Aurangzeb - an introduction!

Question 1

Flashcard 1
Front: When did the Mughal empire begin to weaken, and under whose rule?

Answer 1

During the late 17th century, the Mughal empire grew weaker under the rule of the emperor Aurangzeb. By the early 18th century, the empire was well past the height of its power.

Question 2

Flashcard 2
Front: How many sons did Shah Jahan have, and what was the Mughal tradition regarding succession?

Answer 2

Shah Jahan had four sons. By Mughal tradition, all four had an equal right to rule the kingdom, so conflict between them was almost inevitable.

Question 3

Flashcard 3
Front: Who was Dara Shikoh, and what was his scholarly contribution?

Answer 3

Shah Jahan’s eldest and favourite son, Dara Shikoh, was a brilliant scholar who personally translated many Hindu religious texts into Persian.

Question 4

Flashcard 4
Front: What project of Akbar’s did Dara Shikoh want to continue?

Answer 4

He wanted to continue Akbar’s project of working for understanding between Hindus and Muslims.

Question 5

Flashcard 5
Front: Who did Shah Jahan want to inherit the empire, and who opposed this?

Answer 5

Shah Jahan wanted Dara Shikoh to inherit the empire, but this offended his third son, the ambitious Aurangzeb.

Question 6

Flashcard 6
Front: What was Aurangzeb’s position before becoming emperor?

Answer 6

Aurangzeb was Shah Jahan’s governor of the Deccan Plateau.

Question 7

Flashcard 7
Front: What happened when Shah Jahan fell ill in 1657?

Answer 7

When Shah Jahan fell ill in 1657, war broke out between his sons.

Question 8

Flashcard 8
Front: Who did Aurangzeb ally with during the war of succession?

Answer 8

Aurangzeb allied with his youngest brother, Murad, to defeat the other two brothers.Flashcard 9
Front: What was the outcome of the Battle of Samugarh?

Question 9

What was the outcome of the Battle of Samugarh?

Answer 9

After winning a decisive victory at the Battle of Samugarh, Aurangzeb betrayed Murad and had him executed.

Question 10

Flashcard 10
Front: What happened to Shah Jahan’s sons Shuja and Dara Shikoh?

Answer 10

He imprisoned Shuja in Agra while the two defeated brothers, Shuja and Dara Shikoh, fled separately into exile.

Question 11

Flashcard 11
Front: What was the fate of Dara Shikoh and Shuja?

Answer 11

Shuja disappeared in the kingdom of Arakan, in modern Myanmar, and Dara Shikoh was personally executed by Aurangzeb after being returned to Delhi in chains.

Question 12

Flashcard 12
Front: What happened to Shah Jahan after Aurangzeb took power?

Answer 12

Shah Jahan lived as a prisoner in Agra until his death in 1666.

Question 13

Flashcard 13
Front: Who became the sixth Mughal emperor?

Answer 13

Aurangzeb became the sixth Mughal emperor of India.