The empire of Great Moguls is a powerful state of the East of the 16-17th centuries which on force and influence could compete with China and the Ottoman Empire. The state of Moguls was on the earth of India and Afghanistan, called it in honor of a ruling dynasty which members were descendants of the commander Timur.
The empire was the Muslim state, Babur, the first of Moguls founded it. India was ruined after Timur's invasions, and Moguls, being carriers of more developed culture, helped its revival. The culture of their own state united Buddhist traditions and Muslim customs, features of tyursky and Persian civilizations.
By an example of the Delhi sultanate, the system of government of Moguls was Muslim. And it was more viable, than public entities of kushan and Mauryev based on religion varn.
Blossoming of the Empire of Great Moguls fell on the 17th century, and in the 18th century the state broke up to several smaller who became the English colonies later. Time of government of Moguls in the history of India is called the Muslim period, but in life of the simple people this period changed little, having mentioned only a top of the Indian society. Mostly Moguls joined the circle of Indians, laid the foundation for new dynasties, and their descendants called India the homeland.
Empire birth
Full name of the founder of the mogolsky empire – Zaheer ad-Din Muhammad Babur. On the father he was Timurid, on mother - Genghis Khan's descendant. In youth operated the small principality in the neighborhood of Fergana, however it was expelled by ancient Uzbek tribes which came from Siberia.
After exile, Babur located in Kabul where he created powerful army. He dreamed of great gains, but the first campaign to Samarkand was unsuccessful, and then Babur decided to occupy the rich lands of India. But neglected preparation, and storm of Punjab terminated in a victory of the khans ruling there.
2 years later after this defeat, Babur brought together army again – 13000 people got up under its beginning. And in 1526 the descendant Timuridov took Punjab, in 1527 it broke Sangram Singh's Rajputs, thanks to special tactics of Moguls when the strong cavalry covered flanks of the opponent.
The new state of Babur created in Northern India, quickly expanded its borders to lower reaches of Ganges. And as in this country the Great Mogul felt like the stranger, in the first years far Kabul was considered as the capital of his state. Later Babur transferred the capital to Agra where by means of the famous architect from Constantinople built many majestic constructions in the city, without having regretted forces and means. Soldiers of the first of Moguls who wanted to remain in India received the earth and could employ Hindu tenants to work at it.
After 4 years of individual board, Babur divided the empire between sons:
- to the eldest son, Humayun, he gave the most part of lands;
- Kamrana made the nawab of Kabul and Kandahar;
- Mahomed - the nawab of Multan.
To all sons the Great Mogul ordered to live in peace and friendship and to avoid internal wars.
Became the history Babur as the wise governor who was interested in religion, traditions, the culture of the won country. He was not only the courageous soldier, but also the educated historian, the romantic poet.
At the peak of power
When in 1530 the son Babura, Nassir Ud-Dean Mahomed Humayun, occupied a throne, race for power between children of the Great Mogul at once began. And while the political position of the empire was precarious, power in Delhi was seized by Farid Cher khan – the governor of Bihar, the descendant of the ancient Afghan tribe and the founder of a dynasty of the RMS. And Humayun fled to Iran.
Became Cher khan the shah and was engaged in strengthening of the central power, having allowed Hindus to hold senior positions. Time of its board was marked:
- construction of roads from Delhi to Bengal, Indus and other areas of Hindustan;
- drawing up general inventory of lands;
- change and ordering of a tax system.
The empire of Great Moguls was semi-feudal with the strong monarchic center, and often after the death of the governor fights for a throne which weakened the power began. However at court there was always a luxury, and Great Moguls were famous for power both in Asia, and in Europe.
In 1545 Cher khan died suddenly when its own ammunition exploded. Humayun used it and returned a throne, but died in a year, having left a throne on the 13-year-old son Akbar. Time of government of Akbar became the highest blossoming of the empire of Moguls. It conquered many Indian lands, dreaming of rallying the country and to bring order to it. But during the first rule Akbar relied on the vizier who was the Turkmen of Beram-han, and several years later the need of the governor in the help disappeared – Akbar took board in hand. Pacified the brother Gakim who tried to take away a throne, and created the strong central power. During its board:
- the empire of Great Moguls joined the earth of almost all Northern India: Gondwana, Gundzharat, Bengal, Kashmir, Orissa;
- the dynasty Baburidov became related with Rajputs, having ensured their support;
- Akbar concluded the alliance from radzhupta that well affected changes in army, a system of the state, development of art and a way of life of people of the whole country.
Akbar continued Cher khan reforms, having announced all lands the property of the empire. As a result military leaders received extensive areas, however could not descend them. In vassal dependence on the emperor there were princes-zamindary who too had a lot of earth, but they could descend it and dispose of income from possession after payment of a tax.
Akbar with identical respect belonged to Muslims, Hindus, Christians or Zoroastrian Persians. He even tried to create new local religion which would unite beliefs of all citizens of the Empire. But the main achievement of Akbar was the fact that he could unite India, make it strong and solid. And Akbar's business was continued by his son, the grandson and the great-grandson: Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb.
New gains
Jahangir, Akbar's son, was going to expand borders of the empire of Moguls. He strengthened the positions in Bengal and pacified rebellious Sikhs of Punjab. However, despite strong artillery of army, Moguls were defenseless at the sea. Winning huge territories, they did not develop the fleet, remaining, in fact, overland nomads. It gave a free hand to Portuguese who reached the coast, took the Indian pilgrims prisoner to demand for them repayment.
During Jahangir's government the fleet of England broke Portuguese in the Indian sea, and later to the yard of the emperor there arrived James I's envoy. Jahangir signed with him the arrangement, and the first English trade trading stations soon opened.
But Jahangir's son – Shah Jahan could unite almost all India under the power of Great Moguls. He crushed troops of Ahmadnagar, took the most part of the territory of its state, Bidzhapur and Golconda subordinated. Jahan's son, Aurangzeb, completely subdued the Dean and the Southern India. He transferred the capital of the Empire of Moguls to Fatekhpur – the ancient city which the emperor Aurangzeb transformed, and gave the new name: Arangabad. And in 1685 he broke British who tried to expand in the armed way the power in India.
Decline of the empire
However with Aurangzeba also the decline of the empire of Great Moguls began. As the governor, he was cruel and short-sighted. Being a zealous Sunnite, this emperor cruelly pursued gentiles: tried to destroy their temples, cancelled privileges that caused discontent of Rajputs who long supported Moguls. This policy became the cause of a revolt of Sikhs in the north of the country and discontent of maratkh.
Residents of the empire were revolted, they condemned the governor despot. In the same time of Aurangzeb lifted taxes, than caused fall of income of military leaders which they received from allotments. Country revolts happened regularly, they lasted many years.
And at the beginning of the 18th century in the empire there was severe famine which became the serious reason of easing, and after – disintegration of the mogolsky state. Because of hunger in India more than 2000000 people died, many inhabitants ran to other countries. And the emperor Aurangzeb instead of resolving the vital issues, sent army for suppression of a revolt of singkh. And singkh in response to it created a halsa – the strong military organization with which the governor could not cope any more.