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Module - II                                                            Military System of The Mughals

            Military History of
             Medieval  India


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                        Note
                                       MILITARY SYSTEM OF THE

                                                           MUGHALS




                                 As you have learnt in the previous lesson the Muslim rulers of Delhi who called
                                 themselves the 'Sultans' acknowledged the authority of the 'Caliph'. However, when
                                 the Mughal rulers came to power, they repudiated the authority of Caliph and called
                                 themselves as 'Padshah'.

                                 Another remarkable development during this period was that the European Trading
                                 Companies started establishing themselves in India. The Portuguese followed by the
                                 Dutch, the Danish, the English and the French-all came to India but they were not able
                                 to make much headway up to the time of Aurangzeb. However, as you will see later
                                 the throne became virtually vacant after the death of Aurangzeb. For all these factors
                                 it is said that with the arrival of Mughals, a new age started in the history of India.


                                         Objectives

                                 After studying this lesson you will be able to:

                                      describe the dynamics of Mughal Empire in India and
                                      explain the Mughal military structure

                                  6.1 Overview of Mughal Empire

                                 Mughals from Central Asia ruled India for more than three hundred years - from 1526
                                 up until 1857 - when the last Mughal ruler was overthrown and British established
                                 their  control.  During  these  three  hundred  years  of    Mughal
                                 period the military underwent many changes. We can learn all this from the recorded
                                 history of the battles that they had fought. Who established the Mughal empire? How
                                 did they come to India? And who were the prominent rulers? Here are the answers to
                                 these questions.










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                                                                                     MILITARY HISTORY
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