HUMAYAN Flashcards
1
Q
when did humayan become emperor
A
december 1530
2
Q
how was humayan different to his father
A
- lacked determination and military genius
- often failed to secure his gains after winning battles
- spent a lot of time taking opium and writing poetry
3
Q
how did humayan rule the empire
A
- based of mystical beliefs
- court based on cosmos, he was at centre of universe & wore a veil of his turban and face to protect courtiers from his splendour
- administration branches organised by natural elements, fire=military air=household water=irrigation system & wine cellar earth=agriculture
- each day of the week identified w/ a planet which he based his weekly routine on (Tuesday linked to mars, wore red and spent day sentencing criminals)
4
Q
in 1533 where did humayan set up a new mughal city
A
- Delhi
- called din-panah, ‘asylum of faith’
- centre of learning & open thinking
- invited philosophers and poets from across muslim world
- beginning of a tolerant and open-minded mughal court
5
Q
where did humayans biggest threat come from
A
his 3 half-brothers
- Kamran
- Askari
- Hindal
6
Q
humayun allowed 3 brothers to rule separate provinces
A
1530, they were still determined to seize power
7
Q
what military challenge did humayan face in the south
A
- Bahadur Shah, ruler of Gujarat built up large army equipped w/ canons from Portuguese
- 1535 bahadbur invaded afghanistan but mughals successfully drove them back and captured fort of champanir
- after victory, humayan’s use of opium made him indecisive and he was forced to withdraw from Gujarat without taking the kingdom
8
Q
what military challenge did humayun face from the east
A
- Sher shah, skilled warrior & leader of bihar posed a threat after 1537
- humayun slow to react so when the armies fought at Chausa, 1539 (mughals easily beaten & humayun nearly drowned in river)
- may 1540 fought again at Kanauj, mughal army destroyed
mughal empire in hindustan came to an end - humayan fled to agra, then lahore w/ small group of followers
- brother refused him refuge in kabul
9
Q
how did humayan re-establish the mughal empire
A
- 1545, Sher Shah was caught in an explosion and died from burns (over next decade, his successors unable to hold Hindustan together)
- 1553 emperor was divided into 4 provinces
- 1554 drought and famine added to the weakness of Hindustan
- Late 1554 Humayun and his talented general, Bairam Khan, led forces from Kabul into northern India and took control of the Punjab (met with little resistance)
- July 1555, Humayun recaptured Delhi
10
Q
1555-56
A
- little opposition (brothers were dead or banished
- loyal followers rewarded and court established in capital
- turned Sher Shah’s building ‘the Sher Mandal’ into an observitory and library where he enjoyed discussions about poetry, religion and astrology
11
Q
humayan’s new administration
A
- based on sensible systems established by sher shah rather than astrological beliefs
12
Q
how/when did humayan die
A
24 jan 1556 humayan slipped off of the roof of the sher mandal, leaving 13 yo akbar the emperor
