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Chapter: 10. Jahangir Shah Jahan And Aurangzeb
Comparative Table 1: The Great Mughal Emperors (Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb)
Point of Comparison
Jahangir
Shah Jahan
Aurangzeb
Reign Period
1605–1627 CE
1628–1658 CE
1658–1707 CE
Original Name / Titles
* Salim (original name)* Jahangir
* Prince Khurram (original name)* Shah Jahan (“Lord of the World”)* “Engineer King”
* Aurangzeb* Last of the great Mughal emperors
Administrative & Religious Policies
* Continued the sound administrative system and policies of Akbar.* Benevolent ruler with a strong focus on justice.
* Not mentioned in text
* Reversed Akbar’s religious policies.* Reimposed jizya and pilgrimage taxes on Hindu subjects.* Prolonged absence from the north caused administration to slacken, leading to corruption and disorder.
Key Military Successes
* Defeated Rana Amar Singh of Mewar.* Conquered the Kangra Fort after a 14-month siege.* Recaptured the fort of Ahmadnagar (under Prince Khurram).
* Not mentioned in text
* Annexed Bijapur (1686 CE) and Golconda (1687 CE).* Captured and executed the Maratha ruler Sambhaji; occupied the Maratha capital and imprisoned Sambhaji’s family.
Major Failures & Losses
* Failed to recover Kandahar from the Shah of Persia.* Lost control of Ahmadnagar by the end of his reign.
* Lost control of the empire to his son Aurangzeb during a war of succession.
* Annexation of Bijapur and Golconda made the empire too vast and unwieldy.* Failed to crush Maratha power permanently.* Drained the imperial treasury and ruined the Deccan economy.
Architectural / Cultural Patronage
* Patron of art and architecture.* Installed a golden “chain of justice” with 60 bells.
* Known as the “Golden Age” of the Mughal empire.* Built the Taj Mahal, Moti Masjid, Red Fort, Jama Masjid, and a new capital city (Shahjahanabad).
* Not mentioned in text
End of Reign
* Died in 1627 CE following a power struggle between Nur Jahan and Shah Jahan.
* Fell seriously ill in 1657 CE.* Imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb in Agra Fort for 8 years until his death in 1666 CE.
* Died in Ahmadnagar in 1707 CE as a weary, ailing, and defeated man.
Comparative Table 2: Influential Women of the Era (Nur Jahan, Mumtaz Mahal, and Tarabai)
Point of Comparison
Nur Jahan
Mumtaz Mahal
Tarabai
Identity & Associations
* Queen and wife of Jahangir.* Daughter-in-law of Akbar.* Widow of Persian noble Sher Afghan.
* Queen and wife of Shah Jahan.* Niece of Nur Jahan.
* Queen of the Maratha Empire.* Wife of Rajaram (younger son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj).
Original Name / Titles
* Mehrunnisa (original name)* Nur Mahal (“light of the palace”)* Nur Jahan (“light of the world”)
* Mumtaz Mahal
* Tarabai
Personal Traits & Talents
* Beautiful, intelligent, highly educated, and cultured.* Wrote Persian poetry.* Designed silk/cotton fabrics, jewelry, and carpets.* Physically strong and went on hunting tours.
* Not mentioned in text
* Brave, capable, and highly skilled in leadership and military strategy.
Historical Role & Impact
* Became the virtual ruler and “power behind the throne.”* Issued coins jointly in her name with Jahangir.* Appointed close relatives to key administrative posts.
* Highly beloved wife; inspired the construction of the Taj Mahal, where she was buried.
* Led Maratha resistance against the Mughals after her husband’s death.* Led troops into battle and ruled as a regent for her son.
Comparative Table 3: Architectural Works Commissioned by Shah Jahan
Monument / Structure
Location
Primary Materials Used
Key Features & Historical Significance
Taj Mahal
Not explicitly mentioned in text (buried here alongside Mumtaz Mahal)
Pure white marble and semi-precious stones
* Built in memory of Mumtaz Mahal.* Took over 20 years to complete at a cost of 3 to 4 crore rupees.* Octagonal shape with a splendid dome, four slender minarets, and lace-like screens.* One of the new Seven Wonders of the World.
Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque)
Agra Fort
Finest white marble
* Considered the most perfect of Shah Jahan’s buildings.* Characterized by simple yet elegant architectural beauty.
Red Fort
Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi)
Red sandstone
* Massive fort built within the walls of the new capital city.* Houses highly decorated buildings such as the Diwan-i-Khas and Diwan-i-Aam.
Diwan-i-Khas
Inside the Red Fort
* Silver (ceiling)* Marble decorated with gold and semi-precious stones (walls)
* The most impressive building inside the Red Fort.
Diwan-i-Aam (and the Peacock Throne)
Inside the Red Fort / Agra Fort
* Gold* Emeralds, pearls, and other gems
* House of the Peacock Throne, which had a canopy supported by 12 emerald pillars with two gem-studded peacocks each.* The golden throne took 7 years to complete and was carried away to Persia by Nadir Shah in 1739 CE.
Jama Masjid
Delhi
Red sandstone and white marble
* A simple, dignified, and massive monument.* One of the largest mosques in India.
Comparative Table 4: The Two Phases of Aurangzeb’s Reign
Point of Comparison
Early Reign (First 24 Years)
Later Reign (Last 26 Years)
Primary Location of Emperor
North India
The Deccan (South India)
Major Campaigns & Objectives
* Dealing directly with north Indian affairs.* Crushing internal uprisings to stabilize the northern frontiers.
* Annexing the sultanates of Bijapur and Golconda.* Crushing the rising power of the Marathas.
Key Adversaries & Challenges
* Ahom ruler of Assam (north-east)* Afghan tribesmen (north-west)* Jats (Delhi-Agra region)* Bundelas of Bundelkhand* Satnamis (peasants, artisans, traders)* Sikhs and Rajputs
* Sultanate of Bijapur* Sultanate of Golconda* Maratha leaders (Sambhaji, Rajaram, and Tarabai)
Outcomes & Consequences
* Succeeded in crushing some uprisings but at a heavy cost.* Heavily drained the economic and military resources of the empire.
* Annexed Bijapur (1686 CE) and Golconda (1687 CE), making the empire unwieldy.* Captured and executed Sambhaji, but failed to defeat the Marathas.* Exhausted the treasury, ruined the Deccan economy, and caused administrative collapse in the north.
Comparative Table 5: Military Campaigns of Jahangir
Campaign / Expedition
Target / Adversary
Key Leaders Involved (Mughal Side)
Outcome
Conquest of Mewar
Rana Amar Singh of Mewar
Jahangir
* Rana Amar Singh was defeated and pledged loyalty.* Jahangir treated him with courtesy, allowing him to retain his territory.* Rana’s son, Karna, was appointed as a military commander in the imperial army.
Deccan Campaigns
Ahmadnagar (defended by Malik Ambar)
Prince Khurram (Shah Jahan)
* Malik Ambar initially recovered all Deccan territories conquered by Akbar.* Prince Khurram recaptured Agra/Ahmadnagar Fort and was titled “Shah Jahan.”* By the end of Jahangir’s reign, Ahmadnagar reasserted independence and remained outside Mughal control.
Conquest of Kangra
Fort of Kangra
Jahangir
* The fort submitted to Jahangir after a grueling 14-month siege, fulfilling one of Akbar’s unrealized dreams.
Kandahar Campaign
Kandahar (captured by the Shah of Persia)
Jahangir
* Jahangir’s military efforts to recover the territory ended in failure.
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