Mughal Dynasty : Aurangzeb Notes with PDF

These notes are your ultimate revision weapon to revise Mughal Dynasty : Aurangzeb. We’ve distilled years of previous exam questions (PYQs) into one powerful, concise resource. Everything you need to know, nothing you don’t.

• PYQs, Decoded: All key concepts from past exams, organized and simplified.
• Revise in Record Time: Short, precise, and designed for last-minute review.
• Focus on What Matters: Master high-probability topics and boost your confidence.
• Free PDF to download.

Aurangzeb’s Rise to Power (War of Succession)

• Claim to the Throne
  • Aurangzeb succeeded Shah Jahan to the Mughal throne.
  • He did not inherit it through the law of primogeniture (right of the firstborn son).
  • He was Shah Jahan’s third son, not the eldest.
  • The eldest son and original heir was Dara Shukoh.
• Key Battles
  • The Battle of Dharmat (1658) was fought between Aurangzeb and Dara Shukoh.
  • It occurred in Dharmat, Madhya Pradesh.
  • Raja Jaswant Singh of Jodhpur fought for Dara Shukoh but was defeated by Aurangzeb.
  • Aurangzeb was supported by his brother, Prince Murad.
• Aftermath of the War
  • Dara Shukoh was killed in 1659.
  • Dara Shukoh’s body was buried in Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi.
  • Dara Shukoh’s son, Prince Sulaiman Shukoh, fled to Srinagar (Garhwal) for refuge but was later captured and killed.
• Coronation
  • Aurangzeb was coronated twice.
  • First coronation: July 31, 1658, in Delhi.
  • Second coronation: June 15, 1659, after his decisive victory.

Aurangzeb’s Reign and Policies

• Military Campaigns & Expansion
  • He sent Raja Jai Singh of Amber to defeat Shivaji, leading to the Treaty of Purandar in 1665.
  • He conquered the Deccan Sultanates:
    • Bijapur was annexed in 1686.
    • Golconda was seized in 1687.
  • The ruler of Golconda at the time of its fall was Abul Hasan Qutb Shah.
• Religious Policies
  • He re-imposed the Jizya tax on non-Muslims in 1679 (it had been abolished by Akbar).
  • The tax was graded based on income, with exemptions for the poor, women, children, etc.
  • He believed in the concept of Jihad to spread Islam.
  • Despite this, his administration had the highest number of Hindu officials and generals (approx. 33%) in Mughal history.
• Family
  • His daughter was named Mehrunnisa.
  • He bestowed the title ‘Sahibat-uz-Zamani’ upon his elder sister, Jahan Ara (daughter of Shah Jahan).

Aurangzeb’s Character and Legacy

• Personal Life & Titles
  • He was known for his piety and austere lifestyle.
  • He was given the titles “Zinda Pir” (Living Saint) and “Shahi Darvesh” (Royal Ascetic).
• Rebellions
  • His son, Prince Muhammad Akbar, rebelled against him in 1681, weakening Aurangzeb’s position against the Rajputs.
• Contemporary Figures
  • The Maratha saint Samarth Ramdas was a contemporary of Aurangzeb.

Architecture During Aurangzeb’s Reign

• He built the Moti Masjid inside the Red Fort in Delhi.
• He built the Bibi Ka Maqbara (Tomb of Bibi) in Aurangabad.
  • It is also known as the Tomb of Rabia-ud-Daurani.
  • It is famously called the ‘Second Taj Mahal’ or ‘Mini Taj’.

Miscellaneous Context

• European Travellers:
  • Peter Mundy (Shah Jahan’s reign), William Hawkins & Thomas Roe (Jahangir’s reign), and Antonio Monserrate (Akbar’s reign) all visited India before Aurangzeb’s rule. No major European traveller mentioned in the data came during his reign.

Know More About Mughal Dynasty: Aurangzeb:

• Mughal Dynasty: Aurangzeb– Old Year Questions and Answers
• Mughal Dynasty : Aurangzeb One Liner Questions & Answers