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The Lives of the Mughal Emperors
One of the most powerful of all the world’s great dynasties, the Mughals ruled India for over three hundred years. Beginning in 1526, the first six emperors—Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb—invaded, lost, regained, and greatly expanded an empire that at its peak covered most of preindependent India. But the later rulers were seriously overstretched, increasingly lacking authority, resources, or ability, and by the time the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, was deposed in 1857, the once-great dynasty held power over just the Red Fort in Delhi.
In The Lives of the Mughal Emperors , John Reeve tells the individual stories of the Mughal emperors and other key officials through the art that was produced at the time. The Mughals were great patrons of the arts, and Reeve reveals them to be not only an enormously powerful dynasty but also one beset by problems of opium and alcohol addiction, brutal familial infighting, and territorial pressures from other political powers. A beautifully illustrated introduction to the Mughal period, this volume will appeal to anyone interested in how the Mughals built and then lost a great empire.
In The Lives of the Mughal Emperors , John Reeve tells the individual stories of the Mughal emperors and other key officials through the art that was produced at the time. The Mughals were great patrons of the arts, and Reeve reveals them to be not only an enormously powerful dynasty but also one beset by problems of opium and alcohol addiction, brutal familial infighting, and territorial pressures from other political powers. A beautifully illustrated introduction to the Mughal period, this volume will appeal to anyone interested in how the Mughals built and then lost a great empire.
96 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 2013
About the author
John Reeve
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 23, 2021
The brief introduction of main Mugal rulers with amazing illustrations.
March 30, 2015
Picked this up after visiting a production on Dara at the National Theatre in London. This book is simple yet brilliantly effective in providing a basic introduction to Mughal history and each of the Mughal emperors (between 1 and 3 pages are dedicater per emperor). Beautifully illustrated with Mughal miniature art, the book is enjoyable to read, giving a real sense of how Mughal culture evolved through history. Makes for a great coffee table book, or gift, also.
As someone who is new to the Mughals, this book (and the theatre production) has really whet the appetitie to follow up with a more detailed book.
As someone who is new to the Mughals, this book (and the theatre production) has really whet the appetitie to follow up with a more detailed book.
February 4, 2017
A compact and beautifully illustrated book about the Mughal history in India It was good to recollect the history of Mughal empire in India that I had studied in middle school. They ruled for three centuries, contributing to painting and architecture, but also looting India. Akbar was the best who was supportive of all the religions and benevolent in many ways. Aurangazeb was the least benevolent.
September 4, 2023
A very brief history of the Mughal emperors, however- with brilliant illustrations and definitely with some anecdotes that were not taught in history at school! Would definitely recommend this as light reading for anyone interested in history!
September 13, 2016
This is a slim book in size – only 96 pages.
But the contents are anything by slim.
The book has been published by the British Library. It tells the story of the Mughal Empire through the Mughal-era paintings that are preserved at the British Library.
And it’s a story wonderfully told.
The story of the 12-year old Babur who ascends the throne at Ferghana after the accidental death of his father.
Of the man who nearly lost the empire – Humayun.
The story of the man whom Time magazine calls one of the top 25 world leaders in history: Akbar.
This is the story of Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb. The last three of the six Great Mughals built on the foundations of their predecessors and, paradoxically, sowed the seed of its gradual decline and fall. Shah Jahan did build the Taj Mahal but his religious orthodoxy got overshadowed by the splendor of the mausoleum he built for his wife.
Mughal ladies – Gulbadan, Nur Jahan, Mumtaz Mahal, Jahanara – are mentioned, but one is left wishing they were discussed in more detail.
The most poignant part of the book is the description of the Later Mughals. From the death of Aurangzeb in 1707 to the banishment of Bahadur Shah Jafar to Burma in 1857 – 150 years – this is the story of decline. Of humiliation and ignominy. Not only that the once-mighty empire is fading into insignificance. But the chaos that followed is heart-rending. Nadir Shah took away the Peacock Throne and the Koh-i-Noor - our Peacock Throne and Koh-i-Noor. Loot and pillage of Delhi yielded so much wealth that he did not need to collect tax in Persia for three years!
The paintings that adorn each page of the book have greatly enhanced the appeal of the narrative. The last photograph of the octogenarian Bahadur Shah sitting forlorn and defeated, looking into a doomed future with vacant, unseeing eyes is worth a million words.
There couldn’t be a better introduction to the story of the Mughals and their India.
Excellent.
But the contents are anything by slim.
The book has been published by the British Library. It tells the story of the Mughal Empire through the Mughal-era paintings that are preserved at the British Library.
And it’s a story wonderfully told.
The story of the 12-year old Babur who ascends the throne at Ferghana after the accidental death of his father.
Of the man who nearly lost the empire – Humayun.
The story of the man whom Time magazine calls one of the top 25 world leaders in history: Akbar.
This is the story of Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb. The last three of the six Great Mughals built on the foundations of their predecessors and, paradoxically, sowed the seed of its gradual decline and fall. Shah Jahan did build the Taj Mahal but his religious orthodoxy got overshadowed by the splendor of the mausoleum he built for his wife.
Mughal ladies – Gulbadan, Nur Jahan, Mumtaz Mahal, Jahanara – are mentioned, but one is left wishing they were discussed in more detail.
The most poignant part of the book is the description of the Later Mughals. From the death of Aurangzeb in 1707 to the banishment of Bahadur Shah Jafar to Burma in 1857 – 150 years – this is the story of decline. Of humiliation and ignominy. Not only that the once-mighty empire is fading into insignificance. But the chaos that followed is heart-rending. Nadir Shah took away the Peacock Throne and the Koh-i-Noor - our Peacock Throne and Koh-i-Noor. Loot and pillage of Delhi yielded so much wealth that he did not need to collect tax in Persia for three years!
The paintings that adorn each page of the book have greatly enhanced the appeal of the narrative. The last photograph of the octogenarian Bahadur Shah sitting forlorn and defeated, looking into a doomed future with vacant, unseeing eyes is worth a million words.
There couldn’t be a better introduction to the story of the Mughals and their India.
Excellent.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews