Early Mughals Flashcards
Where can the Mughal Ancestry traced back?
The Mughal ancestry can be traced back to Timur (paternal) and Chengiz Khan (maternal) with Babur who was their descendent.
Why was the year 1526 a turning point in the Indian History?
The First Battle of Panipat fought in 1526 was a turning point in Indian history not only because it brought the rule of the Sultans to an end, but also because it ushered in a new age of Muslim rule in India.
What is the Real name of Babur?
ZAHIRUDDIN BABUR
Describe the foundation led by Babur.
Having laid the foundation of a new Muslim rule in India, Babur is remembered through the years for being the first Mughal emperor. An ambitious young boy, he conquered Samarkhand at the age of 14. He was the king of Farghana in Central Asia. He also occupied Kabul in 1504 which became his capital.
Write the reasons why Babur invaded India.
Babur was attracted to India because of its wealth and riches, just like many previous invaders.
An invitation came from Daulat Khan Lodi to attack Ibrahim Lodi and thereby India was an answer to his prayers.
The relationship between Ibrahim and Daulat Khan was strained hence the invitation was extended to Babur.
Describe the First Battle of Panipat.
On 21st April 1526 both forces met at Panipat, near Delhi. Ibrahim Lodi clearly outnumbered Babur’s forces by a large margin. However, what Babur lacked in strength, he gained in might. His weapons and arms were far superior to those of Ibrahim’s forces. Babur defeated Ibrahim at the iconic place called Panipat.
Describe the Battles between Babur and Rajputs.
In 1527, Babur had to face the might of the Rajputs of Mewar led by Rana Sanga. They met at Khanwa, close to Agra. Once again, armed better, Babur was able to defeat and subdue Rana Sanga’s eighty thousand-strong force. His knowledge of battle tactics and use of superior forces enabled him to gain victory. In 1528, he defeated the Rajputs led by Medini Rai in Chanderi.
Describe Babur.
Babur was more of a soldier than a politician. It has been suggested by historians that the government he set up was Safi (by the sword) and not qalami (by the pen). Considerable parts of his empire were ruled by his ministers with full sovereignty. He was an orthodox Sunni Muslim and loved architecture and music; he was also a master of Turki, his mother tongue, as well as Persian. The chronicles of his life, the Baburnama, remains widely used and is a masterpiece of that genre of literature.
Describe Babur’s love for literature.
Besides being an excellent warrior, Babur was a poet who wielded aesthetic appreciation. He was an excellent musician, a great scholar and a lover of literature, having written his own autobiography originally titled Tuzukh-i-Baburi (Baburnama). He planted gardens in Agra to relinquish his love for nature.
How and Where was Babur buried?
He was buried in a garden in Kabul on a hill surrounded by his favourite flowers and cool running water.
How far did Babur’s Empire strech ?
Babur’s empire stretching from Kabul in the west to Bihar in the east and from the Himalayas in the north to Gwalior in the south.
Who were the threats for Humayun?
For Humayun, threats came in the form of Afghan chiefs living in the empire who were ambitious and rebelled against central authority. Among these, Sher Khan Suri seemed the most dangerous. Another threat was Bahadur Shah of Gujarat who had ambitious dreams of ruling Delhi. His brothers, whom he relied on, also turned out to be a major threat to Humayun.
Describe the fight between Sher Khan Suri and Humayun.
In 1539, both sides met in the Battle at Chausa. Humayun was caught off-guard due to Sher Khan’s sudden attack. Humayun escaped after being defeated. In 1540, once again the two sides met at Kanauji. Another victory in the Battle at Kannauj only helped to seal the fate of Sher Khan as the Emperor of Delhi. Sher Khan assumed the title Sher Shah and replaced Mughal rule with Afghan rule.
Describe the exile and return of Humayun.
In 1544, Humayun was granted support by the Shah of Persia who kept him in his court. Following the death of Sher Shah, Humayun mustered courage to seize Kabul from his own disloyal brother, Kamran by 1550. Taking advantage of civil wars among the descendants of Sher Shah, Humayun captured Lahore in 1555. The same year, he recovered Delhi and Agra and thus re-established the Mughal rule in India.
Why is Humayun often referred to as the unlucky Mughal?
Humayun is often referred to as the ‘unlucky Mughal’ since he died from an accidental fall down the library stairs.
Where did Sher Khan Suri consolidate his position? When did Bahadur Shah die and how did his death help Humayun?
Sher Khan Suri consolidated his position in Bengal and Bihar. 1537, Bahadur Shah had died leaving only one danger at hand which was Sher Khan Suri.
Where did Bahadur Shah establish rule?
Bahadur Shah established rule over Gujarat.
Write the time line of Babur and Humayun’s rule.
Babur - (1526 – 1530)
Humayun - (1530 – 1540 and 1555 – 1556)
When did Babur capture Kabul?
Babur captured Kabul in 1504.
