Economics 166 Report

Dwayne Goulette
ECONOMICS
ECONOMICS_166_REPORT
The emperors of the Mughal Empire, who were all members of the Timurid dynasty (House
of Babur), ruled over the empire from its inception on 21 April 1526 to its dissolution on 21
September 1857.They were the supreme monarchs of the Mughal Empire in the Indian
subcontinent, mainly corresponding to the modern countries of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan
and Bangladesh.They ruled parts of India from 1526, and by 1707, ruled most of the
subcontinent.Afterwards, they declined rapidly, but nominally ruled territories until the
Indian Rebellion of 1857, where they gave their last stand against the invading British
forces in India.The Mughal dynasty was founded by Babur (r. 1526–1530), a Timurid prince
from the Fergana Valley (modern-day Uzbekistan), was a direct descendant of both Timur
and Genghis Khan.The Mughal emperors had significant Indian Rajput and Persian ancestry
through marriage alliances as emperors were born to Rajput and Persian princesses.During
the reign of Aurangzeb, the empire, as the world's largest economy and manufacturing
power, worth over 25% of global GDP, controlled nearly all of the Indian subcontinent,
extending from Dhaka in the east to Kabul in the west and from Kashmir in the north to the
Kaveri River in the south.Its population at the time has been estimated as between 110 and
150 million (a quarter of the world's population), over a territory of more than 4 million
square kilometres (1.5 million square miles).Mughal power rapidly dwindled during the
18th century and the last emperor, Bahadur Shah II, was deposed in 1857, with the
establishment of the British Raj.== Mughal Empire ==

The Mughal Empire was founded by Babur, a Timurid prince and ruler from Central
Asia.Babur was a direct descendant of Timur, the 14th century founder of the Timurid
empire on his father's side, and Genghis Khan on his mother's side.Ousted from his
ancestral domains in Turkestan by Shaybani Khan, the 40-year-old prince Babur turned to
India to satisfy his ambitions.He established himself in Kabul and then pushed steadily
southward into India from Afghanistan through the Khyber Pass.Babur's forces occupied
much of northern India after his victory at Panipat in 1526.The preoccupation with wars
and military campaigns, however, did not allow the new emperor to consolidate the gains
he had made in India.The instability of the empire became evident under his son, Humayun,
who was driven into exile in Persia by rebels.Humayun's exile in Persia established
diplomatic ties between the Safavid and Mughal courts and led to increasing West Asian
cultural influence in the Mughal court.The restoration of Mughal rule began after
Humayun's triumphant return from Persia in 1555, but he died from an accident shortly
afterwards.Humayun's son, Akbar, succeeded to the throne under a regent, Bairam Khan,
who helped consolidate the Mughal Empire in India.Through warfare and diplomacy, Akbar
was able to extend the empire in all directions and controlled almost the entire Indian
subcontinent north of the Godavari river.He created a new ruling elite loyal to him,
implemented a modern administration, and encouraged cultural developments.He
increased trade with European trading companies.The Indian historian Abraham Eraly
wrote that foreigners were often impressed by the fabulous wealth of the Mughal court, but
the glittering court hid darker realities, namely that about a quarter of the empire's gross
national product was owned by 655 families while the bulk of India's 120 million people
lived in appalling poverty.After suffering what appears to have been an epileptic seizure in
1578 while hunting tigers, which he regarded as a religious experience, Akbar grew
disenchanted with Islam, and came to embrace a syncretistic mixture of Hinduism and
Islam.Akbar allowed freedom of religion at his court and attempted to resolve socio-
political and cultural differences in his empire by establishing a new religion, Din-i-Ilahi,
with strong characteristics of a ruling cult.He left his son an internally stable state, which
was in the midst of its golden age, but before long signs of political weakness would
emerge.Akbar was also interested in elevating the way individuals view leaders with the
stylings of his clothes and ensemble.Akbar's son, Jahangir, was addicted to opium, neglected
the affairs of the state, and came under the influence of rival court cliques.During the reign
of Jahangir's son, Shah Jahan, the splendour of the Mughal court reached its peak, as
exemplified by the Taj Mahal.The cost of maintaining the court, however, began to exceed
the revenue being levied.Shah Jahan's eldest son, the liberal Dara Shikoh, became regent in
1658, as a result of his father's illness.Dara championed a syncretistic Hindu-Muslim
religion and culture.With the support of the Islamic orthodoxy, however, a younger son of
Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb, seized the throne.Aurangzeb defeated Dara in 1659 and had him
executed.Although Shah Jahan fully recovered from his illness, there was a succession war
for the throne between Dara and Aurangzeb.Finally, Aurangzeb succeeded the throne and
kept Shah Jahan under house arrest.During Aurangzeb's reign, the empire gained political
strength once more, and it became the world's largest economy, over a quarter of the world
GDP, but his establishment of Sharia caused huge controversies.Aurangzeb expanded the
empire to include a huge part of South Asia.At its peak, the kingdom stretched to 3.2 million
square kilometres, including parts of what are now India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and
Bangladesh.After his death in 1707, "many parts of the empire were in open revolt."

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Dwayne Goulette

subcontinent, mainly corresponding to the modern countries of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan

establishment of the British Raj.== Mughal Empire ==

implemented a modern administration, and encouraged cultural developments.He

1658, as a result of his father's illness.Dara championed a syncretistic Hindu-Muslim

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