The Mughal Empire and Historical Reputation: Crash Course World History #217

Summary

This Crash Course World History episode explores the Mughal Empire, focusing on emperors Akbar and Aurangzeb, and their contrasting legacies. It delves into the empire's cultural significance, including the Taj Mahal, and discusses how the Mughals consolidated Muslim rule in India. The video highlights Akbar's inclusive policies and intellectual pursuits, contrasting with Aurangzeb's orthodox approach and the empire's eventual decline. It emphasizes the complexity of historical interpretation and the impact of personal biases on our understanding of the past.

Takeaways

• 🏛 The Mughal Empire was a significant Muslim empire in India that lasted from the early 16th to the early 18th centuries, with cultural impacts lasting until the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
• 🌐 The Mughals were not the first Muslims in India but became known for consolidating Muslim rule over much of the region, influencing the religious demographics of India.
• 👑 Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, descended from both Timur and Genghis Khan, which is why the term 'Mughals' is used, meaning Mongols in Persian-Arabic.
• 🎨 The Mughals are known for blending Indian and Persian architectural and artistic styles, exemplified by the Taj Mahal, showcasing the empire's cosmopolitan nature.
• 💡 The Mughals were innovative in their administrative and tax systems, incorporating local leaders and promoting commercialization, which was essential for the empire's financial stability.
• 🤝 Emperor Akbar is often celebrated for his administrative reforms, tax policies, and religious tolerance, including the abolition of the jizya tax and the establishment of 'sulh-i-kul' or 'universal toleration'.
• 📚 Akbar's interest in intellectual pursuits and his support for religious and philosophical discussions contributed to his positive historical reputation.
• 🛡 Emperor Aurangzeb, Akbar's grandson, is often viewed less favorably due to his more orthodox Islamic policies and the perceived decline of the empire during his rule.
• 🏰 Aurangzeb's reign saw the construction of the Taj Mahal, but his financial policies, including cost-cutting measures at court, were driven by both piety and fiscal constraints.
• 🔍 The reputations of Akbar and Aurangzeb are complex and depend on the aspects of their reigns examined and the interpretations of those details, highlighting the need for nuanced historical analysis.
• 🌏 The decline of the Mughal Empire was multifaceted, involving factors such as factionalism, regional power struggles, and governance issues, rather than solely due to religious policies.

Q & A

What is the historical significance of the Mughal Empire in India?

The Mughal Empire is significant in India's cultural history as it marked a period of Muslim rule over much of India, leading to a large Indian Muslim population. It is also known for blending Indian and Persian styles in architecture and painting, and for building iconic structures like the Taj Mahal.

Who were the Mughals and what is the origin of their name?

The Mughals were Muslims who created an empire in India. The name 'Mughals' is derived from the Persian-Arabic word for Mongols, reflecting their descent from Timur and Chinggis Khan, and their connection to the Mongol tradition.

What was the role of Babur in the establishment of the Mughal Empire?

Babur, a descendant of Timur and Chinggis Khan, was the founder of the Mughal dynasty. He established the Mughal Empire by defeating the Lodi Sultanate in 1526.

How did the Mughals consolidate Muslim rule over India?

The Mughals consolidated Muslim rule by incorporating Indian princes into the ruling class, reorganizing the bureaucracy, instituting an effective tax collection system, and engaging in building projects to enhance their prestige.

What was the economic impact of the Mughal Empire's tax system?

The Mughal tax system contributed to the growing commercialization of the empire as taxes had to be paid in cash. It also allowed the empire to collect revenue without being too disruptive to local village life, with zamindars playing a key role in tax collection.

What is the historical contrast between Akbar and Aurangzeb as Mughal emperors?

Akbar is typically viewed as a good ruler due to his administrative reforms, tax policies, and tolerant attitude towards non-Muslims, while Aurangzeb is often seen as the one who ruined the empire due to his orthodox Islamic policies and the empire's decline during his reign.

What policy did Akbar implement to promote religious tolerance?

Akbar implemented a policy called 'sulh-i-kul' or 'universal toleration,' which granted all non-Muslims the same rights as Muslims and rescinded the jizya tax that non-Muslims had to pay.

How did Aurangzeb's rule differ from Akbar's in terms of religious policy?

Aurangzeb's rule was characterized by a move towards orthodoxy, reinstating the jizya tax and attempting to introduce sharia law as the governing principle of the empire, in contrast to Akbar's policy of religious tolerance.

What is the Taj Mahal and why is it significant?

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum built by Shah Jahan, and it is significant as a symbol of the Mughal Empire's architectural achievements and as a representation of the blending of Indian and Persian styles.

How did the Mughals' approach to governance and expansion contribute to the longevity of their empire?

The Mughals' approach to governance, which included incorporating local princes into the ruling class, reorganizing the bureaucracy, and instituting an effective tax system, along with their expansionist policies, contributed to the longevity of their empire by maintaining control and revenue.

What factors led to the decline of the Mughal Empire?

The decline of the Mughal Empire was influenced by various factors including growing factionalism at the Mughal court, the rise of regional powers, the breakdown of the local governance system, and the focus on military conquests over administrative stability.

How does the script suggest that historical interpretation can be influenced by contemporary perspectives?

The script suggests that historical interpretation can be influenced by contemporary perspectives through the contrasting reputations of Akbar and Aurangzeb, where Akbar's religious tolerance is favored over Aurangzeb's orthodoxy, reflecting modern preferences for secularism and tolerance.

What role does the script suggest that the Mughals play in contemporary Indian identity?

The script suggests that the Mughals play an important role in contemporary Indian identity, particularly in the narrative of Hindu nationalism, where the Mughal rule is sometimes seen as the beginning of imperialism in India, preceding British colonization.

Outlines

00:00

🏛 Introduction to the Mughal Empire

The video script begins with an introduction to the Mughal Empire, highlighting its significant role in Indian history between the 16th and 18th centuries. The empire, founded by Babur, a descendant of both Timur and Genghis Khan, is noted for its blend of Indian and Persian cultural elements, as well as its administrative and military strategies. The script discusses the empire's tax system, reliance on regional leaders called zamindars, and the commercialization it fostered. It also touches on the architectural marvels, such as the Taj Mahal, and the Mughals' impact on the religious demographics of India, having consolidated Muslim rule and contributing to the large Muslim population in the country today. The focus then shifts to the contrasting reputations of two Mughal emperors, Akbar and Aurangzeb, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of their reigns and legacies.

05:07

🤴 The Reigns of Akbar and Aurangzeb: Contrasts and Complexities

This section delves into the reigns of Akbar and Aurangzeb, two Mughal emperors with vastly different historical perceptions. Akbar is portrayed as a benevolent ruler who implemented reforms, promoted religious tolerance, and sponsored intellectual discussions, thereby laying a solid foundation for Mughal governance and contributing to a more inclusive Indian state. His grandson, Aurangzeb, is often viewed less favorably, with historians attributing the empire's decline to his discriminatory policies against non-Muslims and his adherence to Islamic orthodoxy. However, the script challenges these simplistic narratives by presenting a more nuanced view of both emperors, acknowledging Akbar's military brutality and Aurangzeb's fiscal prudence. It suggests that the empire's decline was due to a multitude of factors beyond the actions of a single ruler and encourages a careful examination of historical details to avoid oversimplification.

10:15

🌏 The Legacy of the Mughal Empire and its Impact on Present-Day Perceptions

The final paragraph of the script reflects on the enduring legacy of the Mughal Empire and its influence on contemporary Indian identity, particularly within the context of Hindu nationalism. It emphasizes the importance of being mindful of our present-day biases when interpreting historical figures and events. The script suggests that our understanding of the past can shape our present, and vice versa, and that it's crucial to recognize our own perspectives when examining history. The video concludes with a reminder of the collaborative effort behind the production of the educational series, acknowledging the support of its subscribers and encouraging viewers to continue learning and engaging with history.

Keywords

💡Mughal Empire

The Mughal Empire refers to the Muslim dynasty that ruled over a significant part of the Indian subcontinent from the early 16th to the early 18th century. It is a central theme of the video, illustrating the empire's cultural, architectural, and political impact on India, including the construction of the Taj Mahal and the blending of Indian and Persian styles.

💡Akbar

Akbar, also known as Akbar the Great, was the third Mughal emperor who ruled from 1556 to 1605. His reign is highlighted in the video for his administrative and tax reforms, as well as his policy of sulh-i-kul, which promoted religious tolerance and inclusivity, setting a precedent for a more 'Indian' state.

💡Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb, Akbar's grandson, was the sixth Mughal emperor and ruled from 1658 to 1707. The video contrasts his reign with Akbar's, portraying him as a ruler who moved away from tolerance and towards Islamic orthodoxy, which some historians believe contributed to the empire's decline.

💡Mongol Empire

The Mongol Empire is mentioned in the script as a historical empire that is sometimes confused with the Mughal Empire due to similar-sounding names. The Mughals were indeed influenced by the Mongols, as Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, was a descendant of both Timur and Genghis Khan.

💡Babur

Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, is noted for his conquest of the Lodi Sultanate in 1526. His lineage traced back to the Mongol conquerors, which is why the term 'Mughal' is used to describe his followers, derived from the Persian-Arabic word for Mongols.

💡Cultural Blending

Cultural blending in the Mughal Empire is exemplified by the fusion of Indian and Persian architectural and artistic styles. This concept is integral to the video's exploration of the empire's legacy, particularly in the construction of the Taj Mahal and the empire's cosmopolitan nature.

💡Zamindars

Zamindars were local leaders responsible for tax collection in the Mughal Empire. The script explains their role in the empire's tax system, which was crucial for revenue and maintaining local stability without disrupting village life.

💡Commercialization

The commercialization of the Mughal Empire is linked to the cash-based tax system, which contributed to the growth of trade and commerce. This aspect of the empire's economy is mentioned in the script as a factor in its overall prosperity.

💡Religious Tolerance

Religious tolerance is a key concept in the video, particularly in relation to Akbar's policies. It is contrasted with Aurangzeb's more orthodox approach to rule, highlighting the differences in governance and their potential impact on the empire's unity and decline.

💡Secularism

Secularism is implied in the video as a preferred approach to governance, especially when discussing Akbar's reign and his inclusive policies towards different religious groups. It is juxtaposed with Aurangzeb's introduction of sharia law, suggesting a shift away from secular governance.

💡Historical Reputation

Historical reputation is a theme in the video that examines how Akbar and Aurangzeb are remembered and interpreted by historians. It touches on the subjectivity of historical analysis and the influence of modern perspectives on how past rulers are evaluated.

💡Thought Bubble

The 'Thought Bubble' is a segment within the script where complex ideas are simplified and explained. It is used as a device to delve into the details of how the Mughals built and maintained their empire, including their military strategies, administrative reforms, and building projects.

Highlights

Introduction to the Mughal Empire and its two most important emperors, Akbar and Aurangzeb.

The Mughals' connection to the Mongols through their ancestry from Timur and Chinggis Khan.

The establishment of the Mughal Empire in India from the early 16th to early 18th centuries.

Cultural significance of the Mughals, including the construction of the Taj Mahal.

The blending of Indian and Persian styles in Mughal art and architecture.

The Mughals' consolidation of Muslim rule in India and its impact on the current religious demographics.

Strategies for building and maintaining the Mughal Empire, including military power and expansionist policies.

Inclusion of Indian princes in the ruling class while maintaining Muslim top positions.

Reorganization of the Mughal bureaucracy and the implementation of an effective tax collection system.

The role of zamindars in tax collection and its impact on local village life.

The commercialization of the Mughal Empire due to tax policies and trade taxation.

Emperors' building projects as a means to enhance prestige, including mosques, forts, and mausoleums.

Contrasting historical views of Akbar as a good ruler and Aurangzeb as the empire's downfall.

Akbar's reforms in administration and taxation, and his policy of sulh-i-kul promoting religious tolerance.

Aurangzeb's rule marked by a shift towards Islamic orthodoxy and away from Akbar's tolerance.

Aurangzeb's financial constraints and efforts to appear as a frugal leader.

The complexity of interpreting Akbar and Aurangzeb's legacies and the factors contributing to the empire's decline.

The role of historians in shaping our understanding of the past and the importance of being aware of our biases.

The impact of the Mughals on contemporary Indian identity and the roots of Hindu nationalism.

The importance of considering multiple interpretations of historical figures and events.

Transcripts

Hi, I’m John Green, this is Crash Course World History and today we’re going talk about the Mughal Empire.

And we’re also going to talk about the two most important Mughal emperors, Akbar and Aurangzeb and how their historical reputations were made.

Mr Green, Mr Green? Don’t you mean the Mongol Empire?

[Mongoltage]

Oh, Me From The Past, that reminds of the time that you conflated the word forte with the word forté - which of course you pronounced fort.

But on this occasion you aren’t entirely wrong the Mughals were kind of the Mongols. But we’ll get to that in a minute.

[Theme Music]

So, the Mughals were Muslims who created an empire in India that held power for roughly 200 years between the early 16th and early 18th centuries,

although, technically the Mughal empire didn’t come to an end until after the Indian Rebellion against the British in 1857.

Now the Mughals weren’t the first Muslims in India, those would have been merchants, and they weren’t even the first Muslims to rule significant parts of India.

That honor goes to the Delhi sultanate which began in 1206 in northern India.

But the Delhi Sultanate didn’t last very long, and it was replaced by a bunch of regional kingdoms, and one of them, the Lodi sultanate had the misfortune of falling to the founder of the Mughal dynasty, Babur in 1526.

Not Babar, although that would have been awesome.

Babur was descended from Timur, the last great Central Asian conqueror in the Mongol tradition, and also from Chinggis Khan,

which explains why Babur and his followers are called the Mughals; it’s the Persian-Arabic word for Mongols.

Now I know what you’re saying, something like 12% of human beings currently living in the world are descended from Chinggis Khan, but Babur got in on the ground floor of it.

Anyway, I think we have some footage of Babur raiding the Lodi sultanate, don’t we Stan?

[Mongoltage]

Ehhh… I don’t feel like that was actual file footage from 1206. I feel like that was a racist Hercules movie from Italy in the 1950’s.

So the Mughal Empire is really important in India’s cultural history. I mean, the Taj Mahal was built during this time.

In architecture and painting, we see a blending of Indian and Persian styles that demonstrate how cosmopolitan the empire was.

But probably the most important aspect of the Mughals at least as far as the contemporary world is concerned,

is that they consolidated Muslim rule over much of India and they’re largely the reason that today there are so many Indians who are also Muslims.

And the Mughals were also a really interesting example of like how to build and maintain an empire. All right, Let’s go to the Thought Bubble.

Muslims were a small minority ruling class vastly outnumbered by Hindus, and like many empires they relied on military power and pursued expansionist policies.

Like most of the Mughal rulers, especially Akbar and Aurangzeb spent a considerable amount of time trying to extend Mughal control over the entire Indian subcontinent.

And they created a pretty effective empire. They were able to incorporate Indian princes into the ruling class while still retaining top positions for Muslims.

They reorganized the bureaucracy and instituted an effective tax collection system, which was important because the empire was of course very expensive to run - as empires always are.

This meant that it was important to make accurate tax assessments and taxes were usually collected by local leaders called zamindars.

Taxes had to be paid in cash, and this contributed to the growing commercialization of the Mughal empire.

Reliance on zamindars, who were important men in their communities, meant that the empire could collect revenue without being too disruptive to local village life.

And although almost all of the revenue came from taxes on agriculture, the Mughals also taxed trade.

Another way that the Mughals were a typical empire is that their rulers engaged in building projects to enhance their prestige.

From Persepolis to Rome to the Forbidden City, building monuments to one’s greatness is what emperors do, and the Mughals were no exception.

As Muslims, many of their building projects were mosques, but the Mughals also built forts and, most spectacularly, mausoleums.

Thanks, Thought Bubble. So, most history classes that mention the Mughals focus on the contrast between Akbar and Aurangzeb.

Akbar comes off as a good ruler, and Aurangzeb is painted as the guy who ruined the empire.

The typically positive historians’ view of Akbar, who ruled from 1556 until 1605, can be summed up in this quote from Asher and Talbot’s India before Europe:

“Through his reforms of administration and taxation Akbar created a sound and enduring foundation for Mughal governance, while his tolerant attitude and inclusive policies toward Hindus and Jains helped create a state that was more Indian in character.”

That tolerance aspect is especially important.

Like Akbar rescinded the jizya – the tax that non-Muslims had to pay – and in 1580 he gave all non-Muslims the same rights as Muslims instituting a policy called sulh-ikul, which translates to “universal toleration.”

Now in part, this policy was designed to lessen the power of Muslim religious scholars, who might have been disturbed by the way that Akbar blended Islamic and Indian ideas of kingship,

especially the idea that he was, you know, kind of a little bit divine.

Slightly problematic idea to a lot of Muslim scholars given that the foundation of the Islamic faith is the statement “there is no God but God” but.. you know...

In addition to the sulh-i kul, Akbar built his reputation for toleration by sponsoring discussions of religion and philosophy.

He even commissioned a building for religious discussions, the Ibadat Khana, where Muslims, and Brahmins, and Zoroastrians, Jains, Christians, all of them could talk theology.

Akbar’s support for intellectual pursuits are the kinds of things that modern historians like, and it’s not all that surprising that he is remembered so favorably.

Historians are far less kind to Akbar’s grandson, Aurangzeb who ruled from 1658 until 1707.

This partly due to the work of J.N. Sakar who promoted the idea that Aurangzeb built an Islamic state that discriminated against Hindus and other non-Muslims.

Which in turn led to a loss of unity across the Indian sub-continent and eventually the decline of the empire.

And it’s true that by the time of Aurangzeb’s death in 1707 the Mughals were losing control of their empire.

I mean the stark reality of that decline came in 1757 when the British East India Company established itself permanently in Bengal and began its inexorable efforts to colonize all of India.

But that was, you know, 50 years after Aurangzeb died so maybe he shouldn’t get all the blame.

In fact, whether these guys deserve their reputations really depends both on what aspects of their reign you look at and how you interpret them. As conquerors Akbar and Aurangzeb had a lot in common.

Like Akbar might have sponsored high-minded discussion but he was also willing to use extreme violence to keep his subjects in line.

For example, he slaughtered thousands of inhabitants of the fort at Chittor and ordered his generals to pile up the skulls of Indian princes to frighten them into submission.

That’s not especially tolerant. And here’s another detail about Akbar’s rule that’s meant to paint him as a modern, enlightened ruler. Because he was interested in science, Akbar arranged an experiment.

“… He had infants moved to a special house where no person was to talk to them, so that the natural language of mankind might be revealed.

The experiment failed, but it is a reflection of Akbar’s desire to explore in a scientific manner the nature of humans and what he believed to be their common condition.”

Now you can read that as a leader trying to understand the underlying connections among all humans no matter their religious backgrounds. Or you can read it as horrifying child abuse.

And then we have Aurangzeb was a devout Muslim and did try to introduce Islamic principles into Mughal rule, but the trend towards orthodoxy and away from Akbar’s toleration had begun long before with his predecessor, Shah Jahan.

He is best known for building the Taj Mahal - good work. Stan, he build it by himself? Oh, apparently he had some help.

But the maintenance of the Taj Mahal took all the revenue from thirty villages, and maybe Aurangzeb’s orthodoxy was less important than his desire to appear to be a sober and frugal leader.

Aurangzeb was also accused of destroying temples in 1669, although in fact they were just damaged, and this was primarily done to send a political message to opponents, not as an act of religious orthodoxy.

He also tried to limit expenses at court by prohibiting the use of gold in men’s garments and he stopped the traditional practice of being weighed against gold on his birthday.

Unlike Akbar, who is seen as being a patron of the arts, Aurangzeb is remembered for getting rid of court musicians and poets, but he got rid of them because of financial constraints.

Well, and also because of his interpretation of Islamic law. And that last point interests me, for those who want to see him negatively, Aurangzeb’s orthodox Islam had no room for musicians or poets.

But it’s also possible to see that decision as a prudent cost saving measure. Here’s another detail of Aurangzeb’s life that has been used to paint him as a zealot.

Aurangzeb, unlike his predecessors, was buried in a simple, outdoor grave, rather than an elaborate, and expensive, tomb.

You could see that as a symbol of religious faith, or as a sign of humility or an attempt by a thoughtful ruler to spare his subjects the expenses of like keeping up his tomb.

That said, in the long run the Taj Mahal has done pretty well in terms of generating tourist money. Whereas I don’t think anyone is paying to see Aurangzeb’s grave.

But the thing is, Aurangzeb needed to save money.

If he was a bad ruler, it’s mostly because he spent so much time and treasure on fighting rebellions in the south of his empire, and then neglected the north, where unrest grew as well.

It’s overly simplistic to say that the glory days of the Mughal Empire were about tolerance and the downfall was about intolerance.

Really, there were lots of factors that played into the decline of the Mughal Empire including growing factionalism at the Mughal court, the rise of regional powers, and the breakdown of the system of governance by local nobles.

Historians are in the business of making claims about what happened and supporting those claims with evidence, and often this evidence provides the details that make reading and learning about history so much fun.

Now, sometimes the details suggest only one interpretation, but in many cases they can lead us to multiple conclusions.

And the reigns of Akbar and Aurangzeb provide good examples of why we need to be careful with our details.

It’s possible that Aurangzeb was a terrible ruler because he tried to impose Muslim orthodoxy on a Hindu majority – and no doubt many Hindus felt so, especially after he re-instituted the jizya.

And he did try to introduce sharia law as the governing principle in the Empire.

But it’s also possible that Aurangzeb’s bad reputation comes from a contemporary preference for tolerance over piety in our rulers.

Or from a general feeling that states are better ruled by secular than religious laws. Or from the fact that it’s just hard to rule a declining empire well. Ask President Obama.

Our experiences and biases make us more likely to see the dismissal of court musicians and poets as an example of religious fanaticism than as like a cost saving measure.

And maybe Akbar, who could be as brutal in his military conquests as any emperor, comes out in a good light because he did advocate religious toleration.

But it wasn’t totally, or even primarily, due to his religious tolerance that Akbar was able to win most of his wars.

And the many rebellions against his reign suggest that he wasn’t as popular with his subjects as he is today with historians.

One last note about how the way that we look at the past can shape the present and vice-versa. We need to be particularly careful here, because the Mughals continue to play an important role in how Indians imagine themselves today.

One of the roots of contemporary Hindu nationalism is pride at India’s throwing off the shackles of imperialism and for many Hindu Nationalists, that history of imperialism starts not with the British, but with the Mughals.

We often use history to define ourselves today, and one of the most commons ways to do that is to make negative claims about the people that we say we are not.

And so when we look at historical figures we need to be conscious of the fact that WE are looking at them.

Thanks for watching. I’ll see you next week.

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