built by Sher Shah Suri; Humayun used it as an observatory and library; the site of his fatal fall
Humayun’s Tomb	His wife Haji Begum built his magnificent tomb in Delhi (completed ~1570 AD); first garden-tomb in India; UNESCO World Heritage Site; called the ‘precursor of the Taj Mahal’ for its design
Legacy	Though his reign was troubled, Humayun preserved the Mughal dynasty through 15 years of hardship; without him, there would have been no Akbar

SSC Exam Tip: Humayun = Battle of Chausa 1539 (lost) = Battle of Kannauj 1540 (lost empire) = 15 years exile = returned 1555 = died falling from library stairs 1556. Akbar born at Amarkot 1542. Humayun’s Tomb = UNESCO = precursor to Taj Mahal.

Part III: Sher Shah Suri (1540–1545 AD) – The Great Interregnum

Sher Shah Suri, despite ruling for only five years, is considered one of the greatest administrators in Indian history. His administrative and infrastructural reforms were so innovative that Akbar later adopted and adapted many of them.

Aspect	Detail
Full Name	Farid Khan; given name Sher Khan after killing a tiger (sher = lion/tiger); later title Sher Shah Suri
Dynasty	Sur dynasty – Afghan (Pashtun/Lodi tribe origin)
Period	1540–1545 AD
Capital	Agra (then Delhi)
Battles Against Humayun	Battle of Chausa (1539) – defeated Humayun; Battle of Kannauj (1540) – completely defeated Humayun and expelled him from India
Grand Trunk Road (Sadak-e-Azam)	Rebuilt and extended the ancient Uttarapatha road from Chittagong (Bangladesh) to Kabul (Afghanistan) – approximately 2,500 km; planted trees on both sides (sarai – rest houses every 2 kos/8 km); one of the greatest road projects in Indian history; still in use today
Postal System	Established an efficient postal relay system using horse riders (dak chowkis) at regular intervals along all major roads; for communication and intelligence
Currency Reform – Rupiya	Introduced the silver rupee (Rupiya) – a standardised silver coin; also standardised gold coin (Mohar) and copper coin (Dam/Paisa); established by Sher Shah, continued by all subsequent rulers including the British
Revenue Reform	Conducted a comprehensive land survey; assessed land revenue directly based on the actual produce; introduced pattas (title deeds) for peasants and qabuliyats (agreements) – the basis of the later Todarmal-Akbar revenue system
Military Reform	Introduced the system of branding horses (Dagh) and detailed descriptions (Chehra) for soldiers – later adopted by Alauddin Khilji’s methods; direct payment of soldiers from the royal treasury
Tomb at Sasaram	His magnificent tomb at Sasaram (Bihar) – considered the finest example of Afghan architecture in India; built in the middle of a man-made lake; combines Hindu and Muslim architectural elements
Death	1545 AD – died in an accidental gunpowder explosion while besieging the Kalinjar Fort in Madhya Pradesh; ironic death by the same weapon (gunpowder) that had made him famous
Evaluation	Sher Shah in 5 years achieved more than Babur and Humayun combined; Akbar’s administrative genius was built on Sher Shah’s foundations

SSC Exam Tip – Six Key Sher Shah Facts: (1) Grand Trunk Road (Sadak-e-Azam) from Chittagong to Kabul. (2) Introduced the Rupiya (silver rupee). (3) Revenue reform – land survey, patta, qabuliyat. (4) Tomb at Sasaram, Bihar (finest Afghan architecture). (5) Died in gunpowder explosion at Kalinjar Fort. (6) Defeated Humayun twice. All six are frequently tested.

Part IV: Akbar (1556–1605 AD) – The Greatest Mughal Emperor

Akbar the Great is by universal consensus the greatest ruler of the Mughal dynasty and one of the greatest rulers in Indian history. For SSC exams, Akbar is the single most question-generating individual ruler in all of medieval Indian history – every aspect of his reign is testable.

Akbar – Complete Profile

Aspect	Detail
Full Name	Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar
Born	23 November 1542 at Amarkot (Sindh/Rajasthan) – while his father Humayun was in exile
Became Emperor	At age 13 (1556) after Humayun’s death; regent was Bairam Khan
Bairam Khan	Akbar’s regent (1556–1560); a Shia Muslim general who had been loyal to Humayun; won the Second Battle of Panipat for Akbar; later dismissed by Akbar’s mother Maham Anga’s influence; went on Haj but was assassinated on the way
Second Battle of Panipat (1556)	Fought by Bairam Khan on Akbar’s behalf vs Hemu (Vikramaditya) – a Hindu general of the Sur dynasty who had briefly captured Delhi; Hemu was wounded by an arrow and captured during the battle; Bairam Khan had him executed; Mughal supremacy restored
Empire Built	Extended the empire to cover the entire subcontinent from Kabul to Bengal and from Kashmir to Khandesh – the largest empire since the Mauryas
Capital	Agra (1556–1571); Fatehpur Sikri (1571–1585); Lahore (1585–1598); Agra again
Rajput Policy	Revolutionary: instead of treating Rajputs as enemies, Akbar made matrimonial alliances with them; married Jodha Bai (daughter of Raja Bharmal of Amer/Jaipur) – their son became Emperor Jahangir; appointed Rajputs to high mansab positions
Mansabdari System	The defining administrative innovation of Akbar; see separate section below
Revenue System	Raja Todarmal (one of Navaratna) introduced the Dahsala (Ten-year revenue settlement) system in 1580; built on Sher Shah’s foundation; classified land into four types based on cultivation; fixed revenue for 10-year periods
Din-i-Ilahi	Syncretic philosophical movement announced in 1582; combined elements from multiple religions; had very few followers (only ~18 total, Birbal being the only Hindu); NOT a new religion but a philosophical discussion group; largely dissolved after Akbar’s death
Sulh-i-Kul	‘Universal Peace’ – Akbar’s fundamental principle of governance; the state should treat all religious communities equally; no religious coercion; radical for the 16th century
Religious Tolerance	Abolished Jizya (1564); abolished pilgrim tax on Hindu pilgrims (1563); abolished slaughter of cows (Eid sacrifice) on Fridays; built temples; participated in Hindu festivals; listened to Muslim, Hindu, Jain, Christian, Parsi, and Sikh scholars at Ibadat Khana
Ibadat Khana (1575)	House of Worship built at Fatehpur Sikri; scholars of all religions met every Thursday night to debate theology and philosophy before Akbar
Infallibility Decree / Mahzar (1579)	Akbar declared himself the supreme authority in religious matters in India – not the Caliph of Baghdad; gave him power to resolve religious disputes; controversial among orthodox Muslims
Fatehpur Sikri	New city built 35 km from Agra (1571) to honour Sufi saint Sheikh Salim Chishti who blessed Akbar with a son (Salim/Jahangir); capital until 1585; magnificent red sandstone architecture; contains Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahal, Sheikh Salim Chishti’s dargah
Buland Darwaza	Built by Akbar to celebrate his Gujarat victory (1601); 54 metres tall – the highest gateway in India; at Fatehpur Sikri; inscribed with a verse acknowledging human smallness before God
Literature Under Akbar	Patronised: Abul Fazl (Akbarnama, Ain-i-Akbari); Faizi (Abul Fazl’s brother – poet); Birbal (witty stories); Tansen (great musician); translations of Sanskrit texts into Persian (Mahabharata → Razmnama; Ramayana → Ramayan; Atharva Veda → Atharvana Veda)
Death	27 October 1605 at Agra; aged 63; succeeded by his son Salim (Jahangir)

Akbar’s Navaratna – The Nine Gems of his Court

Name	Field	Key Work / Contribution
Abul Fazl (Abu’l-Fazl ibn Mubarak)	History / Administration	Wrote Akbarnama (biography of Akbar in three volumes) and Ain-i-Akbari (a detailed administrative gazetteer of the empire); assassinated on orders of Prince Salim (Jahangir) in 1602
Faizi (Fayyazi)	Poetry (Persian)	Abul Fazl’s brother; greatest Persian poet of Akbar’s court; translated the Mahabharata and Lilavati (mathematics text) into Persian
Tansen (Miyan Tansen)	Classical Music	The greatest musician in Indian history; one of the founders of Hindustani (North Indian) classical music; introduced new ragas (Miyan ki Malhar, Darbari Kanada, Miyan ki Todi); originally from Gwalior, brought to Akbar’s court by Raja Ramchandra of Rewa
Raja Todarmal	Finance / Revenue	Implemented the Dahsala (Ten-year revenue settlement) system in 1580; the finest revenue administrator of medieval India; his system became the model for subsequent Indian land revenue systems
Raja Birbal (Mahesh Das)	Wit / Counsel	Akbar’s favourite courtier; famous for his wit, wisdom, and humour; the ‘Birbal stories’ (where Birbal outsmarts everyone) are a beloved part of Indian folklore; the only Hindu to join Din-i-Ilahi
Raja Man Singh I	Military	Commander of Akbar’s armies; Rajput general (Kachhwaha clan of Amer/Jaipur); conducted campaigns in Bengal, Bihar, and the northwest frontier
Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan	Military / Literature	Son of Bairam Khan; a great Mughal general and poet; wrote dohas (couplets) in Hindi that are still quoted today; one of the greatest Hindi poets
Fakir Aziao-Din	Religious / Spiritual	A Sufi mystic in Akbar’s court; spiritual advisor
Mullah Do Piaza	Counsel / Wit	A wise counsellor at Akbar’s court; his rivalry with Birbal is a theme in popular stories

SSC Exam Tip: Akbar’s Navaratna most tested members are: Abul Fazl (Akbarnama + Ain-i-Akbari), Tansen (music, ragas), Raja Todarmal (revenue/Dahsala), Birbal (wit, only Hindu in Din-i-Ilahi), Raja Man Singh (military). Questions about which of these wrote which book or held which position are very common in SSC papers.

The Mansabdari System – Akbar’s Administrative Revolution

Feature	Detail
Definition	A system of graded military-civil ranks (mansabs) assigned to all nobles and officers; every holder (mansabdar) had a specific rank (zat) and a specific number of troops they were required to maintain (sawar)
Zat Rank	Determined the mansabdar’s salary and personal status in the hierarchy; ranged from 10 (lowest) to 5,000 (highest under Akbar; later up to 7,000 under Jahangir and Shah Jahan for top nobles)
Sawar Rank	Determined the number of cavalry soldiers the mansabdar must maintain and bring to the emperor’s service when required
Payment	Cash salaries from the central treasury (preferred by Akbar) OR assignment of revenue from a Jagir territory (most common in practice)
Jagir System	When a mansabdar was paid through a Jagir (revenue assignment) rather than cash, he was called a Jagirdar; this was the more common form of payment in practice
Non-Hereditary	Mansabs were NOT hereditary; the emperor personally assigned, promoted, transferred, or revoked mansabs; the state was not obligated to the sons of mansabdars
Universal Application	Applied to everyone regardless of religion or origin – Hindu Rajput chiefs were assigned mansabs; this made the Mansabdari system a great tool for administrative integration
Control Mechanism	Dagh (branding of horses) and Chehra (physical descriptions of soldiers) – carried over from Sher Shah’s system – ensured mansabdars actually maintained their required troops
Problem	Over time, Jagir assignments became difficult to manage – the total Jagir rights assigned exceeded the total available revenue, creating a ‘Jagir crisis’ in the later Mughal period
Significance	The Mansabdari system gave the Mughal Empire one of the most sophisticated and well-organised military-administrative structures of any state in 16th–17th century Asia

SSC Exam Tip: Mansabdari system = Akbar’s innovation = Zat rank (status/salary) + Sawar rank (troops required) = NOT hereditary = Jagirdar when paid by Jagir. This is a very frequently tested SSC administrative question about the Mughal Empire.

Akbar’s Revenue System – Raja Todarmal’s Dahsala

Feature	Detail
Introduced By	Raja Todarmal – Akbar’s revenue minister (one of Navaratna)
Year	1580 AD – the Dahsala (Ten-year) settlement was introduced after years of experimentation
Dahsala Meaning	‘Ten-year’ – the revenue settlement was fixed for a 10-year period based on the average produce of the previous 10 years
Land Classification	Land was classified into four types: (1) Polaj – cultivated every year; (2) Parauti – left fallow for a while; (3) Chachar – left fallow for 3–4 years; (4) Banjar – waste land uncultivated for 5+ years; different revenue rates for each type
Revenue Rate	Approximately one-third of average produce (less harsh than Alauddin’s 50% rate)
Measurement	Land was measured using the Ilahi Gaz (a standardised yard measure introduced under Akbar)
Zabt System	The actual assessment system under Todarmal – revenue fixed in cash based on actual area cultivated and average prices; also called Ain-i-Dahsala or Bandobast
Foundation	Built on Sher Shah Suri’s earlier revenue work but vastly more systematic and empire-wide
Significance	Gave the empire stable and predictable revenue; reduced extortion by local officials; peasants knew exactly how much they owed; became the model for the British zamindari and ryotwari systems

Part V: Jahangir (1605–1627 AD) – The Art Lover Emperor

Aspect	Detail
Full Name	Nuruddin Muhammad Salim; title Jahangir = ‘World Conqueror’
Reign	1605–1627 AD
Nur Jahan	Born Mehr-un-Nissa; married Jahangir in 1611; given the title ‘Nur Jahan’ (Light of the World); became the most powerful woman in Mughal history; effectively ran the empire – her name appeared on coins and firmans; called the ‘power behind the throne’
Nur Jahan’s Family	Her father Itimad-ud-Daulah (Mirza Ghiyath Beg) and brother Asaf Khan both rose to highest positions; her niece Mumtaz Mahal married Prince Khurram (Shah Jahan)
Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri	Jahangir’s own memoirs – one of the most personal and literary of all Mughal autobiographies; describes his love of nature, his observations on painting, his assessment of people around him, his addiction to wine and opium; written in Persian
Chain of Justice (Zanjir-i-Adl)	A golden chain with 60 bells hung from the Agra Fort to the Yamuna bank; any person could come and pull it to directly appeal to the Emperor – a famous symbol of his commitment to justice
Thomas Roe	British ambassador sent by King James I of England; arrived at Jahangir’s court in 1615; sought trading privileges for the British East India Company; stayed until 1619; wrote about the Mughal court in his journals
Painting	The greatest period of Mughal miniature painting; Jahangir was personally passionate about art; could identify any painting’s individual brushstrokes; famous painters: Ustad Mansur (animal/bird paintings), Bichitr, Abul Hasan (Nadirul-Asr)
Architecture	Built the Shalimar Bagh (Kashmir) and the Tomb of Akbar at Sikandra (Agra)
Rebellion	His son Khurram (Shah Jahan) rebelled against him toward the end of his reign
Death	1627 AD; succeeded by his son Khurram who took the title Shah Jahan

SSC Exam Tip: Jahangir = Nur Jahan (co-ruler) = Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri (his memoirs) = Thomas Roe (British ambassador 1615) = Chain of Justice = greatest period of Mughal miniature painting. Five different areas, five different types of SSC questions.

Part VI: Shah Jahan (1627–1658 AD) – The Master Builder

Aspect	Detail
Full Name	Shahab-ud-Din Muhammad Khurram; title Shah Jahan = ‘King of the World’
Reign	1627–1658 AD
Mumtaz Mahal	His beloved queen; originally named Arjumand Banu Begum; given title Mumtaz Mahal (Jewel of the Palace) by Shah Jahan; died in 1631 giving birth to their 14th child Gauhar Ara; Shah Jahan was devastated and built the Taj Mahal in her memory
Taj Mahal	Built 1632–1653 AD at Agra; 22 years to build; estimated 20,000 workers; chief architect: Ustad Ahmad Lahauri; built of white Makrana marble; UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983; one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World
Red Fort (Lal Qila)	Built 1638–1648 AD at Delhi (Shahjahanabad); Shah Jahan shifted capital from Agra to Delhi; famous Diwan-i-Am (public audience hall), Diwan-i-Khas (private audience hall with Peacock Throne), and Rang Mahal; UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007
Peacock Throne (Takht-e-Taos)	A legendary jewelled throne made of gold and encrusted with diamonds, rubies, emeralds and pearls; took 7 years to build; valued at tens of millions of rupees; looted by Nadir Shah in 1739 AD and taken to Persia (never returned)
Jama Masjid	Built 1644–1656 at Delhi; one of the largest mosques in India; can accommodate 25,000 worshippers; three marble domes; red sandstone and white marble
Shahjahanabad	New city (Old Delhi today) built by Shah Jahan; the Red Fort and Jama Masjid were its centrepieces; Shah Jahan shifted capital here from Agra in 1648 AD
Other Architecture	Agra Fort improvements; Shalimar Bagh, Lahore; Wazir Khan Mosque, Lahore; Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) in Agra Fort
Deccan Campaigns	Conducted campaigns to recover Golconda and Bijapur (the two remaining Deccan Sultanates); Aurangzeb served as viceroy of the Deccan under him
War of Succession	In 1657, Shah Jahan fell ill; his four sons (Dara Shikoh, Shah Shuja, Aurangzeb, Murad) fought each other; Aurangzeb won the Battle of Samugarh (1658) near Agra; imprisoned Shah Jahan in Agra Fort
Imprisonment	Shah Jahan spent his last 8 years (1658–1666) as a prisoner in Agra Fort, cared for by his daughter Jahanara Begum; could see the Taj Mahal from his window
Death	1666 AD in Agra Fort; buried next to Mumtaz Mahal in the Taj Mahal
Evaluation	Called the ‘Architect Emperor’; his reign = ‘Golden Age of Mughal Architecture’; spent heavily on buildings which strained the treasury

SSC Exam Tip – Five Key Shah Jahan Facts: (1) Taj Mahal = Agra = in memory of Mumtaz Mahal = Ustad Ahmad Lahauri (architect) = UNESCO 1983. (2) Red Fort = Delhi = 1638–1648 = UNESCO 2007. (3) Peacock Throne = looted by Nadir Shah 1739. (4) Founded Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi). (5) Imprisoned by Aurangzeb 1658. All five are very frequently tested.

Taj Mahal – Complete Reference for SSC

Feature	Detail
Location	South bank of Yamuna River, Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Built By	Shah Jahan – in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal
Period of Construction	1632–1653 AD – approximately 22 years
Workforce	An estimated 20,000 workers and artisans from India, Persia, Turkey, and Central Asia
Chief Architect	Ustad Ahmad Lahauri – a Persian architect
Material	Primary: white Makrana marble (from Makrana, Rajasthan); also inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones (carnelian, jasper, jade, crystal, lapis lazuli, amethyst) using Pietra Dura (stone inlay) technique
UNESCO Status	UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983
Seven Wonders	Declared one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007
Layout	The Taj complex covers 17 hectares; includes: the main mausoleum (tomb), mosque (to the west), rest house (to the east), main gateway (Darwaza-i-Rauza), four minarets, and formal garden (Charbagh – quartered garden with water channels)
Mausoleum	The white marble domed mausoleum in the centre; the main dome is 73 metres above the platform; four smaller domed chatris at corners; flanked by four minarets each 40 metres tall
Interior	The cenotaphs of Mumtaz Mahal (centre) and Shah Jahan (to her left – placed slightly off-centre as he was added later); the actual graves are in a lower chamber; illuminated by light through perforated marble jali screens
Optical Illusion	The four minarets appear to stand vertically but are actually slightly tilted outward – so in case of earthquake they would fall away from the mausoleum
Symmetry	The entire Taj complex is perfectly symmetrical about the north-south axis, with the mosque and the rest house as mirror images of each other on either side of the mausoleum

Part VII: Aurangzeb (1658–1707 AD) – The Controversial Last Great Mughal

Aspect	Detail
Full Name	Muhiuddin Muhammad Aurangzeb; title Alamgir (World Conqueror); also called Zinda Pir (Living Saint) for his personal piety
Reign	1658–1707 AD – the longest reign of any Mughal emperor (49 years); also the most controversial
Seized Throne	Won war of succession by defeating brothers Dara Shikoh (at Battle of Samugarh 1658), Shah Shuja (Bengal), and Murad (with treachery); imprisoned father Shah Jahan
Reimposed Jizya	1679 AD – reimposed the Jizya (tax on non-Muslims) which Akbar had abolished in 1564; a highly controversial reversal that alienated Hindu subjects
Temple Destruction	Ordered destruction of several Hindu temples including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Varanasi and the Keshava Deo Temple at Mathura; built mosques on these sites; created lasting religious bitterness
Executed Guru Tegh Bahadur	1675 AD – Guru Tegh Bahadur (9th Sikh Guru) was executed for refusing to convert to Islam; this transformed the Sikh community under his son Guru Gobind Singh (10th Guru) into a more militarised community (creation of the Khalsa 1699)
Fatwa-i-Alamgiri	A massive compilation of Islamic (Hanafi) law ordered by Aurangzeb; compiled by a committee of scholars; the most comprehensive collection of Islamic jurisprudence compiled in India; used for governance
Deccan Policy	Conquered Bijapur (1686) and Golconda (1687) – eliminating the two remaining Deccan Sultanates; then spent 20+ years trying to suppress the Maratha guerrilla resistance; a war that bled the empire dry
Shivaji	Shivaji Maharaj was Aurangzeb’s greatest adversary; captured by Aurangzeb (1666) but escaped from Agra; Aurangzeb spent enormous resources against the Marathas; Shivaji was crowned Chhatrapati (1674) and established an independent Maratha kingdom
Personal Life	Lived simply and austerely; copied the Quran with his own hand and sold the copies for income; made prayer caps and sold them; refused to use state funds for personal expenses; very different from Shah Jahan’s extravagance
Music and Art	Banned court music; banned painting (of living beings, as per strict interpretation of Islamic law); this ended the Mughal art tradition
Death	3 March 1707 AD at Ahmadnagar, Deccan; aged 88; died in the Deccan still fighting; left a note: ‘I came alone and I go as a stranger’
Legacy	At his death: the empire was at its greatest geographical extent but financially ruined, militarily exhausted, and politically fractured; 12 Mughal emperors followed in the next 150 years as the empire rapidly disintegrated

SSC Exam Tip – Six Key Aurangzeb Facts: (1) Reimposed Jizya 1679. (2) Executed Guru Tegh Bahadur 1675. (3) Fatwa-i-Alamgiri = compiled Islamic law. (4) Conquered Bijapur (1686) and Golconda (1687). (5) Deccan wars exhausted the empire. (6) Titled Alamgir. All six are regularly tested in SSC papers.

Part VIII: Mughal Architecture – The World Heritage Legacy

Monument	Builder	Period	Location	UNESCO / Key Feature / SSC Fact
Babur’s Mosques	Babur	1526–1530	Panipat, Sambhal, Ayodhya area	Earliest Mughal structures; Babri Masjid (Ayodhya) was allegedly the most controversial – claimed to be built on Ram birthplace site
Humayun’s Tomb	Commissioned by Haji Begum (Humayun’s wife)	~1565–1572 AD	Delhi (Nizamuddin area)	UNESCO 1993; first garden-tomb in India; Persian-inspired double dome; ‘precursor of the Taj Mahal’; designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas (Persian architect)
Agra Fort (Lal Qila, Agra)	Akbar (expanded); further developed by Shah Jahan	1565–1573 (Akbar); more under Shah Jahan	Agra, UP	UNESCO 1983; red sandstone with white marble additions by Shah Jahan; Shah Jahan imprisoned here by Aurangzeb
Fatehpur Sikri	Akbar	1571–1585 AD	35 km from Agra, UP	UNESCO 1986; red sandstone city; Buland Darwaza (54m, tallest gateway in India); Jama Masjid; Sheikh Salim Chishti’s dargah (white marble within red sandstone complex)
Buland Darwaza	Akbar	1601 AD	Fatehpur Sikri	54 metres tall – highest gateway in India; built to celebrate Gujarat conquest
Akbar’s Tomb	Jahangir (completed)	Completed ~1613 AD	Sikandra, near Agra	Blend of Islamic and Hindu architecture; garden-setting
Itmad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb	Nur Jahan (for her father)	1622–1628 AD	Agra	First Mughal monument entirely in white marble; first use of Pietra Dura (stone inlay) in Mughal architecture; called ‘Baby Taj’
Taj Mahal	Shah Jahan	1632–1653 AD	Agra	UNESCO 1983; Seven Wonders of Modern World; white Makrana marble; Ustad Ahmad Lahauri (architect); in memory of Mumtaz Mahal
Red Fort (Lal Qila, Delhi)	Shah Jahan	1638–1648 AD	Delhi (Old Delhi/Shahjahanabad)	UNESCO 2007; red sandstone; Diwan-i-Am; Diwan-i-Khas; Rang Mahal; Moti Masjid
Jama Masjid, Delhi	Shah Jahan	1644–1656 AD	Old Delhi	One of largest mosques in India; 25,000 capacity; red sandstone + white marble domes
Bibi-ka-Maqbara	Azam Shah (Aurangzeb’s son) – built for Aurangzeb’s wife Dilras Banu Begum	~1660 AD	Aurangabad, Maharashtra	Called ‘Taj of the Deccan’ or ‘Poor Man’s Taj’; obviously modelled on the Taj Mahal; much less refined
Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque)	Aurangzeb	1659–1660 AD	Delhi (inside Red Fort)	All white marble; called Pearl Mosque for its lustrous marble

Part IX: Mughal Painting – The Miniature Masterpieces

Emperor	Painting Style / Development	Key Painters / Works
Babur	No significant court painting tradition; focused on military consolidation	–
Humayun	Brought two Persian painters Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad from Safavid Persia to India; foundation of Mughal painting school	Mir Sayyid Ali; Abdus Samad – painted Hamzanama (illustrated manuscript of adventures of Amir Hamza)
Akbar	Mughal painting school fully established; commissioned massive illustrated manuscripts; Persian technique combined with Indian subjects and naturalism	Dashwant (first great Indian painter in Mughal school); Basawan; Lal; Mukund; Abd al-Samad; 1,400 paintings for Akbarnama
Jahangir	GREATEST period of Mughal miniature painting; Jahangir was personally passionate; could identify individual brushstrokes; focus on portraits, animals, birds, nature studies with remarkable naturalism	Ustad Mansur (greatest animal/bird painter – given title ‘Nadirul-Asr’ = Wonder of the Age); Bichitr; Abul Hasan (given title ‘Nadirul-Asr’ too); Manohar; Govardhan
Shah Jahan	Continuation of fine painting tradition; more formal and court-focused than Jahangir’s naturalism; elaborate portraiture	Bichitr; Muhammad Nadir Samarkandi; Payag
Aurangzeb	Banned court painting; many painters left the Mughal court and dispersed to regional kingdoms (Rajput courts, Deccan kingdoms) – creating the Rajput painting and Deccan painting schools	Most painters left Delhi; painting tradition ended at the Mughal court

SSC Exam Tip: Jahangir = greatest period of Mughal miniature painting. Ustad Mansur = greatest animal/bird painter = title Nadirul-Asr. Humayun brought Persian painters Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad. Akbar’s court painters included Dashwant (first Indian painter in Mughal school). These facts are regularly tested.

Part X: Important Mughal Literary Works – Complete Reference

Work	Author	Emperor’s Reign	Language	Content / SSC Relevance
Baburnama (Tuzuk-i-Baburi)	Babur (the emperor himself)	Babur	Chagatai Turkish	Babur’s autobiography; first autobiography in Indian tradition; vivid account of his campaigns, nature observations, India
Humayunnama	Gulbadan Begum (Babur’s daughter; Humayun’s sister)	Humayun	Persian	Biography of Humayun; one of the few medieval works by a woman; frank and personal account
Akbarnama	Abul Fazl	Akbar	Persian	Official history of Akbar’s reign in 3 volumes; includes Ain-i-Akbari as its third volume
Ain-i-Akbari	Abul Fazl	Akbar	Persian	Administrative gazetteer and statistical account of Akbar’s empire; part of Akbarnama; covers revenue, administration, geography, flora, fauna, and culture
Tabaqat-i-Akbari	Nizamuddin Ahmad	Akbar	Persian	History of India from the Ghaznavids to Akbar
Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh (Badaoni)	Abdul Qadir Badaoni	Akbar	Persian	A private, critical history of Akbar; Badaoni was orthodox and disapproved of Akbar’s religious innovations; kept secret during Akbar’s lifetime – very frank assessments
Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri (Jahangirnama)	Jahangir (the emperor himself)	Jahangir	Persian	Jahangir’s memoirs; vivid, personal, literary; describes his love of nature, painting, wine, and opium; also describes important political events
Padshahnama	Abdul Hamid Lahauri	Shah Jahan	Persian	Official chronicle of Shah Jahan’s reign; contains famous descriptions of the Peacock Throne and Taj Mahal
Maasir-i-Alamgiri	Saqi Mustad Khan	Aurangzeb	Persian	Official chronicle of Aurangzeb’s reign
Fatwa-i-Alamgiri	Compiled by a committee of scholars under Aurangzeb’s order	Aurangzeb	Arabic	Comprehensive compilation of Hanafi Islamic law; used for governance in Aurangzeb’s reign
Razmnama	Translation of the Mahabharata commissioned by Akbar	Akbar	Persian	Persian translation of the Mahabharata; translated by a team including Faizi; illustrated with Mughal miniature paintings
Amuktamalyada	Krishnadeva Raya (Vijayanagara) – context of Mughal era	Pre-Mughal	Telugu	The greatest Telugu poem; (not Mughal but frequently compared)

Part XI: Sher Shah Suri’s Grand Trunk Road – Complete Reference

Aspect	Detail
Official Name	Sadak-e-Azam (Great Road) or Shah Rah-e-Azam
Also Called	Grand Trunk Road; GT Road; Sarak-e-Azam; in parts called NH 1 and NH 2 in modern India
Route	From Chittagong (Bangladesh) in the east through Calcutta, Delhi, Lahore, Peshawar to Kabul (Afghanistan) in the west – approximately 2,500–2,700 km
Features Built	Sarai (rest houses) every 2 kos (approximately 8 km); planted trees on both sides (shisham/sheesham and banyan trees); wells dug alongside; mosques and temples at regular intervals
Purpose	Military rapid movement; trade facilitation; postal communication; administrative control
Historical Significance	Connected the two ends of the subcontinent; one of the greatest road engineering projects of the medieval world; allowed fast movement of armies, merchants, and messengers
Modern Relevance	The GT Road still exists as National Highway 1 (Delhi to Wagah/Pakistan border) and NH 2 (Delhi to Calcutta); upgraded but essentially following Sher Shah’s original route
Kipling’s Description	Rudyard Kipling described it in ‘Kim’ (his novel) as ‘the great trunk road, that ran without a break from Peshawar to Calcutta’
SSC Relevance	‘Who built the Grand Trunk Road?’ = Sher Shah Suri. ‘Other name?’ = Sadak-e-Azam. ‘Route’ from Chittagong to Kabul. Frequently tested

Part XII: Decline of the Mughal Empire

The decline of the Mughal Empire after Aurangzeb’s death in 1707 AD was one of the most dramatic collapses of a great power in world history. Within 50 years of Aurangzeb’s death, the Mughal Emperor had become a nominal figurehead with no real power.

Causes of Mughal Decline

Cause	Explanation
Aurangzeb’s Policies	Reimposing Jizya, temple destruction, and religious persecution alienated the Hindu majority (80%+ of population); the Rajput alliances that had been Akbar’s great achievement were broken; Marathas and Sikhs became bitter enemies of the Mughal state
Deccan Wars	Aurangzeb spent his last 25 years in the Deccan; the treasury was depleted; the army was exhausted; young officers and nobles who should have been trained for all types of command only knew Deccan guerrilla warfare
Weak Successors	After Aurangzeb, 12 emperors ruled in 150 years; most were weak, pleasure-seeking, and dominated by court factions; no strong central authority
Nadir Shah’s Invasion (1739)	Nadir Shah of Persia invaded under Emperor Muhammad Shah; defeated the Mughal army at Battle of Karnal; entered Delhi; massacred thousands; took the Peacock Throne, Kohinoor diamond, and enormous wealth back to Persia; Mughal prestige never recovered
Rise of Regional Powers	The Marathas, Sikhs, Jats, Rohillas, Nawabs of Bengal and Awadh, Nizam of Hyderabad, and others all carved out independent territories from the Mughal Empire
European Trading Companies	The British, French, and Portuguese established trading posts and gradually built military and political power alongside their commercial operations
Economic Decline	The heavy expenditure on the Deccan wars, Nadir Shah’s loot, and the cost of maintaining a large central army without adequate revenue caused financial collapse
Jagir Crisis	The total value of Jagirs assigned exceeded the total revenue available – mansabdars couldn’t actually receive their full income; system broke down
No Maritime Power	The Mughals never developed a significant navy; European powers (Portuguese, then Dutch, then British) dominated Indian Ocean trade routes and eventually used this commercial dominance to build political power

Key Events of Mughal Decline – Timeline

Year	Event	Significance
1707	Death of Aurangzeb	Mughal Empire immediately begins fragmenting
1739	Nadir Shah invades; sacks Delhi; takes Peacock Throne	Mughal prestige permanently destroyed; Delhi massacred
1757	Battle of Plassey – Clive defeats Nawab of Bengal	British East India Company gains Bengal; beginning of British territorial expansion in India
1761	Third Battle of Panipat – Afghans defeat Marathas	Maratha expansion halted; both Mughals and Marathas weakened
1764	Battle of Buxar – British defeat Mughal + Nawab alliance	Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II forced to give British the Diwani (revenue rights) of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa
1803	British capture Delhi; Mughal Emperor becomes British pensioner	Shah Alam II accepts British protection; Mughal now a figurehead
1857	1857 Revolt (First War of Independence)	Bahadur Shah Zafar II used as symbolic leader; British suppress revolt; exiled Bahadur Shah Zafar to Rangoon
1858	British Crown takes over India from East India Company	Formal end of Mughal Empire; Queen Victoria declared Empress of India

ALSO READ: SSC History Delhi Dynasty PPT Slides Download (LEC #16)

High-Frequency SSC MCQs: Mughal Empire Chapter

These 50 questions represent the most consistently repeated MCQs from this chapter across all SSC exams.

Question	Correct Answer	SSC Exam Reference
First Battle of Panipat – date, year, combatants?	21 April 1526; Babur vs Ibrahim Lodi; Babur won using artillery	SSC CGL 2014–2023 (every exam)
Babur’s autobiography is called what and in which language?	Baburnama (Tuzuk-i-Baburi); written in Chagatai Turkish	SSC CGL 2016, 2019, 2022
Battle of Khanwa (1527) was fought between whom?	Babur vs Rana Sanga (Sangram Singh) of Mewar	SSC CGL 2017, SSC CHSL 2020
Babur is descended from which two conquerors?	Timur/Tamerlane (father’s side) and Genghis Khan (mother’s side)	SSC CHSL 2019, SSC MTS 2021
Humayun lost to Sher Shah in which battles?	Battle of Chausa (1539) and Battle of Kannauj/Bilgram (1540)	SSC CGL 2017, 2020, SSC CHSL 2021
How did Humayun die?	Fell from the stairs of his library Sher Mandal at Purana Qila, Delhi, in 1556	SSC CGL 2018, SSC CHSL 2021
Humayun’s Tomb was built by whom?	Commissioned by Haji Begum (Humayun’s first wife); designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas	SSC CGL 2019, SSC CHSL 2022
Who built the Grand Trunk Road?	Sher Shah Suri (Sadak-e-Azam)	SSC CGL 2015–2022 (very frequently asked)
Sher Shah Suri introduced which coin?	Rupiya (silver rupee) – the ancestor of the modern Indian Rupee	SSC CGL 2016, 2019, 2022
Where is Sher Shah Suri’s tomb?	Sasaram, Bihar	SSC CGL 2018, SSC CHSL 2021
How did Sher Shah Suri die?	Accidental gunpowder explosion while besieging Kalinjar Fort (1545 AD)	SSC CHSL 2019, SSC MTS 2021
Second Battle of Panipat (1556) was fought between whom?	Akbar (with regent Bairam Khan) vs Hemu (Vikramaditya)	SSC CGL 2016, 2019, 2022
Who was Bairam Khan?	Akbar’s regent (1556–1560); a Shia Muslim general; won Second Battle of Panipat for Akbar	SSC CGL 2018, SSC CHSL 2020
Akbar was born where and when?	23 November 1542 at Amarkot (Sindh), while Humayun was in exile	SSC CHSL 2019, SSC MTS 2021
What was the Mansabdari system?	Akbar’s graded military-civil rank system; Zat rank (status) + Sawar rank (troops); NOT hereditary	SSC CGL 2015–2022 (repeated every exam)
Who introduced the Dahsala (Ten-year) revenue system?	Raja Todarmal (Akbar’s revenue minister, one of Navaratna) – 1580 AD	SSC CGL 2017, 2020, SSC CHSL 2021
What was Din-i-Ilahi?	Akbar’s syncretic philosophical movement (1582); blended elements from multiple religions; very few followers; Birbal was the only Hindu member	SSC CGL 2018, SSC CHSL 2020
What was Sulh-i-Kul?	‘Universal Peace’ – Akbar’s principle of equal treatment of all religious communities; no coercion	SSC CGL 2019, SSC CHSL 2021
What is Ibadat Khana?	House of Worship built by Akbar at Fatehpur Sikri (1575); scholars of all religions debated here every Thursday	SSC CGL 2017, SSC CHSL 2019
Who built Fatehpur Sikri?	Akbar – built to honour Sufi saint Sheikh Salim Chishti; served as capital 1571–1585	SSC CGL 2016, 2019, 2022
What is Buland Darwaza and who built it?	54-metre-tall gateway at Fatehpur Sikri; built by Akbar to celebrate his Gujarat victory (1601); tallest gateway in India	SSC CGL 2017, 2020, SSC CHSL 2021
Who wrote Akbarnama and Ain-i-Akbari?	Abul Fazl – Akbar’s court historian; one of Navaratna	SSC CGL 2015–2022 (repeated every exam)
Who was Tansen and what was his contribution?	Greatest classical musician in Akbar’s court (Navaratna); pioneer of Hindustani classical music; created ragas like Miyan ki Malhar	SSC CGL 2016, 2019, SSC CHSL 2021
Birbal was the only Hindu member of which movement?	Din-i-Ilahi (Akbar’s syncretic philosophical movement)	SSC CGL 2018, SSC CHSL 2020
Akbar abolished Jizya in which year?	1564 AD	SSC CGL 2017, SSC MTS 2021
Jahangir’s memoirs are called what?	Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri (Jahangirnama)	SSC CGL 2016, 2019, 2022
Who was Nur Jahan?	Jahangir’s powerful wife (married 1611); real name Mehr-un-Nissa; effectively co-ruled the empire; name appeared on coins and farmans	SSC CGL 2017, 2020, SSC CHSL 2021
Who was the first British ambassador to the Mughal court?	Thomas Roe – came in 1615, sent by King James I, to Jahangir’s court	SSC CGL 2018, SSC CHSL 2020
The Taj Mahal was built in memory of whom?	Mumtaz Mahal – Shah Jahan’s beloved wife who died in 1631	SSC CGL 2014–2023 (every exam)
Who was the architect of the Taj Mahal?	Ustad Ahmad Lahauri (also spelled Ustad Ahmad)	SSC CGL 2018, SSC CHSL 2021
How long did it take to build the Taj Mahal?	22 years (1632–1653 AD); approximately 20,000 workers	SSC CGL 2016, 2019, 2022
What is the Taj Mahal’s UNESCO status?	UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983	SSC CGL 2017, SSC CHSL 2019
Who looted the Peacock Throne?	Nadir Shah (Persian ruler) in 1739 AD during his invasion of India	SSC CGL 2018, SSC CHSL 2020
Who built the Red Fort in Delhi?	Shah Jahan (1638–1648 AD); shifted capital from Agra to Shahjahanabad (Delhi)	SSC CGL 2016–2022 (repeated)
Red Fort in Delhi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since when?	2007	SSC CGL 2019, SSC CHSL 2022
Who founded the city of Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi)?	Shah Jahan (1639 AD)	SSC CGL 2017, SSC CHSL 2021
Aurangzeb reimposed Jizya in which year?	1679 AD (Akbar had abolished it in 1564)	SSC CGL 2016, 2019, 2022
Which Sikh Guru was executed by Aurangzeb?	Guru Tegh Bahadur (9th Sikh Guru) – 1675 AD	SSC CGL 2017, 2020, SSC CHSL 2021
What is Fatwa-i-Alamgiri?	A comprehensive compilation of Islamic (Hanafi) law ordered by Aurangzeb; compiled by scholars	SSC CGL 2018, SSC CHSL 2020
Nadir Shah invaded India in which year and from whom did he take the Kohinoor diamond?	1739 AD; from Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah (‘Rangila’)	SSC CGL 2016, 2019, 2022
The Battle of Plassey (1757) was significant for which reason?	British East India Company defeated Nawab of Bengal Siraj-ud-Daulah; beginning of British territorial rule in India	SSC CGL 2015–2022 (repeated)
Who was the last Mughal Emperor?	Bahadur Shah Zafar II (1837–1858); exiled to Rangoon after 1857 Revolt	SSC CGL 2016, 2019, 2022
Akbar’s Rajput policy was distinctive. What was it?	Matrimonial alliances with Rajput kingdoms; appointed Rajputs to high mansab positions; Jodha Bai’s marriage key example	SSC CHSL 2019, SSC MTS 2021
The Itmad-ud-Daulah Tomb at Agra is also called what?	Baby Taj – first Mughal monument entirely in white marble; built by Nur Jahan for her father	SSC CHSL 2020, SSC GD 2022
Who was Ustad Mansur?	Jahangir’s greatest court painter; specialised in realistic animal and bird studies; given title ‘Nadirul-Asr’ (Wonder of the Age)	SSC CHSL 2021, SSC CPO 2022
Gulbadan Begum wrote which book?	Humayunnama – biography of Humayun; written by Babur’s daughter	SSC CHSL 2020, SSC GD 2022
Chain of Justice (Zanjir-i-Adl) was introduced by which Mughal emperor?	Jahangir – a golden chain with 60 bells hung from the Agra Fort; any person could pull it to appeal directly to the Emperor	SSC CGL 2019, SSC CHSL 2021
Bibi-ka-Maqbara at Aurangabad is associated with whom?	Aurangzeb’s son Azam Shah built it for Aurangzeb’s wife Dilras Banu Begum; called ‘Taj of the Deccan’	SSC CHSL 2020, SSC CPO 2022
Where was Akbar born and when?	23 November 1542 at Amarkot (modern Sindh/Rajasthan border)	SSC CHSL 2019, SSC MTS 2022
Todarmal’s Dahsala system fixed revenue for how many years?	10 years (Dahsala = Ten-year settlement) – 1580 AD	SSC CGL 2018, SSC CHSL 2021

Podcast Interview: Expert Q&A – Mughal Empire Deep Dive

A 10-round expert dialogue covering the Mughal Empire from multiple perspectives.

Speaker	Question / Statement	Answer / Explanation
Aspirant	The Mughal chapter has 326 slides and 50 MCQs. Where should I focus first?	Educator: Focus on three emperors who generate the most SSC questions. Number one – Akbar – by a large margin. His Mansabdari system, Din-i-Ilahi, Sulh-i-Kul, Fatehpur Sikri, Ibadat Khana, Navaratna (especially Abul Fazl, Tansen, Todarmal, Birbal), Rajput policy, and abolition of Jizya all generate separate SSC questions. Number two – Shah Jahan – the Taj Mahal alone generates 2–3 questions per exam. Add Red Fort, Peacock Throne, and Shahjahanabad. Number three – Sher Shah Suri – Grand Trunk Road, Rupiya, tomb at Sasaram, death at Kalinjar. These three areas probably account for 7 of the 8 questions SSC draws from this chapter.
Aspirant	What exactly is the Mansabdari system? SSC keeps asking about it.	Educator: The Mansabdari system was Akbar’s solution to the administrative challenge of governing an empire across the entire subcontinent. Every noble and military officer was assigned a Mansab – a rank that determined both their salary and their military obligation. The rank had two components: Zat (personal status – determines how much you’re paid) and Sawar (how many cavalry soldiers you must maintain for the emperor). It was NOT hereditary – the emperor could give, change, or take away mansabs at will, keeping all nobles dependent on royal favour. The key difference from the Iqta system was the greater standardisation and the emperor’s direct control. When a noble was paid through a land revenue assignment rather than cash, that assignment was called a Jagir and the holder a Jagirdar.
Aspirant	Who was Sher Shah Suri and why is he called a great administrator despite ruling only 5 years?	Educator: Sher Shah Suri is the paradox of Indian history – a ruler who governed for only 5 years but whose achievements outlasted him for 400 years. His Grand Trunk Road (Sadak-e-Azam) still exists as modern National Highway 1. His silver Rupiya became the basis of the Indian Rupee that continues today. His land revenue reforms (pattas and qabuliyats) became the template for Akbar’s Todarmal system and ultimately for the British land revenue system. His postal relay system was the most efficient communication network India had seen. All of this in 5 years. He combined the energy of a usurper with the vision of a statesman – and the tragedy is that he died in an accidental explosion before he could finish what he started.
Aspirant	What was Din-i-Ilahi and was it really a new religion?	Educator: No – Din-i-Ilahi was NOT a new religion, and SSC papers sometimes test exactly this distinction. It was a spiritual and philosophical discussion group or movement that Akbar announced in 1582. It drew elements from Islam, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Jainism. Members saluted each other with ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God is great – but also could be read as ‘Akbar is God’) and kept a portrait of the emperor. Only about 18 people joined – including Birbal (the only Hindu) and a few Muslim nobles. It dissolved after Akbar’s death. Akbar’s genuine innovation was Sulh-i-Kul (Universal Peace) – the secular principle that the state should treat all religions equally. This was more radical and more lasting than Din-i-Ilahi.
Aspirant	Who built the Taj Mahal – there’s always confusion about the architect.	Educator: The Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan (who commissioned it) in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. The chief architect was Ustad Ahmad Lahauri – a Persian architect. There is sometimes confusion because multiple names appear in historical records – including Isa Khan (possibly a structural engineer), Ustad Isa (an alternative name), and various craftsmen. But for SSC exams, the standard accepted answer for ‘chief architect of the Taj Mahal’ is Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Other key facts: white Makrana marble (from Rajasthan); 1632–1653 (22 years); 20,000 workers; UNESCO 1983; Seven Wonders of Modern World 2007.
Aspirant	Why was Aurangzeb controversial? He obviously had good points too.	Educator: Aurangzeb is genuinely one of the most complex figures in Indian history. The controversy is real. On the positive side: he was personally austere and honest; he copied the Quran by hand for income; he refused to use state funds personally; his empire reached its greatest territorial extent under him; he compiled the Fatwa-i-Alamgiri as a great work of Islamic scholarship. On the negative side for SSC purposes: he reimposed Jizya (reversing Akbar’s policy); destroyed temples (creating lasting Hindu-Muslim bitterness); executed Guru Tegh Bahadur (radicalising the Sikhs under Guru Gobind Singh); his 25-year Deccan war exhausted the empire. The consensus is that his religious policies undid much of what Akbar had built in terms of Hindu-Muslim integration, and that the empire died because of decisions he made.
Aspirant	What is the difference between Humayun’s Tomb and the Taj Mahal architecturally?	Educator: Both are garden-tombs and both influenced each other (Humayun’s Tomb was completed ~1572 AD, 60 years before the Taj). Similarities: both set in the centre of a formal Charbagh (quartered garden); both feature a central dome; both use a combination of white marble and red sandstone. Key differences: Humayun’s Tomb uses both red sandstone AND white marble; the Taj Mahal is entirely white marble (except the platform). Humayun’s Tomb has a double dome (outer dome for appearance, inner dome for the interior height); the Taj uses the same technique but on a much grander scale. Art historians call Humayun’s Tomb ‘the precursor to the Taj Mahal’ because Mughal garden-tomb architecture was perfected from Humayun’s Tomb to the Taj Mahal over 60 years. For SSC: Humayun’s Tomb = first garden-tomb in India = UNESCO 1993. Taj Mahal = ultimate garden-tomb = UNESCO 1983.
Aspirant	Who was Thomas Roe and why does he matter for Indian history?	Educator: Thomas Roe was the first official British ambassador sent to India – by King James I of England – to Jahangir’s court in 1615 AD. He stayed until 1619. He was seeking trading rights for the British East India Company. Jahangir did not grant him the sweeping commercial privileges he asked for, but he did give some local permissions. What makes Thomas Roe historically important: (1) he represents the formal beginning of British diplomatic engagement with India; (2) his detailed journals and letters home are valuable historical documents about Jahangir’s court; (3) the East India Company grew enormously in India in the century after his mission, eventually conquering the subcontinent. Roe himself noted that trading with India was more profitable than any military conquest – ironically, 150 years later the British used military conquest to secure their trade. For SSC: Thomas Roe = British ambassador = Jahangir’s court = 1615 AD.
Aspirant	The Baburnama is very often asked. What exactly should I know about it?	Educator: Five things. One: Author = Babur (the first Mughal emperor himself). Two: Language = Chagatai Turkish – NOT Persian (which was the standard court language; Babur chose to write in his native Turkish). Three: It is the first true autobiography in the Indian literary tradition – kings before Babur had biographies written by others (like Harshacharita by Bana), but Babur wrote his own story himself. Four: Content – describes his campaigns, the geography of Kabul and India, Indian plants and animals (with remarkable naturalistic observation), the courts of Central Asia, and his personal feelings including grief, joy, and homesickness. Five: Literary quality – it is considered a masterpiece of early Turkish prose literature, not just a historical document. For SSC: Baburnama = Babur = Chagatai Turkish = first autobiography.
Aspirant	Where can I find the complete 326-slide PPT for this chapter?	Educator: The SSC History Mughal Empire PPT Slides – Lecture #17 – Serial #42 – is the largest PPT in the entire Complete Foundation Batch series at slideshareppt.net. At 326 slides and 92 MB, it covers every Mughal emperor, Sher Shah Suri, the Mansabdari and revenue systems, all Mughal monuments (with architectural details and photographs), the painting tradition, the literary tradition, and the decline – all in a structured, visual, exam-focused format. After completing this article and working through the 50 MCQs, dedicate 90–120 minutes to the PPT for complete visual reinforcement of the most important facts.

How to Study This Chapter for Maximum SSC Marks

Step 1 – Emperor Sequence and Key Dates (Day 1)

• Memorise all emperors in order with dates: Babur (1526) → Humayun (1530, 1555) → Akbar (1556) → Jahangir (1605) → Shah Jahan (1627) → Aurangzeb (1658) → Bahadur Shah Zafar II (last, 1857).
• Sher Shah Suri = interregnum (1540–1555).
• Key battle dates: 1st Panipat 1526, Khanwa 1527, Chausa 1539, Kannauj 1540, 2nd Panipat 1556.

Step 2 – Sher Shah Suri Deep Study (Day 2)

• Grand Trunk Road (Sadak-e-Azam) = Chittagong to Kabul = sarais every 2 kos.
• Rupiya (silver coin) = ancestor of modern Rupee.
• Revenue reform = patta + qabuliyat = template for Todarmal.
• Tomb at Sasaram, Bihar. Died at Kalinjar Fort explosion 1545.

Step 3 – Akbar Deep Study (Day 3)

• Second Battle of Panipat 1556 (Bairam Khan vs Hemu). Born Amarkot 1542.
• Mansabdari system: Zat + Sawar, NOT hereditary, Jagirdar when paid by Jagir.
• Todarmal’s Dahsala 1580 (Ten-year revenue, four land types).
• Din-i-Ilahi 1582 (NOT a religion, Birbal only Hindu member). Sulh-i-Kul. Ibadat Khana 1575.
• Abolished Jizya 1564. Fatehpur Sikri 1571. Buland Darwaza (54m, Gujarat victory).
• Navaratna: Abul Fazl (Akbarnama+Ain-i-Akbari), Tansen (music, ragas), Todarmal (revenue), Birbal (wit), Raja Man Singh (military).

Step 4 – Jahangir, Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb (Day 4)

• Jahangir: Nur Jahan (coins+farmans), Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri, Thomas Roe (1615), miniature painting, Ustad Mansur, Chain of Justice.
• Shah Jahan: Taj Mahal (1632–1653, Mumtaz Mahal, Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, UNESCO 1983), Red Fort Delhi (1638–1648, UNESCO 2007), Peacock Throne (looted by Nadir Shah 1739), Shahjahanabad, imprisoned by Aurangzeb.
• Aurangzeb: Reimposed Jizya 1679, executed Guru Tegh Bahadur 1675, Fatwa-i-Alamgiri, Deccan wars, Alamgir title.

Step 5 – Architecture, Literature, MCQ Sprint (Day 5–6)

• Architecture table: Humayun’s Tomb (UNESCO 1993, first garden-tomb), Fatehpur Sikri (UNESCO 1986), Taj Mahal (UNESCO 1983), Red Fort Delhi (UNESCO 2007).
• Literature: Baburnama (Babur, Turkish), Humayunnama (Gulbadan Begum), Akbarnama (Abul Fazl), Ain-i-Akbari (Abul Fazl), Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri (Jahangir).
• Solve all 50 MCQs from the table. Target 90%+ accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What is the difference between Baburnama and Humayunnama?

Baburnama (also called Tuzuk-i-Baburi) was written by Babur himself – the first Mughal emperor – in Chagatai Turkish. It is the first autobiography in Indian literary tradition. Humayunnama was written by Gulbadan Begum – Babur’s daughter and Humayun’s sister. It is a biography of Humayun, written in Persian by a woman, which makes it historically distinctive. Both are primary sources for early Mughal history. For SSC: Baburnama = Babur = Turkish = autobiography. Humayunnama = Gulbadan Begum = Persian = biography of Humayun.

Q2: What is the Zanjir-i-Adl (Chain of Justice)?

The Zanjir-i-Adl (Chain of Justice) was a symbolic system of justice introduced by Emperor Jahangir. A golden chain with 60 bells was hung from the Agra Fort to the Yamuna River bank. Any subject – regardless of rank or status – could come and ring the bells to appeal directly to the Emperor for justice. Jahangir would hear the petition personally. Whether used extensively in practice is debated, but as a statement about royal accountability to the common people, it was a powerful gesture. For SSC: Zanjir-i-Adl = Chain of Justice = Jahangir.

Q3: Why is Fatehpur Sikri significant?

Fatehpur Sikri is a ghost city built entirely in red sandstone by Akbar approximately 35 km from Agra, serving as the Mughal capital from 1571 to 1585 AD. Akbar built it to honour Sufi saint Sheikh Salim Chishti (of the Chishti order) who had blessed Akbar with the prediction of a son (the future Emperor Jahangir was born at Fatehpur Sikri and named Salim in the saint’s honour). The city contains: the Jama Masjid (with Sheikh Salim Chishti’s dargah in white marble), the Buland Darwaza (54 metres – tallest gateway in India), the Panch Mahal (five-storey pavilion), the Ibadat Khana, and the Diwan-i-Am and Diwan-i-Khas. It was abandoned when Akbar moved his capital to Lahore – possibly due to water shortage, though the exact reason is debated. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.

Q4: What happened to the Peacock Throne?

Shah Jahan commissioned the Peacock Throne (Takht-e-Taos) between 1625 and 1635 AD. It was a spectacular jewelled throne of gold, embedded with thousands of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, pearls, and other precious stones, with two peacocks standing behind the throne spreading their jewelled tails. It reportedly took 7 years to make. When Nadir Shah (Persian ruler) invaded and sacked Delhi in 1739 AD during Muhammad Shah’s reign, he took the Peacock Throne back to Persia along with the Kohinoor diamond and enormous other treasure. The throne was eventually broken up – the jewels distributed and the gold melted. The Peacock Throne described in Iranian courts after 1739 was a replica. The original, arguably the most valuable single piece of furniture in human history, no longer exists. The Kohinoor diamond eventually made its way to Britain (through the Sikh Empire) and is now part of the British Crown Jewels.

Q5: What caused the decline of the Mughal Empire?

The Mughal Empire’s decline after 1707 had multiple causes working together. Aurangzeb’s religious policies (reimposing Jizya, temple destruction, executing Guru Tegh Bahadur) alienated the Rajput, Sikh, and Maratha communities that had been the backbone of Mughal military strength since Akbar’s time. His 25-year Deccan war exhausted the treasury and army without achieving its objective. After his death, 12 weak successors followed in 150 years. Nadir Shah’s 1739 invasion shattered Mughal prestige and looted enormous wealth. The Jagir crisis (total jagirs assigned exceeding available revenue) broke the administrative system. The rise of the Marathas, Sikhs, and eventually the British East India Company filled the political vacuum. By 1803, the Mughal Emperor was under British protection in Delhi, a pensioner with no real power – the formal empire ended when Bahadur Shah Zafar II was exiled after the 1857 Revolt.

Q6: Who were the notable women of the Mughal Empire for SSC?

Several Mughal women are testable in SSC: (1) Gulbadan Begum (Babur’s daughter) – wrote Humayunnama. (2) Hamida Banu Begum (Humayun’s wife; Akbar’s mother) – supported Humayun through exile. (3) Jodha Bai (Akbar’s Rajput wife) – daughter of Raja Bharmal of Amer; their son became Emperor Jahangir; her marriage was the centrepiece of Akbar’s Rajput policy. (4) Nur Jahan (Jahangir’s wife) – most powerful; name on coins and farmans; effectively ran the empire. (5) Mumtaz Mahal (Shah Jahan’s wife) – Taj Mahal built in her memory. (6) Jahanara Begum (Shah Jahan’s daughter) – cared for imprisoned Shah Jahan; also a Sufi saint and writer. (7) Zeb-un-Nissa (Aurangzeb’s daughter) – great Persian poet.

Conclusion – Your Complete Revision Package for the Mughal Empire

The SSC History Mughal Empire PPT Slides – Lecture #17 – with its record-breaking 326 slides and 92 MB is the most comprehensive resource in the entire Complete Foundation Batch series. This article has matched it with the most detailed written guide in the series.

Your ultimate 15-point exam-day checklist:

• 1st Panipat 1526: Babur vs Ibrahim Lodi = artillery introduced = Mughal Empire begins; Baburnama = Chagatai Turkish = Babur’s autobiography
• Khanwa 1527: Babur vs Rana Sanga; Chausa 1539 + Kannauj 1540: Humayun loses to Sher Shah; Humayun dies 1556 = fell from library stairs
• Sher Shah Suri: Grand Trunk Road (Sadak-e-Azam) = Chittagong to Kabul; Rupiya (silver rupee); patta+qabuliyat (revenue reform); tomb at Sasaram; died Kalinjar Fort explosion 1545
• 2nd Panipat 1556: Bairam Khan (for Akbar) vs Hemu; Akbar born Amarkot 1542
• Akbar: Mansabdari (Zat+Sawar, NOT hereditary, Jagirdar); Todarmal’s Dahsala 1580 (10-year revenue); Abolished Jizya 1564; Din-i-Ilahi 1582 (Birbal only Hindu); Sulh-i-Kul; Ibadat Khana 1575; Fatehpur Sikri 1571; Buland Darwaza (54m)
• Akbar’s Navaratna: Abul Fazl (Akbarnama+Ain-i-Akbari), Tansen (Hindustani music, ragas), Todarmal (revenue), Birbal (wit), Raja Man Singh (military)
• Jahangir: Nur Jahan (co-ruler, coins+farmans); Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri (his memoirs); Thomas Roe (British ambassador 1615); Ustad Mansur (greatest painter, Nadirul-Asr); Chain of Justice (Zanjir-i-Adl)
• Shah Jahan: Taj Mahal (1632–1653, Mumtaz Mahal, Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, UNESCO 1983); Red Fort Delhi (1638–1648, UNESCO 2007); Peacock Throne (looted by Nadir Shah 1739); Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi); imprisoned by Aurangzeb 1658
• Aurangzeb: Reimposed Jizya 1679; executed Guru Tegh Bahadur 1675; Fatwa-i-Alamgiri; Deccan wars 25 years; title Alamgir; Bijapur 1686, Golconda 1687
• Nadir Shah 1739: sacked Delhi, took Peacock Throne + Kohinoor diamond; Mughal prestige gone
• Decline: Mughal weakness + regional powers (Marathas, Sikhs) + British East India Company (Plassey 1757, Buxar 1764)
• Last Mughal: Bahadur Shah Zafar II = 1857 Revolt = exiled to Rangoon = Mughal Empire formally ends 1858
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Humayun’s Tomb 1993, Agra Fort 1983, Fatehpur Sikri 1986, Taj Mahal 1983, Red Fort Delhi 2007
• Key literature: Baburnama (Babur, Turkish), Humayunnama (Gulbadan Begum), Akbarnama+Ain-i-Akbari (Abul Fazl), Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri (Jahangir), Fatwa-i-Alamgiri (Aurangzeb)