Babur of Kabul - the conquest of India! Flashcards
What happened to Babur at the age of 11?
Babur became ruler of Ferghana at the age of 11, but he was soon forced out of his homeland by the rise of a powerful Uzbek warlord named Muhammad Shaybani Khan, who defeated him in battle in 1501.
What was Babur’s goal after losing Ferghana?
Babur became a wandering prince, seeking an empire to rule. The place he really wanted to rule was Samarkand, which had been the capital of his ancestor Timur. However, after failing again to capture it, he turned south and took control of the city of Kabul in Afghanistan in 1504.
What was the political situation in India when Babur turned his attention there?
India at the time was fragmented into many small kingdoms. Most of the states in the north were either small Hindu kingdoms called the Rajput states, or they were sultanates under Islamic rulers.
How did Babur consolidate his rule after capturing Kabul?
Babur spent 15 years consolidating his rule of Afghanistan and failed in several more attempts to conquer Central Asia. In 1519 he gave up on Samarkand and instead turned his attention south-east — towards India.
Who were the most powerful rulers in northern India during Babur’s time?
India’s most powerful rulers were the Lodi, an Afghan dynasty who governed much of northern India, including the sultanate of Delhi.
What was Babur’s original plan for conquest in India?
Babur originally planned only to conquer the Punjab, India’s north-western region.
What made Babur decide to go further than Punjab?
However, he was soon was tempted to go further south and defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the sultan of Delhi, at the Battle of Panipat in 1526.
How did Babur prove his military skill at the Battle of Panipat?
Here, he proved his skill as a general by beating an army that was said to be 100,000 soldiers (and many war elephants) with a force of only 12,000 men.
What were Babur’s achievements after the Battle of Panipat?
Babur went on to seize Delhi, then conquered many of the Rajput states over the years that followed. He created an empire that stretched from Kabul in Afghanistan across most of northern India.
