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Marks the beginning of the Mughal Empire. The forces of Babur defeat the Lodi Empire of Northern India. One of the earliest battles to involve gunpowder, firearms, and field artillery
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Babur's death leads to difficulties with his son Humayun's succession. Nobles try to install his uncle Mahdi Khwaja instead, and though they are defeated, it signals Humayun's weakness.
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Sher Shah Suri, the leader of the rival Sur dynasty, drives Humayun out of India and seizes power in 1540.
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Humayun takes advantage of the deaths of both Sher Shah Suri and his son and successor, Islam Shah, to march an army provided by his Persian allies back to India. He puts the army under the leadership of Bairam Khan.
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Humayun trips and falls down some stars and he is fatally injured and dies three days later.
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Under Bairam Khan, the Mughal army defeats the Surs and solidifies Akbar's control.
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Akbar strips Bairam Khan of the regency, and Khan is assassinated on a journey to Mecca.
Akbar known for developing trade with Europe, developing a strong system of administration, and growing the economy. -
Though Jahangir, Akbar's oldest son, is the declared successor, he impatiently leads a revolt against his father while Akbar is occupied in a foreign military campaign. He has enough political support to retain his role as successor.
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Jahangir succeeds as emperor, thanks to the immense support of the harem women. Khusrau Mirza, his eldest son unsuccessfully rebels against him. Jahangir kills all his son's supporters and blinds his son. Jahangir is addicted to opium and alcohol and so neglects his role as ruler.
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He dies on his way back from a visit to Kashmir and is succeeded by his third son, Shah Jahan.
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Shah Jahan begins construction on the Taj Mahal in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
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Shah Jahan falls ill, and his eldest son, Dara Shikoh, becomes regent for him. However, due to his liberal politics, his younger brother, Aurangzeb, allies with conservative Islamic factions to oppose him.
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Aurangzeb defeats Dara Shikoh and has him executed. Though Shah Jahan has recovered by this point, Aurangzeb declares him unfit for rule and has him imprisoned.This marks the beginning of the decline of the Mughal's power.
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Aurangzeb's son, Shah Alam, succeeds him and tries to undo the disastrous policies of his father, but its too late. The empire descends into chaos and violent feuds after his death and starts to break up.
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The British East India Company has become the protector of the Mughal Empire, using it to solidify their claim on trade with India. Bahadur Shah Zafar, the final Mughal ruler, leads a revolt against them. The revolt is defeated and the Mughals deposed by the East India Company, which assumes formal control over the country and ends the Mughal Empire.
