The History of the Mughal Empire: A Legacy of Culture and Power
This article focuses on how the Mughals combined military strength with cultural achievements to create a golden age in Indian history. Babur established the empire through military conquests, but his successors turned it into a cultural powerhouse. Akbar emphasized governance reforms, abolished unfair taxes, and promoted religious tolerance. The result was a thriving empire that attracted artisans, writers, traders, and scholars from across Asia. The Mughals not only built massive fortresses and palaces but also shaped cultural life by supporting music, poetry, and art. Shah Jahan’s Taj Mahal remains the ultimate symbol of Mughal patronage of architecture. However, the article also highlights the causes of decline: Aurangzeb’s costly wars in the Deccan, his religious intolerance, and growing resistance from groups like the Marathas. At the same time, European powers such as the Portuguese, Dutch, and especially the British East India Company capitalized on Mughal weakness to est...
