Mughal dynasty

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Mughal emperors: Jahāngīr, Akbar, and Shah Jahān

The Mughal emperor Akbar's rise to power explained

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Mughal dynasty summary

Mughal Dynasty Timeline

Key People of the Mughal Dynasty

Decline of the Mughal Dynasty

Mughal dynasty

Q: Where was the Mughal Empire?

The Mughal Empire reached across much of the Indian subcontinent . By the death of Akbar , the third Mughal ruler, the Mughal Empire extended from Afghanistan to the Bay of Bengal and southward to what is now Gujarat state and the northern Deccan region of India.

Q: How was the Mughal dynasty founded?

The Mughal dynasty was founded by Bābur , a dispossessed Timurid prince who reestablished himself in Kabul . From there he conquered the Punjab and subsequently unseated the Delhi sultanate before extending his rule across northern India.

Q: When did the Mughal Empire end?

The Mughal Empire began to decline in the 18th century, during the reign of Muḥammad Shah (1719–48). Much of its territory fell under the control of the Marathas and then the British. The last Mughal emperor, Bahādur Shah II (1837–57), was exiled by the British after his involvement with the Indian Mutiny of 1857–58.

Q: Why was the Mughal Empire important?

The Mughal Empire was important for bringing almost the entire Indian subcontinent under one domain, drawing the subcontinent's regions together through enhanced overland and coastal trading networks. It was also known for its cultural influence and its architectural achievements (most famously, the Taj Mahal ).

India [1526-1857]

Also known as: Indo-Timurid dynasty, Mogul dynasty, Mughūl dynasty, Mughal Empire

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Dec 15, 2024 • Article History

Mughal also spelled:: Mogul

Persian:: Mughūl (“Mongol”)

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Where was the Mughal Empire?

How was the Mughal dynasty founded?

When did the Mughal Empire end?

Why was the Mughal Empire important?

News •

‘We continue to live in penury’: ‘Heir’ of Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar II who staked claim to Red Fort • Dec. 14, 2024, 12:18 PM ET (The Indian Express)

Sambhal mosque: ASI files response in court; seeks control, management of Mughal-era structure • Dec. 1, 2024, 2:34 AM ET (The Hindu)

Mughal dynasty, Muslim dynasty of Turkic-Mongol origin that ruled most of northern India from the early 16th to the mid-18th century. After that time it continued to exist as a considerably reduced and increasingly powerless entity until the mid-19th century. The Mughal dynasty was notable for its more than two centuries of effective rule over much of India; for the ability of its rulers, who through seven generations maintained a record of unusual talent; and for its administrative organization. A further distinction was the attempt of the Mughals, who were Muslims, to integrate Hindus and Muslims into a united Indian ...(100 of 2358 words)

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