Medieval India
Timeline of Mughal Period (1526-1857)
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- Timeline Of Mughal Period (1526-1857)
- 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
- 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
- India's First War of Freedom Struggle 1857
- Moderate Phase (1885-1905) - Indian National Congress
- Extremist Phase (1905-1917)
- Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948): Chronological Overview
- Miscellaneous of 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)
- Jahangir to Aurangzeb (1605–1707)
- Later Mughal Empire and Its Administration
- Mughal Culture & Architecture Explained
- Rise of Maratha Power (1674–1720): Shivaji to Shahu
- Maratha Confederacy (1720–1818)
- Rowlatt to Non-Cooperation Movement (1919-1922)
- Swaraj Party to Salt March (1923–1930)
- Protest, Pacts & Politics (1930–1935)
- Congress Resigns & Pakistan Resolution: Explianed
- Indian Freedom Movement (1942–45)
- Top Historical Places of India - Indian History
- Famous Foreign Travellers to India
- India’s Historic Timeline (326 BC to 1947 AD)
- Governors & Generals in India: 1757–1858
- India’s Governor Generals: 1858–1950
Timeline of Mughal Period (1526-1857)
Sur Empire (1540–1555)
Sher Shah Suri (1540–1545)
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Son of Hasan Khan, Jagirdar of Sasaram.
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Defeated Humayun at:
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Battle of Chausa (1539) – assumed the title Sher Shah.
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Battle of Kannauj/Bilgram (1540) – became emperor.
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Conquests: Malwa (1542), Ranthambhor, Raisin, Marwar, Chittor, Kalinjar (died here in 1545).
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Administrative Divisions:
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Iqta (Province) – Haqim, Amin
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Sarkar (District) – Shiqdar-i-Shiqdaran, Munsif-i-Munsifan
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Pargana (Taluka) – Shiqdar, Munsif
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Gram (Village) – Muqaddam, Amil
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Reforms:
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Introduced Rupia, standardized weights & measures.
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Land revenue: Measured land, 1/3 tax fixed, peasants given Patta and Qabuliyat.
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Built G.T. Road, Purana Quila.
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Local responsibility for crime.
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Cantonments and garrisons were established.
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Successors:
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Islam Shah (1545–1554)
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Muhammad Adil Shah (1554–1555)
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Mughal Empire
Akbar (1556–1605)
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Ascended at 14, crowned at Kalanaur, Bairam Khan as regent.
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Second Battle of Panipat (1556): Defeated Hemu.
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Conquests (Notable):
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Malwa, Gujarat, Bengal, Bihar, Rajputana, Kabul, Kashmir, Sindh, Orissa, Khandesh, Kandahar, Ahmadnagar, Asirgarh.
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Rajput Policy:
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Marriage alliance with Harka Bai (Amer, 1562).
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Battle of Haldighati (1576) vs. Rana Pratap (resisted till death).
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Religious Policy:
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Abolished Jaziya (1564), pilgrimage tax (1563).
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Built Ibadatkhana (1575); Parliament of Religions (1578).
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Din-i-Ilahi (1582); only Birbal accepted it.
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Reforms:
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Mansabdari system (1574), Dahsala system (1580).
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Introduced the Ilahi Samvat calendar (1584), Ilahi Gaz (1587).
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Architecture: Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort, Lahore Fort, Allahabad Fort, Humayun's Tomb.
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Navaratnas: Birbal, Abul Fazl, Faizi, Todarmal, Bhagwandas, Man Singh, Tansen, Abdur Rahim, Mulla Do Pyaza.
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Died in 1605, buried at Sikandara, Agra.
Jahangir (1605–1627)
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Set up Zanjir-i-Adal (Chain of Justice).
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Married Nur Jahan (1611) – exercised political power.
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European Contacts: Hawkins (1608), Thomas Roe (1615).
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Revolts: Khusrau (supported by Guru Arjun Dev), Khurram (Shahjahan), Mahabat Khan.
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Conquests: Mewar (1615), Kangra (1620), part of Ahmadnagar.
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Memoir: Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri.
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Died in 1627, buried in Lahore.
Shah Jahan (1628–1658)
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Built the Taj Mahal (1632–53) in memory of Mumtaz Mahal.
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Annexed Ahmadnagar (1633), Bijapur, Goland conda (1636).
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Foreign Campaigns: Balkh, Kandahar (lost despite 3 campaigns).
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Travelers: Bernier, Tavernier, Niccolao Manucci, Peter Mundy (famine).
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Architecture: Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Taj Mahal.
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War of Succession (1657–1659): Aurangzeb defeated Dara.
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Died in 1666, imprisoned in Agra Fort, buried in the Taj Mahal.
Aurangzeb (1658–1707)
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Crowned as Alamgir.
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Religious Policy:
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Banned music (1669), festivals, Tuladan, Sati (1663).
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Reimposed Jaziya (1679).
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Major Revolts:
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North India: Jats (Gokula), Satnamis, Bundelas, Sikhs (Guru Teg Bahadur, Gobind Singh), Rajputs (Marwar).
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South India: Bijapur (1686), Golconda (1687), Marathas (Shivaji, Sambhaji, Tarabai).
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Shivaji's Escape: Visited Aurangzeb’s court (1665), imprisoned, escaped, and declared himself Chhatrapati (1674).
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Guru Teg Bahadur executed (1675): Guru Gobind Singh founded Khalsa.
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Died in 1707, buried in Khuldabad (Daulatabad).
Later Mughals & Decline
Ruler |
Reign |
Key Events |
---|---|---|
Bahadur Shah I |
1707–1712 |
Moderate control |
Jahandar Shah |
1712–1713 |
Abolished Jaziya |
Farrukh Siyar |
1713–1719 |
Sayyid Brothers' puppet |
Muhammad Shah |
1719–1748 |
Nadir Shah’s invasion (1739) – Kohinoor, Peacock Throne stolen |
Ahmad Shah |
1748–1754 |
Abdali invades, Punjab ceded |
Alamgir II |
1754–1759 |
Marathas plunder Delhi |
Shah Alam II |
1759–1806 |
Couldn’t enter Delhi for 12 yrs |
Akbar II |
1806–1837 |
Pensioner of EIC |
Bahadur Shah II |
1837–1857 |
Last emperor, leader of 1the 857 Revolt, exiled to Rangoon (d. 1862) |
Mughal Administration
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Empire divisions:
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Suba > Sarkar > Pargana > Village
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Types of land:
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Khalisa (Imperial)
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Jagirs (assigned to nobles)
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Inams (granted lands)
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Final Thoughts
The period from 1540 to 1857 was marked by significant political and cultural developments in India. Sher Shah Suri's brief but impactful rule introduced lasting administrative and economic reforms.
The Mughal Empire, especially under Akbar, reached great heights in governance, religious tolerance, and cultural integration. Later emperors like Jahangir and Shah Jahan sustained this legacy, while Aurangzeb's policies led to internal strife and decline.
The empire gradually weakened due to regional uprisings and British interference. By 1857, the Mughals lost all real power, marking the end of an era. Yet, their contributions continue to influence India’s heritage and identity.
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