Timeline of Mughal Period (1526-1857)

Timeline of Mughal Period (1526-1857)

Sur Empire (1540–1555)

Sher Shah Suri (1540–1545)

• Son of Hasan Khan, Jagirdar of Sasaram.

• Defeated Humayun at:

  • Battle of Chausa (1539) – assumed the title Sher Shah.

  • Battle of Kannauj/Bilgram (1540) – became emperor.

• Conquests: Malwa (1542), Ranthambhor, Raisin, Marwar, Chittor, Kalinjar (died here in 1545).

• Administrative Divisions:

  • Iqta (Province) – Haqim, Amin

  • Sarkar (District) – Shiqdar-i-Shiqdaran, Munsif-i-Munsifan

  • Pargana (Taluka) – Shiqdar, Munsif

  • Gram (Village) – Muqaddam, Amil

• Reforms:

  • Introduced Rupia, standardized weights & measures.

  • Land revenue: Measured land, 1/3 tax fixed, peasants given Patta and Qabuliyat.

  • Built G.T. Road, Purana Quila.

  • Local responsibility for crime.

  • Cantonments and garrisons were established.

• Successors:

  • Islam Shah (1545–1554)

  • Muhammad Adil Shah (1554–1555)

Mughal Empire

Akbar (1556–1605)

• Ascended at 14, crowned at Kalanaur, Bairam Khan as regent.

• Second Battle of Panipat (1556): Defeated Hemu.

• Conquests (Notable):

  • Malwa, Gujarat, Bengal, Bihar, Rajputana, Kabul, Kashmir, Sindh, Orissa, Khandesh, Kandahar, Ahmadnagar, Asirgarh.

• Rajput Policy:

  • Marriage alliance with Harka Bai (Amer, 1562).

  • Battle of Haldighati (1576) vs. Rana Pratap (resisted till death).

• Religious Policy:

  • Abolished Jaziya (1564), pilgrimage tax (1563).

  • Built Ibadatkhana (1575); Parliament of Religions (1578).

  • Din-i-Ilahi (1582); only Birbal accepted it.

• Reforms:

  • Mansabdari system (1574), Dahsala system (1580).

  • Introduced the Ilahi Samvat calendar (1584), Ilahi Gaz (1587).

• Architecture: Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort, Lahore Fort, Allahabad Fort, Humayun's Tomb.

• Navaratnas: Birbal, Abul Fazl, Faizi, Todarmal, Bhagwandas, Man Singh, Tansen, Abdur Rahim, Mulla Do Pyaza.

• Died in 1605, buried at Sikandara, Agra.

Jahangir (1605–1627)

• Set up Zanjir-i-Adal (Chain of Justice).

• Married Nur Jahan (1611) – exercised political power.

• European Contacts: Hawkins (1608), Thomas Roe (1615).

• Revolts: Khusrau (supported by Guru Arjun Dev), Khurram (Shahjahan), Mahabat Khan.

• Conquests: Mewar (1615), Kangra (1620), part of Ahmadnagar.

• Memoir: Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri.

• Died in 1627, buried in Lahore.

Shah Jahan (1628–1658)

• Built the Taj Mahal (1632–53) in memory of Mumtaz Mahal.

• Annexed Ahmadnagar (1633), Bijapur, Goland conda (1636).

• Foreign Campaigns: Balkh, Kandahar (lost despite 3 campaigns).

• Travelers: Bernier, Tavernier, Niccolao Manucci, Peter Mundy (famine).

• Architecture: Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Taj Mahal.

• War of Succession (1657–1659): Aurangzeb defeated Dara.

• Died in 1666, imprisoned in Agra Fort, buried in the Taj Mahal.

Aurangzeb (1658–1707)

• Crowned as Alamgir.

• Religious Policy:

  • Banned music (1669), festivals, Tuladan, Sati (1663).

  • Reimposed Jaziya (1679).

• Major Revolts:

  • North India: Jats (Gokula), Satnamis, Bundelas, Sikhs (Guru Teg Bahadur, Gobind Singh), Rajputs (Marwar).

  • South India: Bijapur (1686), Golconda (1687), Marathas (Shivaji, Sambhaji, Tarabai).

• Shivaji's Escape: Visited Aurangzeb’s court (1665), imprisoned, escaped, and declared himself Chhatrapati (1674).

• Guru Teg Bahadur executed (1675): Guru Gobind Singh founded Khalsa.

• Died in 1707, buried in Khuldabad (Daulatabad).

Later Mughals & Decline

Mughal Administration

• Empire divisions:

  • Suba > Sarkar > Pargana > Village

• Types of land:

  • Khalisa (Imperial)

  • Jagirs (assigned to nobles)

  • Inams (granted lands)

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.