a sultanate is a Muslim state or country ruled by a sultan

an empire is a collection of territories or countries ruled by a single person or government

a person who is related to you and who lives after you is known as a descendant

if you conquer something you have taken control of it, usually by using force

nobles are people from the highest social group in some countries

The foundation of the Mughal Empire

History

Early Mughal rule

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.

What keyword describes taking control of something, usually by force?

What year do many historians date the foundation of the Mughal Empire to?

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

the king or ruler of a Muslim state or country

Match the keyword to its correct definition. 

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

the Delhi Sultanate did not have enough weapons

Babur promised to reward nobles who changed sides

some nobles disliked the way Ibrahim Lodi ruled

the Delhi Sultanate was too weak and tired from fighting other wars

Why did some powerful groups in the Delhi Sultanate not resist the Mughal invasion?

a group of territories ruled over by one person or group of people

Match the words to their correct definitions.

Where is the Indian subcontinent located?

Put these historical empires in order, starting with the earliest.

Which centuries did the Mughal Empire exist in?

Put these historical figures in order of when they ruled, starting with the earliest.

The foundation of the Mughal Empire

Lesson outcome

Content guidance