HomeEducational ResourcesMughal Dynasty: Jahangir Notes with PDF

Mughal Dynasty: Jahangir Notes with PDF

By October 4, 2025 Educational Resources 0 Comments

These notes are your ultimate revision weapon to revise Mughal Dynasty : Jahangir. 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.

The Mughal Empire

I. Emperor Jahangir’s Reign (1605-1627)

A. Accession and Political Events

  • Crowned on November 3, 1605, after Akbar’s death.
  • Faced rebellions from his sons Khusrau (firstborn) and Khurram (the future Shah Jahan), as well as from his general Mahabat Khan.
  • Rewarded Raja Vir Singh Bundela for killing Abul Fazl.

B. Administrative Reforms

  • Do-aspa and Sih-aspa System:
    • Introduced by Emperor Jahangir.
    • Required Mansabdars to maintain extra soldiers without a promotion in their ‘Zat’ rank.
    • Do-aspa: Mansabdars had to keep twice the number of horses as their ‘Sawar’ rank.
    • Sih-aspa: Mansabdars had to keep three times the number of horses as their ‘Sawar’ rank.

C. Diplomacy and Foreign Relations

  • Treaty of Chittor (1615):
    • Signed between the Mughal Empire (Jahangir) and Rana Amar Singh of Mewar.
    • Terms:
      • The Rana pledged loyalty to the Mughal emperor.
      • Jahangir returned the territories of Mewar and Chittorgarh, which had been conquered by Akbar.
  • European Ambassadors:
    • William Hawkins:
      • The first English ambassador sent by the East India Company (arrived 1608).
      • Jahangir granted him the title ‘English Khan’.
    • Sir Thomas Roe:
      • Ambassador of the British King James I (not the East India Company).
      • Arrived in India in 1615.
      • Was received by Jahangir at Ajmer.
      • Accompanied Jahangir on his travels to Mandu and Ahmedabad.
  • Foreign Travelers:
    • Francisco Pelsaert: A Dutch traveler who visited during Jahangir’s reign and wrote a valuable account titled ‘The Remonstrantie’.

D. Patronage of Arts & Painting

  • Mughal painting reached its zenith (highest point) under Emperor Jahangir.
  • Jahangir freed paintings from being mere manuscript illustrations.
  • Renowned Painters at Court:
    • Abul Hassan: Conferred the title ‘Nadir-ul-Zaman’ (Rarity of the Age).
    • Ustad Mansoor: Conferred the title ‘Nadir-ul-Asra’ (Rarity of the Age). He was the greatest painter of birds at Jahangir’s court.
    • Other famous painters included Farrukh Beg and Daulat.

E. Literary Works

  • Wrote his autobiography in Persian, called ‘Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri’ (or Jahangirnama).
  • In it, he critically mentioned both his positive and negative traits.

F. Family & Court

  • His wife, Nur Jahan, was highly educated, intelligent, and powerful.
  • Nur Jahan’s influential group or ‘Junta’ included:
    • Herself
    • Her father, Ghiyas Beg (titled Itmad-ud-Daula)
    • Her brother, Asaf Khan
    • Her brother’s son-in-law, Khurram (Shah Jahan)
    • Note: Jahangir was the emperor, not a member of this support group.

G. Final Resting Place

  • Jahangir’s Tomb is located in Shahdara, Lahore (Pakistan).
  • It was built by his son, Shah Jahan.

II. General Mughal Empire

A. Mansabdari System

  • Formally organized by Emperor Akbar.
  • The system involved two primary ranks:
    • ‘Zat’: Denoted personal status and pay.
    • ‘Sawar’: Denoted the number of cavalrymen to maintain.
  • It had three main categories based on ‘Zat’ rank:
    1. Mansabdar (500 Zat and lower)
    2. Amir (between 500-2500 Zat)
    3. Amir-i-Azam (2500 Zat and higher)
  • Mansabdars were not hereditary officers; their ranks were granted by the emperor.
  • They were paid through revenue assignments (Jagirs), which were not hereditary and could be taken away.

B. Tombs of Mughal Emperors

  • Babur: Kabul, Afghanistan
  • Humayun: Delhi, India
  • Jahangir: Lahore, Pakistan
  • Shah Jahan: Taj Mahal, Agra, India
  • Aurangzeb: Khuldabad, India

III. Architecture & Monuments

A. Mughal Era Architecture

  • Itmad-ud-Daula’s Tomb (Agra):
    • Built by Nur Jahan in memory of her father, Ghiyas Beg (1622-1628).
    • Significant as the first Mughal tomb built entirely of white marble.
    • Pioneered the Pietra Dura inlay technique.
  • Akbar’s Mausoleum (Sikandara): Construction was completed by Jahangir.
  • Jama Masjid (Sambhal): Built by Babur.
  • Din Panah (Delhi): Built by Humayun.

B. Non-Mughal Architecture

  • Govind Palace (Datia, Madhya Pradesh):
    • An excellent specimen of Hindu (Bundela) architecture.
    • Built by Raja Bir Singh Deo in 1614.

IV. Other Key Facts

  • The tomb of the Sufi saint Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya is located in Delhi, not Ajmer.
  • Babur wrote his autobiography, ‘Baburnama’ (Tuzuk-i-Baburi), in the Turkish language.

Know More About Mughal Dynasty: Jahangir:

Related Posts