Mughals in India

- Babur was the first ruler of the Mughal dynasty, he claimed that his right of inheriting the subcontinent is due to the conquest of Delhi by his ancestor Timur.

- His empire defeated the army of Lodis at Panipat.

- It covers from beyond Afghanistan to the Bengal region along Gangetic plain.

- However, his son, Humayum lost the kingdom to Bihar-based Sher Khan Sur and fled to Persia.

- But in the 1555, Humayum recaptured Delhi before his death.

- Akbar, Humayum’s son who inherited his position, was able to extend the Mughal Empire and built the administrative machinery that forms the basis for many present-day practices in India

- The next successor was Jahangir, Akbar’s son, showed a luxurious living as well as his son, who became the next ruler, Shah Jahan.

- Shah Jahan is known for his building program example is the Taj Mahal and he is also instrumental in extending the Mughal Empire to the Deccan Plateau.

- After the death of the last ruler, Aurangzeb (Shah Jahan’s son), the empire disintegrated quickly.

ref: Grolier Encyclopedia of Knowledge, Microsoft Encarta 2007