Page 42 - SST Class 07
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Shah Jahan had to undergo agony during his later zinda pir or living saint. But this is where his good
years. He fell ill in 1657. He had four sons who qualities end and the bad qualities begin.
fought for succession to the throne—Dara Shikoh, Aurangzeb deviated from the practice of the
Shah Shuja, Aurangzeb and Murad Baksh. earlier emperors of religious tolerance. He wanted
Aurangzeb emerged victorious in this war. He to convert all non-Muslims into Muslims. He
killed his main rival, Dara and ascended the destroyed many temples and enforced such
throne after putting Shah Jahan in prison in the measures which would compel the people to
Red Fort at Agra. Until his death 1666, Shah Jahan embrace Islam. He imposed jaziya on the non-
was looked after by his daughter, Jahan Ara. He Muslims. He removed the Hindus from high posts
was buried along side his wife in the Taj Mahal. and put the Muslims in their place. He also put to
an end the marriage alliances with the Rajputs.
This was the reason that he had to face many
revolts all his life. His policies put the Mughal
empire on the path of decline.
Activity
Supposing you are a minister in Aurangzeb’s court,
advise him how he can rule better and minimise
Shah Jahan Mumtaz Mahal
revolts in his empire.
Quiz Time
Aurangzeb’s reign can be divided into two main
Write True or False : parts—from 1658 to 1680 when he suppressed
revolts in North India, and from 1681 to 1707
1. Akbar was a very contented man in his personal when he remained busy suppressing revolts in the
life. __________ Deccan.
2. Akbar conquered Chittor and Ranthambore in
Info Bits
1568. __________ Info Bits
3. Jahangir used his time for consolidating his
empire. __________ It was for the first time in the Mughal history that
the war of succession broke out when the emperor
4. Shah Jahan had three sons. __________ was still alive. During his captivity, Shah Jahan
used to sit in the Shah Burj of the Red Fort and
gaze at the marvel of Taj Mahal.
AURANGZEB
Due to his discriminatory and short-sighted
Aurangzeb was the last of the great Mughal
policies, Aurangzeb had to face revolts of the Jats
emperors. He ascended the throne in 1658 after of the Agra-Mathura region, the Satnamis, the
overcoming his brothers in the war of succession. Bundelas, the Rajputs, the Sikhs and the Marathas.
He ruled for a long time of 49 years, as long as
Aurangzeb had to pass his life suppressing these
Akbar. Unlike the preceding emperors, he lived a revolts one after another. When he died in 1707,
very simple life. He kept away from opulence. He he was still facing revolts in the Deccan. On his
used to wear simple clothes and even worked for
death, the Mughal empire started to decline and
his food. He used to stitch caps disintegrate.
and copy the Quran in order to
earn his livelihood. He was a
devout Muslim who offered the Just Think!
namaz five times a day
Why did Aurangzeb face revolts all his life?
regularly. Due to all these
qualities, he was called the Aurangzeb
Contemporary Social Science-7
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