Jahangir (1605-1627) continued Akbar's tolerant policies and is remembered for his love of art and nature. His memoirs are among the finest of the era. His wife Nur Jahan had extraordinary political influence at court.

Shah Jahan (1628-1658) ruled the Mughal Empire at its artistic peak. His most famous monument is the Taj Mahal, built between 1632 and 1653 in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. The Red Fort at Delhi and the Jama Masjid mosque were also built under his rule. The huge cost of his building projects is often said to have strained the treasury. His reign ended when his son Aurangzeb imprisoned him in Agra Fort (1658).

Aurangzeb (1658-1707) is the sharpest contrast to Akbar. A devout Muslim who felt earlier emperors had gone too far in accepting Hindu practices, he reversed policies that had kept Mughal rule stable:

Jizya reimposed (1679): The tax on non-Muslims, which Akbar had abolished in 1564, was brought back. Hindus and other non-Muslims were required to pay it, causing widespread resentment.

Temple destruction: Aurangzeb ordered the destruction of some important Hindu temples, including the Kashi Vishwanath temple at Varanasi and a major temple at Mathura, sites of deep religious meaning.

Deccan Wars (1681-1707): Aurangzeb spent the last twenty-six years of his reign campaigning in the Deccan, against the Marathas and the southern sultanates. The wars cost enormous amounts of money and many lives without bringing lasting control.

Maratha resistance: Shivaji Bhonsle (died 1680) built a powerful Maratha state based on guerrilla warfare, fortress control, and Hindu identity. His successors continued to resist Aurangzeb, tying down the Mughal army for decades.

This deep dive covers Later Mughals: Magnificence and Overstretch, 1605-1707 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 4 of 14 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.

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What happened to Humayun and why does it matter?

Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun at Kannauj (1540), forcing about 15 years of exile, mostly at the Safavid Persian court. Humayun took back Delhi in 1555 but died in 1556. His Persian exile brought important artistic and cultural influences into the Mughal court.

What was Akbar's Rajput policy?

Akbar married Rajput Hindu princesses (including a princess 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.

Later Mughals: Magnificence and Overstretch, 1605-1707

Practice questions for The Mughal Empire, 1526-1707

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14 questions on The Mughal Empire, 1526-1707: practise free