The Mughal Empire
Discover the Mughal Empire — the Islamic dynasty that unified India, built the Taj Mahal, and created one of the wealthiest civilizations in early modern history.
The Mughal Empire (1526–1857) was one of the largest, wealthiest, and most culturally sophisticated states of the early modern world. At its peak in the late 17th century, it controlled nearly the entire Indian subcontinent and commanded perhaps a quarter of the world's GDP. The dynasty was founded by Babur, a descendant of both Timur and Genghis Khan, who defeated the Delhi Sultanate at the Battle of Panipat in 1526.
The empire's greatest ruler, Akbar the Great (r. 1556–1605), was a military genius, administrative innovator, and remarkable religious thinker. He abolished the jizya tax on non-Muslims, invited Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, Christian, and Zoroastrian scholars to debate at his court, and even attempted to create a syncretic faith called Din-i Ilahi. His revenue system — based on careful land measurement and cash taxation — was among the most efficient in the world.
Mughal culture produced some of humanity's greatest artistic achievements. The Taj Mahal, built by Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, is perhaps the most perfect building ever constructed. Mughal miniature painting, garden design, and textile production set standards that influenced art across Asia and Europe. The empire's decline in the 18th century — driven by religious intolerance under Aurangzeb, Maratha resistance, and European colonial pressure — opened the door to British domination of the subcontinent.