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Rise and fall of the Mughal Empire Module - II

Military History of
Medieval India

8

RISE AND FALL OF THE Note

MUGHAL EMPIRE

In the previous lesson you learnt that Babur had laid the foundation of the Mughal
Empire by capturing major portion of Northern India. He was a great military leader.
Who employed innovative tactics and use of gun powder to build a formidable Army.
Fighting in India required adaptation to the new environment which had mountains,
forests, marshlands and built up area. Hence it demanded new tactics and diversification
and combined arms approach. The Mughals easily adapted to this environment and
were prepared to guard against their newly built empire in India.

Babur's successors Humanyun, Akbar, Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb made great efforts to
not only consolidate their empire but also to expand its borders. They had exceptional
military as well as administrative skills. In this lesson, let us find out more about the
Mughal rule in India.

Objectives

After studing this lesson you will be able to:
 explain the Mansabdari System during Akbar's rule;

 explain the nature of war in Second Battle of Panipat;
 highlight the experiences of Akbar's army in battle of Haldighati and

 identify the causes of decline of the Mughals.

8.1 The Mansabdari System

Mansabdari was a system first introduced by Akbar for military administration with
the objective of sustaining his army. It was a system originally borrowed from Central
Asia but in the Indian context Akbar included Indian Muslims, Rajputs and Afghans as
well. The system served as the basis for maintaining Mughal military and civil
administration. In this system every man in the Mughal State who was employed above
the position of a common soldier (or messenger) became a mansab.

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MILITARY HISTORY 49