by Amul

Created on: August 19, 2009   Last Updated: September 17, 2009

Medieval Era in India began with rise and fall of Rajputs. During the rule of Rajput rulers India was divided into a number of small states with no harmony among them. Rajputs were brave and great warriors, but their egos among themselves became a big problem and their empire weakened because of clashes, wars and lack of unity between Rajput rulers.

In early 11th century, Mahmud of Ghazni attacked the border regions of India. He raided Punjab, Kannuaj, and demolished several temples including the temple of Somnath and returned to Ghazni as he was interested in wealth not the Empire. But Turks were interested in establishing the rule and invaded India many times to do so. Finally, they succeeded after defeating the great Prithvi Raj Chuahan, the last Rajput ruler of Delhi. He was a great ruler as well as brave soldier. He defeated Muhammad- Al-Ghori twice, but finally he lost the battle as other Rajput rulers did not lend their helping hands to him. Ghori captured Delhi and appointed one of his slave called Qutub-Ud-din-Aibak as the in-charge and returned to his homeland. Qutub-Ud-din-Aibak established the Delhi Sultanate and slave dynasty. Initially the new rulers of India looted and destructed so many temples, but later they stopped. Perhaps they did so to meet their war expenses. From this point rule of India shifted in the hands of Islamic rulers.

Later slave dynasty replaced by the Khilji dynasty. Khilji rulers also lacked unity and were engaged in conspiracy for capturing the power from one another. This made them weak rulers and last ruler of khilji dynasty was murdered and Delhi was ruled by Tuglaqs and Lodhis one after another. With the end of Lodhi dynasty Mughal came in the picture.

Babur was the founder of Mughal rule in India. He defeated Ibrahim Lodi, last emperor of Lodhi dynasty, in the battle of Panipat. His son Humayun further strengthened the empire and later Humayun's son, Akbar. Akbar was most famous Mughal emperor. He extended the Mughal Empire from Afghanistan to Deccan. Though he was a Muslim, but he cared about Hindus as well as other religions. He established harmony with the Rajput rulers. He began a new religion called as Din-E- Ilahi. He lowered taxes in favor of his people and took many steps to make their life prosperous. Because of his goodness people started calling him Akbar the Great'.

Akbar died in 1605 and his son Jahangir became the emperor. He continued many of his father's policies like more civil rights to Hindus, etc. He allowed Dutch and English into his empire to establish factories. After his death Shah Jahan ruled Sultanate (Empire).

He was passionate about jewels and architectures. He established a new capital of his empire in Delhi. For his beloved wife he had built famous monument Taj Mahal, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. He was an orthodox Muslim ruler than his ancestors. He ordered to destroy temples and churches of Christians located at Agra and Lahore. Later his son Aurangzeb captured the throne by imprisoning him Red Fort of Agra. Aurangzeb killed his other brothers to become the Emperor. He was more orthodox than his father. He destroyed a number of temples and forced non-Muslims to convert into Islam. His policies made him unpopular among his subjects and his constant warfare emptied his treasures. From this point Mughal Empire started to decline.

Later Empire was captured by British rulers and Last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah zafar. After, the revolution of 1857 he was declared as independent Emperor of Delhi sultanate, but British army captured the throne again and imprisoned him and established the rule of British Emperor. From this point of time British rule began in India.

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