📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. Mughal Rulers
| Ruler | Key facts |
|---|---|
| Babur (1526–30) | Panipat I (1526) — Ibrahim Lodi; Khanwa (1527) — Rana Sanga; Chanderi (1528) — Medini Rai; Ghaghra (1529) — Afghans; autobiography Tuzuk-i-Baburi (Turkish). |
| Humayun | Lost to Sher Shah at Chausa (1539) and Kannauj/Bilgram (1540); regained Delhi in 1555; died falling from library stairs; Humayun-nama by Gulbadan Begum. |
| Akbar (1556–1605) | Panipat II (1556) — Hemu; regent Bairam Khan; Haldighati (1576) — Maharana Pratap; abolished jizya (1564); Ibadat Khana (1575); Din-i-Ilahi (1582); Fatehpur Sikri and Buland Darwaza (Gujarat victory); Navaratnas — Birbal, Abul Fazl, Tansen, Todar Mal, Man Singh. |
| Jahangir | Chain of justice; Nur Jahan's influence; Englishmen William Hawkins and Sir Thomas Roe came; executed Guru Arjan Dev; golden age of painting. |
| Shah Jahan | Golden age of architecture — Taj Mahal (Mumtaz Mahal), Red Fort and Jama Masjid (Shahjahanabad), Peacock Throne; imprisoned by Aurangzeb in Agra Fort. |
| Aurangzeb (1658–1707) | "Zinda Pir"; reimposed jizya in 1679; Deccan policy — took Bijapur (1686), Golconda (1687); Bibi ka Maqbara (Aurangabad) built by his son Azam Shah. |
- In 1739 Nadir Shah (Persia) sacked Delhi and took the Peacock Throne and Kohinoor (under Muhammad Shah "Rangila").
- Last Mughal Bahadur Shah Zafar — exiled to Rangoon after 1857.
📌 2. Sur Dynasty — Sher Shah (1540–45)
- Original name Farid; defeated Humayun at Chausa and Kannauj.
- Issued the rupiya (silver) and dam (copper); land measurement and patta-qabuliyat; rebuilt the Grand Trunk Road (Sadak-i-Azam); sarais and postal system.
- Tomb at Sasaram (Bihar); died in a gunpowder explosion at the siege of Kalinjar (1545).
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- The rupiya was introduced by Sher Shah, not Akbar.
📌 3. Administration, Architecture & Literature
- Mansabdari (Akbar) — rank by "zat" (personal) and "sawar" (cavalry numbers); salary as jagir.
- Land revenue: Zabti / Dahsala (Ain-i-Dahsala) system — Raja Todar Mal; tax on 10-year average.
- Texts: Akbarnama and Ain-i-Akbari (Abul Fazl); Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri; Persian Mahabharata Razmnama; Dara Shikoh — Majma-ul-Bahrain, Upanishads translated as "Sirr-i-Akbar".
| Monument | Builder |
|---|---|
| Humayun's Tomb | Hamida Banu Begum (Akbar period) |
| Buland Darwaza | Akbar |
| Itimad-ud-Daula | Nur Jahan |
| Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Jama Masjid | Shah Jahan |
| Moti Masjid (Red Fort), Badshahi Mosque (Lahore) | Aurangzeb |
📌 4. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. The First Battle of Panipat (1526) was fought between: Practice
Correct answer: (A)
In 1526 Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi and founded the Mughal Empire.
In 1526 Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi and founded the Mughal Empire.
Q2. At Khanwa (1527) Babur defeated: Practice
Correct answer: (B)
At Khanwa Babur defeated Rana Sanga of Mewar.
At Khanwa Babur defeated Rana Sanga of Mewar.
Q3. When was the Battle of Haldighati fought? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
In 1576 Akbar's army (under Man Singh) fought Maharana Pratap.
In 1576 Akbar's army (under Man Singh) fought Maharana Pratap.
Q4. Who started Din-i-Ilahi? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Akbar started Din-i-Ilahi in 1582.
Akbar started Din-i-Ilahi in 1582.
Q5. Who first issued the silver coin 'rupiya'? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Sher Shah issued the silver rupiya of about 178 grains.
Sher Shah issued the silver rupiya of about 178 grains.
Q6. Who wrote 'Ain-i-Akbari'? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Abul Fazl wrote the Akbarnama and its part Ain-i-Akbari.
Abul Fazl wrote the Akbarnama and its part Ain-i-Akbari.
Q7. The Dahsala (Zabti) revenue system is associated with: Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Akbar's finance minister Todar Mal introduced it.
Akbar's finance minister Todar Mal introduced it.
Q8. In mansabdari, 'sawar' indicated: Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Zat was personal rank; sawar was the number of horsemen.
Zat was personal rank; sawar was the number of horsemen.
Q9. Which English ambassador came to Jahangir's court? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Sir Thomas Roe, James I's envoy, came in 1615.
Sir Thomas Roe, James I's envoy, came in 1615.
Q10. Who commissioned the Peacock Throne? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Shah Jahan had it made; Nadir Shah carried it away.
Shah Jahan had it made; Nadir Shah carried it away.
Q11. When did Nadir Shah invade Delhi? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Nadir Shah sacked Delhi in 1739 under Muhammad Shah.
Nadir Shah sacked Delhi in 1739 under Muhammad Shah.
Q12. The Buland Darwaza commemorates which conquest? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Akbar built it at Fatehpur Sikri to mark the conquest of Gujarat (1573).
Akbar built it at Fatehpur Sikri to mark the conquest of Gujarat (1573).
Q13. Where is Sher Shah Suri's tomb? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Sher Shah's tomb is at Sasaram, Bihar.
Sher Shah's tomb is at Sasaram, Bihar.
Q14. Who wrote the 'Humayun-nama'? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Humayun's sister Gulbadan Begum wrote it.
Humayun's sister Gulbadan Begum wrote it.
Q15. Who reimposed jizya in 1679? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Akbar abolished it in 1564; Aurangzeb reimposed it in 1679.
Akbar abolished it in 1564; Aurangzeb reimposed it in 1679.
Q16. The Second Battle of Panipat (1556) was between: Practice
Correct answer: (C)
In 1556 Akbar's army under Bairam Khan defeated Hemu.
In 1556 Akbar's army under Bairam Khan defeated Hemu.
Q17. In which language is Babur's 'Tuzuk-i-Baburi' written? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
The Baburnama was written in Chagatai Turkish.
The Baburnama was written in Chagatai Turkish.
Q18. Who built the tomb of Itimad-ud-Daula? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Nur Jahan built it for her father at Agra; pietra dura was used on a large scale.
Nur Jahan built it for her father at Agra; pietra dura was used on a large scale.
Q19. The Persian translation of the Mahabharata is known as: Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Under Akbar the Persian Mahabharata was called the Razmnama.
Under Akbar the Persian Mahabharata was called the Razmnama.
Q20. Who defeated Humayun at Chausa (1539)? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Sher Shah beat Humayun at Chausa and again at Kannauj (1540).
Sher Shah beat Humayun at Chausa and again at Kannauj (1540).