| Date | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 21 April 1526 | First Battle of Panipat | Babur defeats Ibrahim Lodi; Mughal dynasty founded |
| 1540 | Battle of Kannauj | Humayun loses empire to Sher Shah Suri |
| 1556 | Akbar becomes emperor | Age 13; battle-regent Bairam Khan rules initially |
| 1564 | Akbar abolishes jizya | Tax on non-Muslims removed — religious tolerance policy |
| 1571 | Fatehpur Sikri founded | New syncretic capital; abandoned c.1585 |
| 1582 | Din-i-Ilahi proclaimed | Akbar's syncretic faith; only 18 followers |
| 1632–1653 | Taj Mahal built | Shah Jahan's memorial to Mumtaz Mahal; treasury strained |
| 1679 | Jizya reimposed by Aurangzeb | Reversal of Akbar's tolerance; Hindu resentment grows |
| 1681–1707 | Deccan Wars | Aurangzeb's costly campaign; empire overstretched |
| 1707 | Death of Aurangzeb | Empire begins to fragment; 9 emperors in 12 years |
This key facts covers Key Dates and Evidence within The Mughal Empire, 1526-1707 for GCSE History. Revise The Mughal Empire, 1526-1707 in Component Group 4 — Period Studies for GCSE History with 14 exam-style questions and 17 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 5 of 14 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for The Mughal Empire, 1526-1707
Describe two features of how Babur founded the Mughal Empire in 1526.
Describe two features of Akbar's policy of religious tolerance.
Quick recall flashcards
What was Akbar's Rajput policy?
Akbar married Rajput Hindu princesses (including Jodha Bai of Amer) and appointed Rajput nobles as senior military commanders and court officials. This turned potential enemies into loyal allies, giving the Muslim Mughal emperor a strong Hindu power base.
What happened to Humayun and why does it matter?
Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun at Kannauj (1540), forcing 15 years of exile at the Safavid Persian court. Humayun reconquered Delhi in 1555 but died in 1556. His Persian exile brought important artistic and cultural influences into the Mughal court.