Little-Known Facts About India's Mughal Empire

May 10, 2018 | Henry Gomes

Little-Known Facts About India's Mughal Empire


23. Influences on Cuisine

One of the enduring legacies of the Mughal Empire is its influence on the cuisine of South Asia. The Mughal Era ushered in Central Asian and Persian traditions such as the use of fragrant spices like cinnamon and saffron and the use of dairy products like cream and butter in rich curries. Popular South Asian dishes that have Mughal roots include biryani, a fragrant dish of rice and meat flavored with spices, the yogurt based curry known as korma, and kulfi, a dense ice cream-like frozen dessert. These dishes are all part of what today is called Mughlai cuisine.

India's Mughal Empire facts Wikipedia

22. Origins of the Empire

The Emperor Babur established the Mughal Empire in 1526. Babur was born in what is now Uzbekistan and was a descendant of the Emperor Timur of the Timurid dynasty, also known as Tamerlane. Seeking to establish his own royal imprint on history, Babur ventured east and initially conquered Kabul, in Afghanistan, before going to Delhi where he defeated Ibrahim Lodi of the ruling Delhi Sultanate in the Battle of Panipat. His victory would mark the start of the Mughal Empire.

India's Mughal Empire facts Wikipedia

21. Growing Pains of an Empire

Holding onto their newly acquired lands proved to be quite the challenge for the Mughals. After victory at Panipat, Babur had to contend with the Rajputs, who he defeated in the Battle of Khanwa. Following Babur’s death, his son Humayun ascended to the throne, but his reign was marked with instability. The forces of what would become the Sur Empire defeated Humayan and the Mughals. Humayun was exiled to Persia for over a decade, but with the help of the ruling Safavid dynasty, Humayun was eventually able to reclaim his empire. What, you thought the Mughals were done that quick?

India's Mughal Empire facts Wikipedia

20. Imposing Ancestors

The Mughal Empire can trace its lineage to two of history’s most powerful rulers. Babur, the empire's founder, is the descendant of both Timur of the Timurid Dynasty and Genghis Khan of the Mongol Empire. The first two Mughal rulers were of Central Asian descent, with large Mongol ancestry with strong Turkic influences, such as the adoption of Islam as their religion. As a result, the Mughal Empire is often said to have Turco-Mongol roots.

Timur FactsWikimedia Commons

Advertisement

19. Linguistic Legacy

The official language of the empire was Persian. However, over the years and decades of their rule, Persian words and phrases were heavily adopted into the native languages of the conquered lands. The Persian influence is most pronounced in the language of Urdu, the national language of Pakistan and one of the official languages of India. While Urdu is virtually the same as Hindi (together they are often referred to as Hindi-Urdu or Hindustani), Urdu is distinct for using a script that's based on the Persian alphabet, whereas Hindi uses a Devanagari script derived from the ancient Sanskrit language.

India's Mughal Empire factsWikipedia

18. Architectural Acclaim

The architecture of the Mughals is perhaps one of the most visible testaments of their power, wealth, and great artistic sensibilities. Mughal architecture is characterized by the use of vaulted entryways, large bulbous domes, and ornate decorations that were influenced by Turkic, Persian, and Indian architecture traditions. Mughal buildings that are still intact today are some of South Asia’s most popular tourist attractions.

India's Mughal Empire factsWikipedia

17. Taj Mahal

The most iconic example of Mughal architecture is the Taj Mahal. Located in Agra, India, the Taj Mahal was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his beloved late wife Mumtaz. The highly ornate structure of white marble took nearly 20 years to be completed. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the world’s most visited attractions. In 2014, between seven and eight million tourists made the trip to see the remarkable structure.

World’s Most Iconic Buildings factsWikipedia

16. Bollywood Epic

Over the years, many period films set during the height of the Mughal era and depicting the lives of its rulers have been released in Bollywood. One noteworthy Mughal-set film is Mughal-e-Azam, which was released in 1960. The lavish, high-budget picture was in production for over 16 years. When it was finally released, it would go onto be the highest grossing Bollywood film at the time, a distinction it held for fifteen years.

India's Mughal Empire factsMughal-E-Azam (1960), Sterling Investment Corp.

15. All Great Things Come to an End

Starting in the mid-18th century, the Mughal Empire began to experience many crucial losses. They ceded much of their territory to the Marathas. Moreover, many of their subdivisions, like Bengal and Hyderabad, would declare their independence due to inadequate support from the central authorities. At its end, the Mughal territory was confined to just the city of Shahjahanabad, present-day Old Delhi. The last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah II, supported the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and as a result, was imprisoned by the British and exiled to Burma. The British would take over the remaining Mughal land and initiated direct crown rule of its Indian territories, known as the British Raj.

India's Mughal Empire factsWikipedia

Factinate

Sign up to our newsletter.

History’s most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Making distraction rewarding since 2017.

Thank you!
Error, please try again.

14. Akbar the Great

The longest reigning ruler of the Mughal Empire was Akbar. Akbar was the third Mughal Emperor, reigning for 49 years from 1556 to his death in 1605. Akbar is credited with expanding the Empire’s territory over the Indian Subcontinent and thus exponentially growing the Empire’s wealth. He was able to win the trust of his subjects by committing to policies that were more inclusive of people of other faiths and cultures.

India's Mughal Empire factsWikipedia

Advertisement

13. Bengal Subah

The Mughal Empire’s most prosperous subdivision was the Bengal Subah province. The province contributed to over half of the Empire’s GDP, and 12% of the entire world's GDP. Aided by a program of agrarian reform, products from the Bengal Subah like cotton, silk, rice were used throughout the Empire and were also exported to Europe and other parts of Asia. The Bengal Subah also became a major centre of global shipbuilding.

India's Mughal Empire factsWikipedia

12. Not Your Average Book Illustration

Mughal art was characterized by miniature paintings which served as illustrations for books or for albums featuring a collection of paintings. The style was largely influenced by the Persian tradition of miniature art. The second Mughal emperor Humayun was very impressed by the Persian art form during his exile there. Upon his return to the Indian Subcontinent, he brought with him two Persian painters. These Mughal paintings commonly used watercolors and gold leaf.

India's Mughal Empire factsFlickr, Nathan Hughes Hamilton

11. Gunpowder Empires

Along with the Ottoman Empire and the Safavid Persian Empire, the Mughal Empire is considered an Islamic Gunpowder Empire. The early successes of the Mughals may be attributed to their use of gunpowder-fueled artillery. Although they were often outnumbered during the Battle of Panipat, the Mughals prevailed due to their superior weaponry and sophisticated use of artillery positions. The Mughals became large manufacturers of firearms, made with bronze mined from the cities of Calicut and Diu. The Mughals also became leading exporters of saltpeter, a constituent ingredient of gunpowder, which was traded with many European powers. A pretty lucrative business in the age of gunpowder.

India's Mughal Empire factsWikipedia

10. Biographies of the Emperors

The Mughal Emperors had the foresight to document their histories and thus, cement their legacies. The tradition started with the first Emperor Babur, whose memoir Baburnama contains the story of how he came to be a ruler and the founder of one history’s great empires. Babur wrote his memoir in his native Chagatai language and it would be later translated to Persian during the reign of Akbar. Another celebrated biography is the Padshahnama, which was commissioned by the Emperor Shah Jahan. This volume features many paintings depicting great moments from his reign. Rare original versions of the manuscript are held at the British Library and the Royal Library at Windsor Castle.

India's Mughal Empire factsWikipedia

9. Etymology of Mughal

The name Mughal is thought to be derived from an Arabic and Persian corruption of the word Mongol. Mongol, of course, refers to the Mongol Empire, which Babur, the first Mughal Emperor, descended from. Babur himself preferred to call it the Timurid Empire, noting his specific dynastic family clan from Central Asia. Following Babur, the Mughals would often refer to their dynasty as Gurkani, meaning sons-in-law. The empire was also referred to as Hindustan, a Persian term referencing the Indus River and Valley that is still widely used today an alternate name of India.

India's Mughal Empire factsWikipedia

8. One of the Largest Empires of the Subcontinent

The Mughal Empire reached its peak territory around 1690, covering nearly all of the Indian Subcontinent (present-day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh) and parts of present-day Afghanistan. At its peak, the Mughal Empire was 122% the size of the current geographical size of the Republic of India. Only the Maurya Empire in 250 BC and the British Raj prior to the Partition of India in 1947 commanded more territory.

India's Mughal Empire factsWikipedia

Advertisement

7. The Majestic Gardens of the Mughals

The ornate architectural features of Mughal buildings and monuments were matched by the exquisitely manicured gardens that surrounded them. The Mughal gardens were heavily influenced by Persian landscaping conventions, which in turn were inspired by references to gardens in the Quran. The gardens were often quadrilateral in design and contained water features like pools and fountains. One of the most famous Mughal gardens is the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore (in present-day Pakistan), which were commissioned during the reign of Shah Jahan.

India's Mughal Empire factsWikipedia

6. Economic Prowess

At its peak in the 17th century, the Mughal Empire was the world’s largest economic power. It made up nearly a quarter of the world’s entire GDP. Relying on a large workforce, the Empire became one of the world’s leading manufacturing powers and ushered in an era of proto-industrialization—a precursor to the great Industrial Revolution that took place in Britain during the 18th century.

Industrial Revolution FactsWikipedia

5. Urban Life

For its time, the Mughal Empire was highly urbanized. At its peak in the 17th century, 15% of the population resided in major urban centers; a mark that would not be reached in Europe until 200 years later. During the reign of Akbar, there were 120 cities and 3,200 townships. The biggest cities in the Mughal Empire were Agra, Delhi, Lahore, and Dhaka.

India's Mughal Empire factsWikipedia

4. Hooked on Hookah

The hookah or waterpipe (also known as shisha) is thought to be a Mughal era invention. It was developed by one of Emperor Akbar’s doctors after the introduction of tobacco to the Mughal Empire by Jesuit missionaries in the 16th century. Smoking hookah became a popular pastime amongst the wealthy of the empire, as evidenced by its numerous depictions in Mughal era artwork.

India's Mughal Empire factsWikipedia

3. Siege of Delhi

In 1857, Indian soldiers of the British East India Company known as sepoy staged a rebellion against their British superiors. Their rebellion saw them capture the city of Delhi, which had been serving as a refuge for the last vestiges of the Mughal Empire. The sepoys attempted to restore the once great Empire. However, the action only sparked a violent siege of the city by the British that resulted in many lives lost on both sides of the conflict, including civilians. Ironically, this attempt to restore the Mughal Empire to its former glory only hastened its demise.

India's Mughal Empire factsWikipedia

2. The Koh-i-Noor Diamond is an Empire’s Best Friend

The famed Koh-i-Noor diamond, thought to be one of the largest diamonds in the world, was in the possession of many Mughal emperors. The first emperor Babur made reference to the diamond in his memoirs. Shah Jahan had the diamond encrusted on his highly ornate Peacock Throne. However, in the midst of an attack on Delhi orchestrated by the Persian ruler Nader Shah, the precious jewel was looted. Ownership of the diamond would subsequently change hands many times over the years before ending up in the possession of Queen Victoria. Since then, the Koh-i-Noor diamond has been a part of the British Crown Jewels.

India's Mughal Empire factsWikipedia

Advertisement

1. The Legend of Anarkali

One of the most widely told stories from the Mughal Era is the rag-to-riches-to tragic end tale of Anarkali. Once a courtesan, Anarkali would eventually become a wife of Emperor Akbar. However, she would go onto have an affair with Akbar’s brother Salim, the then-Crown Prince and future Emperor Jahangir. For her transgressions, Akbar ordered her to be buried alive in the wall of one of his palaces. Although historians have debated whether or not the story is true, or if Anarkali even existed at all, the legend of forbidden love has been adapted countless times in South Asian literature, cinema, and theatre.

India's Mughal Empire factsWikipedia

Sources1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20


More from Factinate

Featured Article

My mom never told me how her best friend died. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery.

Dark Family Secrets

Dark Family Secrets Exposed

Nothing stays hidden forever—and these dark family secrets are proof that when the truth comes out, it can range from devastating to utterly chilling.
April 8, 2020 Samantha Henman

Featured Article

Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.

Madame de Pompadour Facts

Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress

Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.
December 7, 2018 Kyle Climans

More from Factinate

Featured Article

I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life.

These People Got Genius Revenges

When someone really pushes our buttons, we'd like to think that we'd hold our head high and turn the other cheek, but revenge is so, so sweet.
April 22, 2020 Scott Mazza

Featured Article

Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but few people know her even darker history.

Catherine of Aragon Facts

Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s First Wife

Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but very few people know her even darker history.
June 7, 2018 Christine Tran



Dear reader,


Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? We’re always looking for your input! Please reach out to us to let us know what you’re interested in reading. Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from “Life” to “Compact Cars and Trucks” to “A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius.” We’ll get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics you’re interested in. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your time!


Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? At Factinate, we’re dedicated to getting things right. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. We want our readers to trust us. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. Please let us know if a fact we’ve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect it’s inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your help!


Warmest regards,



The Factinate team




Want to learn something new every day?

Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter.

Thank you!

Error, please try again.