3 major Muslim empires globally (late 15th/early 16th c.): Safavid Iran (1502–1736), Mughal subcontinent (1526–1857), Ottoman Anatolia (1299–1922)
Peak (17th c.): Mughal Empire controlled ~3 million sq km, incl. parts of Afghanistan
Muslim rule took 500 years to establish (712–1206) but only ~150 years to decline — caused by succession wars, local revolts, British colonial expansion
Emperors Timeline
Emperor
Reign
Babur
1526–1530
Humayun (1st reign)
1530–1540
(Sher Shah Suri / Sur Dynasty)
1540–1555
Humayun (restored)
1555–1556
Akbar
1556–1605
Jahangir
1605–1627
Shah Jahan
1627–1658
Aurangzeb
1658–1707
Babur (1483–1530)
Founder of Mughal Empire; defeated Ibrahim Lodhi at 1st Battle of Panipat, 1526 — ended Lodhi Dynasty
Died Agra, 26 Dec 1530 (age 47); ruled < 4 years
Humayun (1508–1556)
Succeeded at 23; faced brother Kamran's conspiracies
Defeated Afghan rebels at Dadrah (1532), recaptured Jaunpur
Lost territory to Sher Shah Suri; exiled to Safavid Iran (1542)
Re-conquered Delhi 1555 with Safavid help — died 6 months later
Sher Shah Suri (1486–1545) — the interregnum
Afghan; founder of Sur Dynasty; ruled N. India during Humayun's exile
Built Rohtas Fort (Jhelum); improved intelligence system
Introduced Rupayya (replacing Tanka/Jeetal); land revenue reforms
Divided empire into 47 Sarkars → subdivided into Parganas