political instability refers to situations where a government is not very secure or there is no clear leader in a country

someone who fights against the government or ruler in their country has rebelled

diplomacy refers to how leaders manage relationships with other rulers and countries; diplomacy can involve making agreements with rulers of other states.

exile involves being sent or kept away from your own country, usually for political reasons

to convert is to change to a new religion or belief

Early Mughal rule

History

The foundation of the Mughal Empire

Akbar the Great

Governance and religious policy under Akbar

The Mughal empire in the 17th century

Mughal rule in India

In this unit, pupils explored how violence shaped the Mughal Empire’s expansion. They will build on this understanding in ‘The East India Company: when did Mughal authority collapse?’ by investigating the eventual decline of Mughal authority and the impact of British colonial ambitions.

In ‘Medieval West Africa: why was medieval Mali so successful?’, pupils explored how Mali’s wealth from gold and salt trade, its strong leadership under rulers like Mansa Musa, and its Islamic scholarship contributed to its prosperity. This unit considers other strong leaders, focusing on the extent to which violence and military power were key to the expansion of the Mughal Empire in India.

In this unit, pupils learn about the foundation of the Mughal Empire, early Mughal rule and the way in which this had developed by the late 17th century. They end the unit by reflecting on the role played by violence during the expansion of Mughal rule in India.

The Mughal Empire: how important was violence to the Mughal conquests in India?

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Depiction or discussion of violence or fighting, including threats of violence or the aftermath of violence.

a government is not very secure or there is no clear leader 

how leaders manage relationships with other rulers and countries

being sent or kept away from your own country

Match the words with their definitions. Write the correct letter in each box.


Someone who fights against the government or ruler in their country has {{ }}. 

killed in a battle against Sher Shah’s army

received support from Sher Shah against his brothers

forced from power and into exile by Sher Shah

What happened to Emperor Humayun in 1540?

Humayun forced into exile. Sher Shah becomes emperor.

Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into the order in which they happened.

From whom did Humayun receive significant support from during his years in exile?

In which year did Humayun reconquer India?

a Muslim state or country ruled by a sultan

a person who is related to you and who lives after you

people from the highest social group in some countries

Match the words with their definitions. Write the correct letter in each box.

To {{ }} means you have taken control of something, usually by using force


Which group made up the majority of India’s population at the start of the 16th century?

No single state was in control of the entirety of India. 

The Delhi Sultanate ruled over all of India at the start of the 16th century.

Power was divided between many different states across the subcontinent.

The Delhi Sultanate ruled over all of northern India.

Which of the following statements accurately describe how India was ruled at the start of the 16th century?

filled it with treasure taken from Rana Sanga

filled it with both Hindu and Muslim religious objects

What did Babur do with the tower he had built after the Battle of Khalwa?

Early Mughal rule

Lesson outcome

Content guidance