Biography of Babur, Founder of the Mughal Empire

Biography of Babur, Founder of the Mughal Empire Babur (born Zahir-ud-din Muhammad; February 14, 1483–December 26, 1530) was the founder of the Mughal Empire in India. His descendants, the Mughal emperors, built a long-lasting empire that covered much of the subcontinent until 1868, and that continues to shape the culture of India to this day. Babur himself was of noble blood; on his fathers side, he was a Timurid, a Persianized Turk descended from Timur the Lame, and on his mothers side he was a descendant of Genghis Khan. Fast Facts: Babur Known For: Babur conquered the Indian subcontinent and founded the Mughal Empire.Also Known As: Zahir-ud-din MuhammadBorn: February 14, 1483 in Andijan, Timurid EmpireParents: Umar Sheikh Mirza and Qutlaq Nigar KhanumDied: December 26, 1530 in Agra, Mughal EmpireSpouse(s): Aisha Sultan Begum, Zaynab Sultan Begum, Masuma Sultan Begum, Maham Begum, Dildar Begum, Gulnar Aghacha, Gulrukh Begum, Mubarika YousefzaiChildren: 17 Early Life Zahir-ud-din Muhammad, nicknamed Babur or Lion, was born into the Timurid royal family in Andijan, now in Uzbekistan, on February 14, 1483. His father Umar Sheikh Mirza was the Emir of Ferghana; his mother Qutlaq Nigar Khanum was the daughter of Moghuli King Yunus Khan. By the time of Baburs birth, the remaining Mongol descendants in western Central Asia had intermarried with Turkic and Persian peoples and assimilated into the local culture. They were strongly influenced by Persia (using Farsi as their official court language), and they had converted to Islam. Most favored the mystic Sufism-infused style of Sunni Islam. Taking the Throne In 1494, the Emir of Ferghana died suddenly and 11-year-old Babur ascended his fathers throne. His seat was anything but secure, however, with numerous uncles and cousins plotting to replace him. Evidently aware that a good offense is the best defense, the young emir set out to expand his holdings. By 1497, he had conquered the famous Silk Road oasis city of Samarkand. While he was thus engaged, however, his uncles and other nobles rose in rebellion back in Andijan. When Babur turned to defend his base, he once again lost control of Samarkand. The determined young emir had regained both cities by 1501, but the Uzbek ruler Shaibani Khan challenged him over Samarkand and dealt Baburs forces a crushing defeat. This marked the end of Baburs rule in what is now Uzbekistan. Exile in Afghanistan For three years, the homeless prince wandered Central Asia, trying to attract followers to help him retake his fathers throne. Finally, in 1504, he and his small army turned to the southeast, marching over the snow-bound Hindu Kush mountains into Afghanistan. Babur, now 21 years old, besieged and conquered Kabul, establishing a base for his new kingdom. Ever optimistic, Babur would ally himself with the rulers of Herat and Persia and try to take back Fergana in 1510 to 1511. Once more, however, the Uzbeks utterly defeated the Mughul army, driving them back to Afghanistan. Thwarted, Babur began to look south once more. Invitation to Replace Lodi In 1521, a perfect opportunity for southern expansion presented itself to Babur. The sultan of the Delhi Sultanate, Ibrahim Lodi, was hated and reviled by his citizens. He had shaken up the military and court ranks by installing his own followers in place of the old guard and ruled the lower classes with an arbitrary and tyrannical style. After just four years of Lodis rule, the Afghan nobility was so fed up with him that they invited the Timurid Babur to come to the Delhi Sultanate and depose him. Naturally, Babur was quite happy to comply. He gathered an army  and launched a siege on Kandahar. The Kandahar Citadel held out for much longer than Babur had anticipated. As the siege dragged on, however, important nobles and military men from the Delhi Sultanate such as Ibrahim Lodis uncle, Alam Khan, and the governor of Punjab allied themselves with Babur. First Battle of Panipat Five years after his initial invitation to the subcontinent, Babur finally launched an all-out assault on the Delhi Sultanate and Ibrahim Lodi in April 1526. On the plains of Punjab, Baburs army of 24,000- mostly cavalry- rode out against Sultan Ibrahim, who had 100,000 men and 1,000 war elephants. Although Babur appeared to be terribly outmatched, he had something that Lodi did not- guns. The battle that followed, now known as the First Battle of Panipat, marked the fall of the Delhi Sultanate. With superior tactics and firepower, Babur crushed Lodis army, killing the sultan and 20,000 of his men. Lodis fall signaled the beginning of the Mughal Empire (also known as the Timurid Empire) in India. Rajput Wars Babur had overcome his fellow Muslims in the Delhi Sultanate (and of course, most were happy to acknowledge his rule), but the mainly-Hindu Rajput princes were not so easily conquered. Unlike his ancestor Timur, Babur was dedicated to the idea of building a permanent empire in India- he was no mere raider. He decided to build his capital at Agra. The Rajputs, however, put up a spirited defense against this new Muslim and would-be overlord from the north. Knowing that the Mughal army had been weakened at the Battle of Panipat, the princes of Rajputana gathered an army even larger than Lodis and went to war behind Rana Sangam of Mewar. In March 1527 at the Battle of Khanwa, Baburs army managed to deal the Rajputs a huge defeat. The Rajputs were undaunted, however, and battles and skirmishes continued all over the northern and eastern sections of Baburs empire for the next several years. Death In the autumn of 1530, Babur fell ill. His brother-in-law conspired with some of the Mughal court nobles to seize the throne after Baburs death, bypassing Humayun, Baburs eldest son and appointed heir. Humayun hurried to Agra to defend his claim to the throne  but soon fell gravely ill himself. According to legend, Babur cried out to God to spare Humayuns life, offering his own in return. On December 26, 1530, Babur died at the age of 47. Humayun, 22 years old, inherited a rickety empire, beset by internal and external enemies. Like his father, Humayun would lose power and be forced into exile, only to return and stake his claim to India. By the end of his life, he had consolidated and expanded the empire, which would reach its height under his son Akbar the Great. Legacy Babur lived a difficult life, always battling to make a place for himself. In the end, however, he planted the seed for one of the worlds great empires. Babur was a devotee of poetry and gardens, and his descendants would raise all kinds of arts to their apogee during their long reign. The Mughal Empire lasted until 1868, at which point it finally fell to the colonial British Raj. Sources Moon, Farzana.  Babur: the First Moghul in India. Atlantic Publishers and Distributors, 1997.Richards, John F.  The Mughal Empire. Cambridge University Press, 2012.

Isolation Essays - Emotion, Health, Brain, Emotions, Free Essays

Isolation Essays - Emotion, Health, Brain, Emotions, Free Essays Isolation Nicole Bumbacco Ms. Hannah ELC 4AO Dec 23, 1999 Isolation is defined in the Websters Encyclopedic Dictionary as occurring when something is placed apart or alone. Naturally, humans are faced with feelings of isolation at certain times throughout their lives. However, there are particular types of isolation that capture the imagination of writers and artists. Canadian authors are drawn towards the theme of isolation in their literature. Characters portrayed in Canadian literature are either spiritually, emotionally, physically or geographically isolated. Isolation can either have a positive or negative affect on humans. Humans are often driven mad by isolation, where their only means of escaping is by death. Others who are isolated develop psychotic tendances which cause them to destroy themselves, as well as others. Throughout Canadian literature, isolation has an extremely negative effect upon the development of the individuals character. In the short story The Lamp at Noon, Sinclair Ross portrays the young woman Ellen as a character who is driven mad by her geographical isolation. Throughout this story, Ellen struggles to break free from the poor, barren and hopeless prairie landscape she and her family inhabit. Ellen has little contact with other people. Living in a two bedroom home and once a month to town with not a penny to spend was not the type of environment Ellen wanted to live in ( Ross, 36). Feelings of loneliness and isolation surround Ellen, trapping her in an inevitable, hopeless future. Undoubtable, Ellens geographical and physical isolation were not the only components of Ellens insanity. Ellen felt emotionally isolated from her husband, Paul. Paul was too preoccupied with his farm to even acknowledge Ellens feelings of isolation. Ellen addresses Paul many times, trying to convince him to leave the deserted prairie. Paul does not listen to Ellen. He feels that all he needs to provide Ellen with is clothes and nourishment (36). It is clearly shown at the end of this story when Ellen is driven into a state of insanity that Paul also needed to show her love and affection (42). Geographical and emotional isolation warped Ellens character into a state of madness. Sinclair Rosss The Lamp at Noon is not the only short story that portrays the negative effects of isolation. In Susanna Moodies Brian the Still Hunter, Brians isolation moulds him into a demented and vile character. Brians alcoholism isolates him from himself as well as others. When sober, others refer to him as a passionate man, but, when the wit was out and the liquor was in, he was as savage as a quarrelsome bear ( Ross, 6). Others feared Brians unpredictable character and therefore Brian endured little contact with others. Brians alcoholism also isolated him from his family both physically and emotionally. After being on a spree for a week or two,...he would hide himself up in the woods and steal home at night, and get what he wanted out of the pantry without speaking a word to anyone (6). This quote exemplifies the physical isolation Brian endures from his family, when he was drinking. Brians isolation also resulted in an emotionally unhealthy relationship with his wife. Alcoholism often compelled Brian to feel guilty and worthless toward his wife, he would take fits of remorse, and return home to his wife- would go down upon his knees and ask her forgiveness and cry like a child(6). Brians entire character was destroyed inside, he felt worthless and incapable. to escape his emotional isolation, Brian attempted to commit suicide. (8) Brians unsuccessful attempt at suicide lead him into physical isolation again. he left off drinking entirely, and wonders about the country with his dogs, hunting. he seldom speaks to anyone... (9). This quote exemplifies how Brain was driven into a state of insanity. The character of Brian in this short story greatly displayed the negative effects isolation can have. The negative effects of isolation can also be shown through W.O. Mitchells novel, Ladybug, Ladybug. In Ladybug, Ladybug, the negative effects of isolation warp character Charles Slaughter into a psychopath. The only time Charles felt loved or acknowledged throughout his life was in the presence of his father. Even though Charles father was rarely around, he always remembered to bring him home a present. This gesture