Medieval India

Mughal Culture & Architecture Explained

By Examguru / 09 Jul, 2025 / Download PDF

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Mughal Culture & Architecture Explained

Mughal Culture

  • Babur built two mosques:

    • One at Kabulibagh in Panipat

    • Another at Sambhal in Rohilkhand

  • Humayun's tomb was built by his widow Bega Begum (alias Haji Begum)

  • An unusual building at Fatehpur Sikri is the Panch Mahal

    • Panch Mahal has the plan of a Buddhist Viharā

  • The Mariam's Palace, Diwan-i-Aam, and Diwan-i-Khas at Sikri

    • Are they Indian in their plan

  • Buland Darwaza (built after the Gujarat victory)

    • Formed the main entrance to Fatehpur Sikri

  • Salim Chisti's tomb

    • Redone in marble by Jahangir

    • It is the first Mughal building in pure marble

  • Palace of Birbal and Palace of Tansen

    • They are also inside Fatehpur Sikri

  • Akbar also began to build his tomb at Sikandara

    • Which was later completed by Jahangir

  • The architecture of Fatehpur Sikri is known as

    • Epic in red sandstone

Architecture by Jahangir & Nurjahan

  • Nurjahan built Itimad-ud-daula / Mirza Ghiyas Beg’s marble tomb at Agra

    • Notable for the first use of pietra dura

    • (Floral designs made up of semiprecious stones)

  • Jahangir:

    • Introduced vigorous use of marble instead of red sandstone

    • Used pietra dura for decorative purposes

    • Built Moti Masjid in Lahore

    • Built his mausoleum at Shahdara (Lahore)

Architecture by Shahjahan

  • The tomb or Mausoleum building reached its climax in the Taj Mahal

  • Shahjahan also built the Jama Masjid

Important buildings by Shahjahan at Agra:

  • Moti Masjid (the only mosque made of marble)

  • Khaasa Mahal

  • Musamman Burz (Jasmine Palace)

    • Where he spent his last year in captivity

  • Shahjahan founded Shahjahanabad in 1637

    • Built the Red Fort

    • Built Takht-i-Taus (Peacock Throne)

Aurangzeb's Contributions

  • The only building built by Aurangzeb in the Red Fort:

    • Moti Masjid

  • The only monument associated with Aurangzeb:

    • Bibi ka Maqbara

      • Tomb of his wife Rabbia-ud-daura

      • Located in Aurangabad

  • Aurangzeb also built:

    • Badshahi Masjid in Lahore

Mughal Painting

  • Humayun employed two master painters:

    • Mir Syed Ali

    • Abdus Samad

  • Famous painters in Akbar’s court:

    • Daswant

    • Basawan

  • Famous painters in Jahangir’s court:

    • Abdul Hassan

    • Ustad Mansur

    • Bishandas

  • Jahangir claimed:

    • He could distinguish the work of each artist in a picture

Introduction & Ban on Tobacco

  • Tobacco smoking was introduced in India during the last years of Akbar's reign.

  • The use of tobacco was prohibited by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir.

    • According to Alexander Rogers and H. Beveridge (the translator duo of Jahangirnama),

    • Since smoking has bad effects on the health and the minds of many,

    • Jahangir ordered that no one should practice the habit of tobacco smoking.

Titles given by the Mughal Ruler

Title

Person

Field

Ruler

Jagat Guru

Harivijay Suri

Jain Religion

Akbar

Zari Kalam

Mohammad Husain

Literature

Akbar

Sirin Kalam

Abdus Samad

Literature

Akbar

Raj Kavi

Faizi

Literature

Akbar

Kavi Priya

Birbal

Literature

Akbar

Nadir-ul-Asra

Ustad Mansur

Painting

Jahangir

Nadir-uz-Zaman

Abdul Hassan

Painting

Jahangir

Guna Samudra

Lai khan

Music

Shahjahan

Raj Kavi

Kalim

Literature

Shahjahan

Mahakaviray

Sundardas

Literature

Shahjahan

Literature of the Mughal Period

Book

Author

Contents

Tuzuk-i-Baburi

Babur

Describes military tactics and administrative organisation during Babur's reign

Qanun-i-Humayun

Khwand Amair

Describes Humayun's administration, festivities, and buildings of that period

Humayun Nama

Gulbadan Begum

Biography of Humayun

Akbarnama

Abul Fazl

Gives a history of Akbar's reign

Tobaqat-i-Akbari

Khwajah Nizamuddin Ahmad Baksh

—do—

Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri

Jahangir

Memoirs of his reign

Iqbalnama-i-Jahangiri

Muhammad Khan

History of Jahangir's reign

Chahar Chaman

Chandra Bhan Brahman

History of Shahjahan's rule

Alamgir-nama

Munshi Mirza Muhammad Kazin

Gives an account of Aurangzeb's first 10 years of rule

Massir-i-Alamgiri

Saqi Mustaid Khan

The official history of Aurangzeb's reign was written after his death

Ain-i-Akbari

Abul Fazl

History of Akbar's reign

Muntakhab-ul-Tawarikh

Badauni

History of Akbar's rule

Tawarikh-i-Alfi

Mulla Daud

—do—

Nuriyya-i-Sultaniyya

Abdul Haq

Theory of Kinship during the Mughal Period

Waqt-i-Hyderabad

Nimat Khan Ali

Aurangzeb's Golconda conquest

Futuhat-i-Alamgiri

Ishwar Das

Aurangzeb's history

Nuskha-i-Dilkusha

Bhimsen Saxena

Analysis of Aurangzeb's rule and character

Khulasat-ul-Tawarikh

Sujan Raj Khatri

History of Aurangzeb's rule

Padshah Namah

Abdul Hamid Lahori

History of Shah Jahan's reign

Padshah Namah

Mumahad Waris

—do—

Shahjahan Namah

Muhammad Salih

—do—

Shahjahan Namah

Inyat Khan

—do—

Hamlai-Haidri

Muhammad Rafi Khan

History of Aurangzeb's rule

Namah-e-Alamgiri

Aquil Khan Zafar

-do-

Sirr-i-Akbar

Dara Shikoh

Urdu translation of the Upanishad

Safinat-ul-Auliya

—do—

Biographies of Sufi Saints

Majma-ul-Bahrain (i.e., The Mingling of Two Oceans)

—do—

Philosophical ideas discussed

Raqqat-e-Alamgiri

Aurangzeb

A compendium of his letters

Hasmat-ul-Arifin

Dara Shikoh

Religious ideas discussed

Final Thoughts

The Mughal Empire left a lasting legacy in Indian history through its remarkable contributions to architecture, art, and administration.

From Babur’s mosques to Shah Jahan’s Taj Mahal and Aurangzeb’s Bibi ka Maqbara, each emperor added unique architectural marvels reflecting both Islamic and indigenous styles. The refined Mughal painting tradition, encouraged by emperors like Akbar and Jahangir, showcased immense artistic talent and patronage.

Administrative innovations like the Mansabdari and Jagirdari systems, along with organized revenue collection methods, were crucial for maintaining such a vast empire. Moreover, their awareness of public health is reflected in Jahangir’s decision to ban tobacco use.

In all, the Mughals created a cultural and administrative framework that deeply influenced India’s social, political, and aesthetic identity—a heritage still admired and studied today.

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