Indian History and World History (Part-20)

Shah Jahan built Taj mahal in 1631 in memory of his third but the most favourite wife, in fact a soul-mate Mumtaz Mahal, a Muslim Persian princess. She died while accompanying her husband in Burhanpur in a campaign to crush a rebellion after giving birth to their 13th child.

Shah Jahan built Taj mahal in 1631 in memory of his third but the most favourite wife, in fact a soul-mate Mumtaz Mahal, a Muslim Persian princess. She died while accompanying her husband in Burhanpur in a campaign to crush a rebellion after giving birth to their 13th child.

Shah Jahan built Taj mahal in 1631 in memory of his third but the most favourite wife, in fact a soul-mate Mumtaz Mahal, a Muslim Persian princess. She died while accompanying her husband in Burhanpur in a campaign to crush a rebellion after giving birth to their 13th child.

The Garden inside the Taj Mahal is known as Mughal Garden. The Taj Mahal garden in a Persian form. It is believed that the Charbagh is the garden of paradise as mentioned in the holy Quran.

Shah Jahan was called the "architect king" as during his reign, the world witnessed highest development of the arts and culture of the Mughal Empire.

Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned construction of the Red Fort on 12 May 1639, when he decided to shift his capital from Agra to Delhi. Originally red and white, the Shah's favourite colours, its design is credited to architect Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, who also constructed the Taj Mahal.

Humayun's tomb is situated in Delhi. The tomb was commissioned by Humayun's chief consort, Empress Bega Begum, from the patronage of her step-son Akbar, in 1558, and designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas and his son, Sayyid Muhammad, Persian architects were chosen by her.

Akbar died in 1605, nearly 50 years after his ascending to the throne. He was buried outside of Agra at Sikandra.

Aurangzeb, the son of Emperor Shah Jahan, was the sixth and the last true powerful Mughal ruler. The Mughal Empire during his reign temporarily reached its great extent. He was a notable expansionist and reigned for 49 years from 1658 until his death in 1707.

Aurangzeb succeeded Shah Jahan on the Mughal throne, not by the rule of a succession of the eldest son but by the strength of the sword. The sword was the symbol of power during the Mughal period. There were no clear rules for succession. Aurangzeb captured the throne by killing his brothers and imprisoning Shah Jahan in the Agra Fort.