About the Mughal Empire and its Administration
The Mughal Empire (1526–1857 AD) was one of the largest and most powerful empires in Indian history. It was founded by Babur in 1526 AD after he defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat. The Mughals ruled India for more than three hundred years and gave it a strong, centralised administration, magnificent architecture and a rich composite culture.
The Great Mughal Emperors
Babur (1526–1530): founded the empire. He was a descendant of Timur on his father’s side and of Genghis Khan on his mother’s side. He wrote his autobiography, the Baburnama (Tuzuk-i-Baburi), in Turkish.
Humayun (1530–1540, 1555–1556): lost his empire to Sher Shah Suri after the battles of Chausa (1539) and Kannauj (1540), but recovered Delhi in 1555.
Sher Shah Suri (1540–1545): though not a Mughal, he ruled between Humayun’s two reigns. He built the Grand Trunk Road, issued the silver rupiya, developed the land revenue system (with patta and qabuliyat), built sarais and his tomb at Sasaram.
Akbar (1556–1605): the greatest Mughal emperor. He won the Second Battle of Panipat (1556) against Hemu, and with his regent Bairam Khan consolidated the empire. He conquered Malwa, Gondwana, Chittor, Ranthambore, Gujarat, Bengal and parts of the Deccan. He built Fatehpur Sikri, founded the Din-i-Ilahi (1582), abolished the jizya, and followed a policy of Sulh-i-Kul (peace with all). His court had the Navratna (nine gems), including Birbal, Tansen, Todar Mal and Abul Fazl. He introduced the Mansabdari system and the Zabti land revenue system of Todar Mal.
Jahangir (1605–1627): known for the chain of justice and the influence of Nur Jahan. He wrote the Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri; Sir Thomas Roe came as the ambassador of England.
Shah Jahan (1628–1658): the “Engineer King”. He built the Taj Mahal in memory of Mumtaz Mahal, the Red Fort and Jama Masjid at Delhi, the Moti Masjid, and the Peacock Throne.
Aurangzeb (1658–1707): titled Alamgir. A strict ruler, he reimposed the jizya (1679), annexed Bijapur (1686) and Golconda (1687), and fought long wars against the Marathas, Sikhs and Rajputs. The empire reached its greatest extent under him but was badly weakened.
Mughal Administration
- Emperor: the supreme head of the state, the army and the judiciary.
- Wazir: the prime minister, in charge of finance and general administration.
- Mir Bakshi: the head of the military and the mansabdari system.
- Mir Saman (Khan-i-Saman): in charge of the imperial household and workshops.
- Sadr-us-Sudur: in charge of religious affairs and charity.
- Diwan-i-Ala: the finance department.
- Mansabdari system: every officer held a mansab (rank) with two parts – Zat (personal status) and Sawar (cavalry). Ranks ranged from 10 to 5,000, with princes holding higher ranks.
- Jagirdari system: a jagir was land assigned to a mansabdar in place of salary; Khalisa land was reserved for the emperor; Watan jagir was the ancestral land of a zamindar.
- Land revenue: the Zabti system of Todar Mal fixed revenue at about one-third of the produce, based on the Dahsala (ten-year average).
- Provincial administration: the empire was divided into Subas, each under a Subadar, with a Diwan, a Bakshi and a Faujdar.
Timeline of the Mughal Empire
- 1526 AD: First Battle of Panipat; Babur founds the Mughal Empire.
- 1540 AD: Sher Shah Suri defeats Humayun at Kannauj.
- 1556 AD: Second Battle of Panipat; Akbar defeats Hemu.
- 1565 AD: Akbar builds Fatehpur Sikri.
- 1571–1585 AD: Conquest of Gujarat, Bengal and parts of the Deccan.
- 1582 AD: Akbar proclaims the Din-i-Ilahi.
- 1605 AD: Jahangir becomes emperor.
- 1628 AD: Shah Jahan becomes emperor; the Taj Mahal is built later.
- 1658 AD: Aurangzeb becomes emperor.
- 1679 AD: Aurangzeb reimposes the jizya.
- 1686–1687 AD: Annexation of Bijapur and Golconda.
- 1707 AD: Death of Aurangzeb; decline of the Mughal Empire begins.
Main Facts (Quick Revision Bullets)
- Founder of the Mughal Empire: Babur (1526).
- First Battle of Panipat: 1526 AD; Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi.
- Babur’s autobiography: Baburnama (Tuzuk-i-Baburi), in Turkish.
- Battles that defeated Humayun: Chausa (1539) and Kannauj (1540).
- Builder of the Grand Trunk Road: Sher Shah Suri.
- Silver coin of Sher Shah: rupiya.
- Greatest Mughal emperor: Akbar.
- Second Battle of Panipat: 1556 AD; Akbar defeated Hemu.
- Din-i-Ilahi: proclaimed by Akbar in 1582.
- Land revenue system of Akbar: Zabti (Todar Mal) with Dahsala.
- Nine gems (Navratna): Birbal, Tansen, Todar Mal and Abul Fazl, among others.
- Taj Mahal built by: Shah Jahan, in memory of Mumtaz Mahal.
- English ambassador at Jahangir’s court: Sir Thomas Roe.
- Jizya reimposed by: Aurangzeb (1679).
- Deccan kingdoms annexed by Aurangzeb: Bijapur (1686) and Golconda (1687).
- Mansab’s two parts: Zat and Sawar.
- Land reserved for the emperor: Khalisa.
Important Persons and Terms
- Babur: founder of the Mughal Empire; author of the Baburnama.
- Humayun: lost and regained the empire.
- Sher Shah Suri: able ruler between the two reigns of Humayun; Grand Trunk Road, rupiya and land reform.
- Akbar: greatest Mughal; Mansabdari, Zat, Sawar, Sulh-i-Kul and Din-i-Ilahi.
- Todar Mal: finance minister of Akbar; architect of the Zabti land revenue system.
- Abul Fazl: author of the Akbarnama and the Ain-i-Akbari.
- Jahangir: author of the Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri.
- Shah Jahan: builder of the Taj Mahal.
- Aurangzeb (Alamgir): last great Mughal emperor; strict and expansionist.
Why the Mughal Empire Matters for Exams
This is a very important topic. Common questions: Who founded the Mughal Empire? (Babur.) When was the First Battle of Panipat fought? (1526.) Who built the Grand Trunk Road? (Sher Shah Suri.) Who was the greatest Mughal emperor? (Akbar.) Who built the Taj Mahal? (Shah Jahan.) Who reimposed the jizya? (Aurangzeb.) A common trap is to confuse the First Battle of Panipat (1526, Babur vs Ibrahim Lodi) with the Second (1556, Akbar vs Hemu). Another trap is to equate the Zat and Sawar ranks of the mansabdari system.
How to Prepare This Topic
- Learn the emperors in order. Babur, Humayun, Sher Shah, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb.
- Fix one major achievement for each emperor. Baburnama, GT Road, Mansabdari, Taj Mahal and the Deccan annexations.
- Learn the administrative terms. Wazir, Mir Bakshi, Mansabdari, Zat, Sawar, Jagir, Khalisa and Zabti.
- Learn the two Panipat battles and their dates. 1526 and 1556.
- Learn the sources. Baburnama, Akbarnama, Ain-i-Akbari and Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri.
Common Exam Traps
- The First Battle of Panipat (1526) founded the Mughal Empire; the Second (1556) confirmed Akbar’s rule.
- Sher Shah Suri was not a Mughal; he defeated Humayun.
- Akbar, not Babur, introduced the Mansabdari and Zabti systems.
- The Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan, not Jahangir.
- Aurangzeb reimposed the jizya; Akbar had abolished it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded the Mughal Empire and when?
The Mughal Empire was founded by Babur in 1526 AD after he defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat. Babur was a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan and wrote the Baburnama.
Who was the greatest Mughal emperor and why?
Akbar (1556–1605) is considered the greatest Mughal emperor. He consolidated and expanded the empire, introduced the Mansabdari system and the Zabti land revenue system, followed the policy of Sulh-i-Kul, abolished the jizya, patronised art and learning, and had the Navratna in his court.
What was the Mansabdari system?
The Mansabdari system was introduced by Akbar. Every officer held a mansab (rank) with two parts: Zat (personal status) and Sawar (number of cavalry to be maintained). Ranks ranged from 10 to 5,000 and determined the officer’s salary and duties.
What was the Zabti land revenue system?
The Zabti system was devised by Raja Todar Mal under Akbar. Revenue was fixed at about one-third of the produce, based on the Dahsala (ten-year average) of prices and yields. It was a fair and scientific system and became the basis of later revenue administration.
Which monuments were built by Shah Jahan?
Shah Jahan, called the “Engineer King”, built the Taj Mahal at Agra in memory of Mumtaz Mahal, the Red Fort and Jama Masjid at Delhi, the Moti Masjid, and the Peacock Throne.
How did Aurangzeb’s policies weaken the Mughal Empire?
Aurangzeb reimposed the jizya (1679), fought long and costly wars in the Deccan and against the Marathas, Sikhs and Rajputs, and faced the Jagirdari crisis. Although the empire reached its greatest extent under him, these wars drained its resources and set the stage for its decline after 1707.