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INDIAS MUSLIM EMPIRES

The Delhi Sultanate

After the Gupta Empire fell in about 550 AD, India again fragmented into many local kingdoms. Rival princes battled for control of the northern plain.

Indian culture continued to flourish and trade with the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Chinaincreased.

Around 1000, Muslim Turks and Afghans pushed into India. In the late 1100s, the sultan(Muslim ruler) of Ghur defeated the Hindus and made Delhi his capital.

The sultan was able to conquer India because they had a superior cavalry based on speedyhorses rather than elephants, Hindu princes had wasted resources battling amongst themselves,and members of the lower caste converted to Islam which preached equality.

The sultans created a brilliant civilization in Delhi where Greek learning and Persian art andarchitecture flourished.

At first religions clashed. Buddhist monasteries were destroyed and Buddhism was no longer amajor religion in India. Hindus were slaughtered but eventually things calmed down.

A new religion Sikhism blended Hinduism and Islam.

Islam Hinduism Sikhism Belief in one god Religious and moral

duties defined by theFive Pillars

Belief in heaven and helland Judgment Day

No priests; all believersare equals

Belief in many gods, allpart of Brahman

Emphasis on religiousand moral duties, ordharma

Belief in cycle of birth,death, and rebirth

Belief in the unity ofGod

Belief in Reincarnation Rejection of the caste

system

Sikh boy

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Mughal India

In 1526 Turkish and Mongol armies passed through mountain passes into India. They were led by Babur, a military genius. Babur defeated the Delhi Sultanate and set up the Mughal Dynasty which ruled from 1526 to

1857. Baburs grandson was Akbar. He created a strong central government and w as named Akbar

the Great. Akbar won respect of all through religious toleration. He welcomed Hindus into governmentand increased the rights of Hindu citizens. He created a unified kingdom that included Muslims,

Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians.

Akbar the Great

The high point or Golden Age of Mughal literature, art, and architecture came with the reign ofShah Jahan, Akbars grandson. After Shah Jahans wife died, he built the Taj Mahal as a tomb for

her. It was started in 1632 and took 20 years and 22,000 workers to complete. It is consideredthe greatest monument to Mughal rule.

In the late 1600s, Mughal leaders began to persecute Hindus. The economy faltered as Hindusbegan to revolt against Muslim rule. The climate of discontent allowed Europeans to gain

trading and political power in India. By the mid 1800s, the Mughal Empire had collapsed.