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Apr 21, 1526
Battle of Panipat
Marks the beginning of the mughal empire, this is one of the earliest battles to involve gunpowder, firearms, and field artillery. -
Jan 25, 1531
Babur's death
Babur's death leads to difficulties with his son Humayun's succession. -
Jan 25, 1531
Mahdi Khwaja
Some of the nobles instead try to install Humayun's uncle, Mahdi Khwaja, and, though they are defeated, it signals Humayun's weakness. -
Jan 25, 1540
Sher Shah Suri
the leader of the rival Sur dynasty, drives Humayun out of India and seizes power and Humayun takes refuge with the Safavid rulers in Persia, which serves to create a strong bond with the two dynasties -
Jul 23, 1555
Humayun takes advantage
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. -
Jan 27, 1556
Humayun takes power
shortly after retaking power, Humayun stops for daily prayer in the middle of carrying books down a flight of stairs and trips. He is fatally injured and dies three days later. -
Feb 14, 1556
Akbar
Humayun's son, Akbar, succeeds him under a regent, Bairam Khan, the general who had won victory for his father. -
Nov 5, 1556
Control of the Sur Dynasty
under Bairam Khan, the Mughal army defeats the Surs and solidifies Akbar's control. -
Jan 31, 1561
Akbar's full succession
under the guidance of his mother and other supporters, Akbar strips Bairam Khan of the regency, and Khan is assassinated on a journey to Mecca. Akbar takes full control of the empire, develops trade with Europe, acquires flintlock guns from Europe. -
Revolt against Akbar
Though Jahangir, Akbar's oldest son, is the declared successor, he impatiently leads a revolt against his father in 1599 while Akbar is occupied in a foreign military campaign. -
Jahangir succeeds as emperor
Jahangir succeeds as emperor, thanks to the immense support of the harem women. His eldest son, Khusrau Mirza, unsuccessfully rebels against him. Jahangir kills all his son's supporters and blinds his son. During his rule, Jahangir is addicted to opium and alcohol and so neglects his role as ruler, allowing him to be manipulated by rival factions. -
Jahangir dies
Jahangir dies on his way back from a visit to Kashmir and is succeeded by his third son, Shah Jahan. It is during this period that the court's opulence becomes more expensive than its value. -
Construction of Taj Mahal
Shah Jahan begins construction on the Taj Mahal in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The white marble mausoleum is recognized by many as the finest example of Mughal architecture. -
Fall of Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan falls ill in 1658, 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. -
Defeat of Dara Shikoh and decline in the Mughal empire
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. Aurangzeb goes on to expand the empire, but his harsh religious conservatism undermines the stability of the empire. This marks the beginning of the decline of the Mughal's power. -
Shah Alam
Aurangzeb's son, Shah Alam, succeeds him in 1707 and tries to undo the disastrous policies of his father, but it is too little, too late. -
British East India Company and end of Mughal empire
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, although he is in reality little more than a figurehead. 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.
