Medieval India
Jahangir to Aurangzeb (1605–1707)
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- Jahangir To Aurangzeb (1605–1707)
- Introduction - Indian History
- Historical Sources (Literary & Archaeological Source)
- Human Evolution Pre-Historic Period
- The Stone Age/Lithic Age 30,00,000 BC to 1,000 BC
- 7 Highlights of India's Prehistoric Ages
- Origin & Culture of Aryans in Vedic India
- Mahajanapada Period (600 BC- 325 BC)
- Religious Movements (600 BC - 400 BC) – Jainism, Buddhism
- Maurya Period (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Post-Maurya/Pre-Gupta Period (185BC-319 AD)
- The Sangam Period (1st-3rd Century AD)
- The Gupta Period (319 AD - 540 AD)
- The Post-Gupta Period/Vardhana Dynasty (550 AD - 647 AD)
- Early Medieval Period: Rajputs to Cholas Overview
- History of Delhi Sultanate
- Vijayanagar Empire (1336-1565 AD)
- Religious Movements in 15th -16th Centuries
- Timeline of Mughal Period (1526-1857)
- Maratha State (1674-1720) and Maratha Confederacy (1720-1818)
- The Advent of the Europeans From (1498-1763)
- Expansion of British Power in India
- India’s Exploitation by the British Rule
- Socio-Religious Movements in 19th-20th Centuries
- Lower Caste/Caste Movements and Organisations
- Moderate Phase (1885-1905) - Indian National Congress
- Extremist Phase (1905-1917)
- The Gandhian Era: 1869–1948
- Miscellaneous - Indian History
- Brahmanic (Hindu) Texts
- Buddhist Texts and Jain Texts
- Historical and Semi-Historical Texts
- Biographical Texts - Indigenous Sources
- Greek Writers - Foreign Sources
- Chinese and Tibetan Writers
- Arabian & Arabic Writers
- Origin & Development of Indian Archaeology
- Inscriptions of Archaeological Sources
- Mauryan Inscriptions
- Post-Mauryan Inscriptions
- Gupta and Later Inscriptions in India
- South Indian Inscriptions
- Mesolithic Age in India (9,000 BC - 4,000 BC)
- Neolithic Age (7,000 BC - 1,000 BC)
- Neolithic Sites in India
- Chalco-Lithic Age (3,500 BC - 1,000 BC)
- Iron Age (1,000 BC–500 BC)
- Iron Using Cultures - Iron Age
- Harappan / Indus Civilization (2500 BC - 1750 BC)
- Vedic Culture (1500 BC – 600 BC)
- Rig Vedic/Early Vedic Period (1500 BC - 1000 BC)
- Later Vedic Period (1000 BC - 600 BC)
- Haryanka Dynasty (544 BC – 412 BC)
- Religious Movements of Jainism (600 BC - 400 BC)
- Religious Movements of Buddhism (600 BC - 400 BC)
- Maurya Period Sources (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Origin of the Maurya Dynasty (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Mauryan Administration & Art (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Gupta Administration: Society, Economy & Culture
- The Khilji Dynasty : 1290-1320 AD
- The Tughlaq Dynasty: 1320-1414 AD
- The Sayyed and Lodhi Dynasty
- Rise of Babur & Humayun in Mughal Period
- Sher Shah Suri Empire (1540–55): Second Afghan Empire
- The Mughal Empire Under Akbar (1556–1605)
- Later Mughal Empire and Its Administration
- Mughal Culture & Architecture Explained
- Rise of Maratha Power (1674–1720): Shivaji to Shahu
- Maratha Confederacy (1720–1818)
Jahangir to Aurangzeb (1605–1707)
Jahangir (1605–1627)
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Salim, son of Akbar, came to the throne after Akbar died in 1605.
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He issued 12 ordinances.
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Known for strict administration of justice:
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Established Zanjir-i-Adal (Chain of Justice) at Agra Fort for seekers of royal justice.
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Marriage and Nurjahan's Role
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In 1611, they married Mihar-un-nisa, widow of Sher Afghan (a Persian nobleman of Bengal).
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She was later named Nurjahan.
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She exercised tremendous influence over state affairs.
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Made the official Padshah Begum.
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Joint coins were issued in both Nurjahan's and Jahangir’s names
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Other Marriages
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Also married Manmati / Jagat Gosai / Jodha Bai of Marwar and a Kachhwaha princess.
English Visitors to His Court
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1608: Captain William Hawkins (East India Company) – received a mansab of 400.
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1615: Sir Thomas Roe, ambassador of King James I of England:
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Initially resisted.
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Later granted permission to establish a trading port at Surat.
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Political Achievements
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Submission of Rana Amar Singh of Mewar (1615).
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Captured Kangara Fort (1620).
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Annexed part of Ahmadnagar.
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Malik Amber ceded Balaghat (Maharashtra) back to the Mughals.
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Revolts
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1605: Son Khusrau (supported by Guru Arjun Dev) revolted.
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1606: Guru Arjun Dev was executed.
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Later revolts by:
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Khurram (Shahjahan) (1622–25).
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Mahavat Khan, military general (1626–27).
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Other Facts
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Wrote memoirs: Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri (in Persian).
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Buried in Lahore.
Shahjahan (1628–1658)
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Mother: Jagat Gosai / Jodha Bai (daughter of Raja Jagat Singh).
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Ascended the throne in 1628 after their father’s death.
Early Challenges
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Revolts in:
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Bundelkhand: Jujhar Singh Bundela of Orchha (1628–35).
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Deccan: Khan-i-Jahan Lodhi (1629–31).
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Personal Life
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1631: Death of beloved wife Mumtaj Mahal (Arzumand Bano).
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Built the Taj Mahal (1632–53) in her memory.
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Military Campaigns
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1631–32: Defeated the Portuguese.
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1633: Annexed Nizam Shahi dynasty of Ahmadnagar.
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1636: Bijapur and Golconda accepted Mughal suzerainty.
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1647: Sent army to Balkh for the defense of NW India.
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1638: Recovered Kandhar from Iranians.
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1647: Lost Kandhar again despite 3 campaigns (Murad, Aurangzeb, Dara).
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Descriptions by Foreign Travellers
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Bernier, Tavernier (French), Nicoli Manucci (Italian).
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Peter Mundi described the famine during his reign.
Cultural Legacy
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The peak of Mughal architecture:
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Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Jama Masjid.
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Promotion of art, culture, and architecture.
War of Succession (1657–1659)
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Shahjahan’s illness triggered war among his sons:
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War of Bahadurpur (Feb 1658): Dara vs Shah Shuja.
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War of Dharmat (Apr 1658): Dara vs Aurangzeb–Murad.
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War of Samugarh (May 1658): Dara vs Aurangzeb–Murad.
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War of Khajua (Dec 1658): Aurangzeb vs Shah Shuja.
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War of Deorai (Mar 1659): Aurangzeb vs Dara.
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Aurangzeb won and imprisoned Shahjahan in Agra Fort (died in 1666).
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Buried at the Taj Mahal (Agra).
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Aurangzeb (1658–1707)
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Defeated Dara in:
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Dharmat (1658).
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Samugarh (1658) – Decisive.
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Deorai (1659) – Final battle.
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Crowned at Delhi as Alamgir.
Revolts During His Reign
North India (1658–81)
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Jat (1669): Gokula, Rajaram, Churamani – Agrarian policy.
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Bundela (1671): Champat Rai, Chhatrasal – Political/religious.
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Satnami (1673): Satnami Sect followers – Religious suppression.
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Sikh (1675): Guru Teg Bahadur, Guru Gobind Singh – Religious.
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Rajput–Marwar (1678): Durgadas (Ajit Singh’s general) – Succession dispute.
South India (1682–1707)
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Bijapur Annexation (1686): Sikandar Adil Shah – Treaty violation.
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Golconda Annexation (1687): Abul Hasan Kutub Shah – Maratha alliance.
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Mughal–Maratha Struggle (1689 onwards):
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Sambhaji, Rajaram, Tarabai – Rise of Maratha nationalism.
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Maratha Resistance
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Left North in 1682, spent 25 years (till 1707) fighting Marathas.
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Shivaji:
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Failed assassination plan with Jai Singh (1665).
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Imprisoned by Aurangzeb but escaped.
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1674: Declared himself an independent monarch.
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Died in 1680, and was succeeded by Sambhaji (executed in 1689).
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Then ruled by Rajaram, followed by widow Tarabai.
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Sikh Resistance
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1675: Executed Guru Teg Bahadur.
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His son, Guru Gobind Singh, formed Khalsa.
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1708: Guru Gobind Singh was assassinated at Nander (Deccan).
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Banda Bahadur (originally Lachhman Dev → Madho Das) continued Sikh resistance.
Religious Policies – Key Years
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1659: Banned Kalama on coins, Nauroj Festival, appointed moral regulator.
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1663: Banned Sati.
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1668: Banned Hindu festivals.
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1669: Banned Jharokha darshan, court music.
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1670: Banned Tuladan (emperor weighing).
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1679: Re-introduced Jaziya tax.
Other Information
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Died in 1707, buried at Khuldabad (Daulatabad).
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Known as Zinda Pir (Living Saint).
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Hindu Mansabdars remained in high proportion under his rule.
Decline of the Mughal Empire
Reasons
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Rajput, Deccan, and religious policies of Aurangzeb.
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Weak successors (poor generals and administrators).
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Wars of succession.
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Factionalism among the nobility.
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Jagirdari crisis.
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Rise of regional powers: Marathas, Bengal, Hyderabad, Avadh, Mysore, etc.
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Foreign invasions: Nadir Shah (1739), Abdali.
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British conquest.
Important Years of Aurangzeb's Religious Policy |
|
1659 |
Forbade the inscription of Kalama on the coins, the celebration of the Nauroj Festival, Appointment of A regulator of moral character. |
1663 |
Ban on the Sati custom |
1668 |
Ban on Hindu Festival |
1669 |
A ban on Jharokha darshan forbade music in the court. |
1670 |
Ban on Tuladan (weighing of the emperor) |
1679 |
Re-introduction of Jaziya |
Final Thoughts
The period from Jahangir to Aurangzeb (1605–1707) reflects the Mughal Empire at its most powerful—and most vulnerable.
Jahangir’s focus on justice, Shahjahan’s architectural legacy, and Aurangzeb’s territorial ambitions highlight the empire's glory. Yet, beneath this grandeur were deep-rooted issues: constant wars, religious conflicts, and succession struggles.
Though this era showcased unmatched cultural and political achievements, it also exposed the cracks that would later lead to the empire's decline. Still, the legacy of these emperors—through monuments, policies, and historical lessons—continues to shape our understanding of India's past.
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