New
New
Year 8

Early Mughal rule

I can explain the methods used by Emperor Humayun to gain control over India.

New
New
Year 8

Early Mughal rule

I can explain the methods used by Emperor Humayun to gain control over India.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The Mughal Empire suffered from political instability at the beginning of Humayun's reign.
  2. Humayun lost control of the empire in 1540 and was forced into exile.
  3. Humayun used diplomacy to gain support from the Persian Empire.
  4. Humayun reconquered India in 1555 at a time when political instability weakened his enemies.

Keywords

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

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

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

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

  • Convert - to convert is to change to a new religion or belief

Common misconception

Students assume political instability is only the result of foreign powers challenging the leaders of a country.

Political instability at the start of Humayun's reign partly occurred because of rebellions by his younger brothers and political instability in the 1550s was created by descendants of Sher Shah fighting one another for power.

At the end of the lesson, encourage comparisons between Babur and Humayun. Ask pupils 'is it fair to say that violence was the most important factor which helped Babur conquer India but the least important factor which helped Humayun re-conquer India 30 years later?'
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words with their definitions. Write the correct letter in each box.
Correct Answer:sultanate,a Muslim state or country ruled by a sultan

a Muslim state or country ruled by a sultan

Correct Answer:descendant,a person who is related to you and who lives after you

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

Correct Answer:nobles,people from the highest social group in some countries

people from the highest social group in some countries

Q2.
To means you have taken control of something, usually by using force
Correct Answer: conquer, Conquer
Q3.
Which group made up the majority of India’s population at the start of the 16th century?
Correct answer: Hindus
Muslims
Sikhs
Q4.
Which of the following statements accurately describe how India was ruled at the start of the 16th century?
Correct answer: 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.
Correct answer: Power was divided between many different states across the subcontinent.
The Delhi Sultanate ruled over all of northern India.
Q5.
Where did the Mughals come from?
Correct answer: Central Asia
East Asia
South Asia
Q6.
What did Babur do with the tower he had built after the Battle of Khalwa?
filled it with treasure taken from Rana Sanga
Correct answer: filled it with the skulls of his enemies
filled it with both Hindu and Muslim religious objects

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words with their definitions. Write the correct letter in each box.
Correct Answer:political instability,a government is not very secure or there is no clear leader

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

Correct Answer:diplomacy ,how leaders manage relationships with other rulers and countries

how leaders manage relationships with other rulers and countries

Correct Answer:exile,being sent or kept away from your own country

being sent or kept away from your own country

Q2.
Someone who fights against the government or ruler in their country has .
Correct Answer: rebelled, Rebelled
Q3.
What happened to Emperor Humayun in 1540?
killed in a battle against Sher Shah’s army
received support from Sher Shah against his brothers
Correct answer: forced from power and into exile by Sher Shah
Q4.
Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into the order in which they happened.
1 - Mughals lose control of Gujarat.
2 - Humayun’s brothers rebel against him.
3 - Sher Shah wins the Battle of Chausa.
4 - Humayun forced into exile. Sher Shah becomes emperor.
Q5.
From whom did Humayun receive significant support from during his years in exile?
Rajput kings
Correct answer: Persian emperor
Chinese emperor
Q6.
In which year did Humayun reconquer India?
1540
1554
Correct answer: 1555

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