The Empire That Ruled Half the World's GDP

Part of The Mughal Empire, 1526-1707 · Section 1 of 14

IntroductionUnit: Component Group 4 — Period StudiesGCSE
In 1526 a desperate Timurid prince camped outside Delhi with an army too small to besiege the city. His name was Babur, and his soldiers were outnumbered at least four-to-one by Ibrahim Lodi's forces. Babur had one decisive advantage: artillery. He had brought Ottoman-style cannons to a battlefield where war elephants had ruled for centuries. The elephants panicked at the noise, turned and trampled Ibrahim Lodi's own men. A dynasty was born.

By 1700, the Mughal Empire controlled roughly 25 per cent of global GDP — more than any other empire on Earth. Its court at Agra and Delhi glittered with diamonds, silk, and scholars from Persia, Central Asia, and Europe. Yet within fifty years of Aurangzeb's death in 1707, the empire had fractured. The story of how it rose and fell is one of history's most instructive lessons in the relationship between tolerance, taxation, and power.

This introduction covers The Empire That Ruled Half the World's GDP 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 1 of 14 in this topic. Use this introduction 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.

4 marksfoundation

Describe two features of Akbar's policy of religious tolerance.

4 marksfoundation

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.

Next

Founding the Dynasty: Babur and Humayun, 1526–1556

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

Instant marking, adaptive difficulty and spaced-repetition flashcards — all aligned to your exam board.

Start revising free →

PrepWise is a trading name of A3M Quality Solutions Limited, registered in England and Wales, company number 14959172. Registered office: 202 Stroud Road, Gloucester, GL1 5LA. ICO registration ZC267069.