The Mughals (16th to 17th Century) Class 7 Notes: CBSE History Chapter 4

The Mughal Empire

It was challenging to rule the Indian subcontinent in the Middle Ages because of the diversity of culture and people who lived here. However, by unifying the subcontinent and establishing a strict imperial government, the Mughals completed the seemingly impossible task, even in a short period of time. Babur was the first Mughal Emperor who ruled old Delhi by winning against Ibrahim Lodi at the battle of Panipat in 1527. The Mughals expanded their territory between the 16th century and 17th century.

Who Were The Mughals?

It was challenging to rule the Indian subcontinent in the Middle Ages because of the diversity of culture and people who lived here. However, by unifying the subcontinent and establishing a strict imperial government, the Mughals completed the seemingly impossible task, even in a short period of time. Babur was the first Mughal Emperor who ruled old Delhi by winning against Ibrahim Lodi at the battle of Panipat in 1527. The Mughals expanded their territory between the 16th century and 17th century.

Mughal Military Campaigns

• The first Mughal Emperor was Babur. He seized Delhi in 1526 by overthrowing Ibrahim Lodi's rule in the Panipat Battle. 

• Humayun distributed the inheritance according to his father's wishes. Sher khan defeated him in the battle of Chausa and Kannauj. This forced him to flee to Iran, but he recaptured Delhi in 1555.

• Akbar launched several military campaigns against the Afghans, neighbouring kingdoms and suppressed his half-brother's revolt. During his reign, he captured Rantambor, Bihar, Chitor, Kashmir, Bangladesh, and Beral Khandsh.

• Jahangir continued the campaigns started by Akbar. Additionally, he also undertook campaigns against Sikhs and Ahoms.

• Shah Jahan seized Ahmedabad and Bijapur. Mughal campaigns were still successfully launched. Shah Jahan defeated Khan Jahan Lodi, who was an Aghan Rebel. 

• Aurangzeb started a long-winded battle in Deccan. His campaigns in the northwest against the Sikhs and Yusufzais were temporarily successful.

Succession Traditions of The Mughals

• The Mughals were not believers in primogeniture rule, in which the eldest son is the heir to the father's property. 

• The children follow the custom of common inheritance rules.

Akbar's Policies

• Akbarnama contains all of Akbar's works. Abul Fazal wrote this book.

• He divided his kingdom into sabhas which means provinces, and a Subedar oversaw it.

• Akbar's aristocrat's controlled enormous armies and had access to vast sums of revenue. 

• He began a religious conversation with the Brahmanas, Jesuit priests who were Zoroastrians and Roman Catholics, and Ulemas in Fatehpur Sikri.

• The meetings were held in Ibadat Khana.

• This led Akbar to the idea of universal peace or Sulhi-Kul. 

• Both Jahangir and Shah Jahan followed this principle.

• Akbar recognized that religious scholars often emphasized dogma and rituals as being intolerant.

The Mughal Empires In The 17th Century And After

• The military efficacy and managerial policies of the Mughal Empire led to tremendous commercial and economic prosperity.

• The Mughal leaders and their mansabdars invested vast amounts on goods and salaries.

• The jagir is the distribution of income assigned to the mansabdars in the form of wages. 

• The tax imposed on the peasantry produce was the primary source of income for the Mughal Rulers.

• In this economic world, major artisanal groups, as well as richer peasants, bankers and merchants, often profited.

• In the late 17th century, the Mughal dynasty declined and independent provinces such as Awad and Hyderabad were established.

Who Exactly Where The Mughals: An Insight

The Mughals were the descendants of 2 different but very great lineages of different rulers who were named Genghis Khan (death in 1227) and the Mongol rule that ruled over Central Asia and China. The Mughals didn’t really like the name Mughals as this was associated with the memory of Genghis Khan and the massacre of many people.

Mentioned below are the rulers of the Mughal dynasty who were known throughout history. Students can refer to the class 7 history Mughal Empire notes for more information.

• Babur (1526-1530): Known to be Genghis Khan’s direct descendant, through Timur. Founder of the Empire of Mughals after winning the Battle of Panipat and Khanwa.

• Humayun (1530-1540): Had his reign interrupted by some rulers of the Suri Dynasty. He was inexperienced and pretty young at the time. He was defeated by Sher Shah Suri which led to the rule of the Suri Dynasty.

• Humayun (1555-1556): He restored his rule which was more effective than the last time only to leave the empire to Akbar, his son.

• Akbar (1556-1605): Akbar was considered to be one of the youngest rulers of the Mughal Dynasty and came to rule when he was 13 years old. With the aid of Bairam Khan, Akbar defeated king Hemu during the 2nd Battle of Panipat. Also, Akbar defeated many kings during the Siege of Ranthambore and Chittorgarh. He was also considered to be one of the most successful rulers of the Mughal dynasty.

• Jahangir (1605-1627): He was responsible for the opening up of relations with members of the East India Company.

• Shah-Jahan (1628-1658): Mughal Architecture and Art reached a pinnacle of success under the rule of Shah Jahan. Not to mention that he was responsible for the creation of most of the beautiful architectural gems known as the Jama Masjid, Jahangir Mausoleum, Taj Mahal, the Shalimar Gardens situated in Lahore, and the Red Fort. Unfortunately, Shah Jahan died under captivity which was insinuated by his very own son Aurangzeb. Have a look at the Class 7 History Mughal Empire notes for more details.

• Aurangzeb (1658-1707): Aurangzeb was responsible for reinterpreting Islamic law. He was also the person behind the presentation of Fatawa-e-Alamgiri. Most diamond mines were captured by the Sultan of Golconda under the rule of Aurangzeb. He spent almost half the time of his rule in war with the Maratha Empire. The ending of the rule of Aurangzeb truly marked the end of the rule for the Mughal Empire.

So, these were some of the details about the Mughal empire and the rulers. More information can be found with The Mughal Empire Class 7 CBSE notes.

5 Important Topics of Class 7 History Chapter 4 The Mughals (16th to 17th Century)

Importance of Class 7 History Ch 4 Notes on The Mughals 16th to 17th Century

• Revision notes help us quickly understand and remember key concepts before exams.

• They save time by focusing on essential information and skipping unnecessary details.

• These notes simplify complex topics, making them easier to understand and use.

• They provide practical examples that show how theoretical knowledge is used in real-life situations.

• Revision notes ensure thorough preparation by covering all important topics in a structured manner.

• They increase confidence by clearly understanding what to expect in exams.

• Accessible formats like PDFs allow for easy studying anytime and anywhere.

Tips for Learning the Class 7 History Chapter 4 Notes on The Mughals (16th to 17th Century)

• Study the achievements and policies of important Mughal emperors like Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan. Understand their contributions to the empire’s expansion and administration.

• Understand the significant events during the Mughal period, such as battles, territorial expansions, and major reforms. This will help you connect different historical developments.

• Learn the important terms and concepts like “Mughal Empire,” “administration,” and “cultural achievements.” This will aid in better understanding and retention.

• Relate the concepts to real-life examples or current events to make them easy and more understandable.

Conclusion

The revision notes for Class 7 History Chapter 4, "The Mughals (16th to 17th Century)," by Vedantu provide a clear and detailed overview of the Mughal Empire's rise and rule in India. The notes highlight key emperors, their policies, and contributions to culture, architecture, and administration. By using these notes, students can better understand the significance of the Mughals in shaping Indian history. The notes simplify complex events and concepts, making it easier for students to prepare for exams and build a strong foundation in history. With practice questions and summaries, Vedantu’s notes ensure that students are well-prepared and confident in their knowledge of this important period.

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