The Mughal Empire

New Cambridge History of India #1.5

by John F. Richards

The Mughal empire was one of the largest centralized states in the premodern world and this volume traces the history of this magnificent empire from its creation in 1526 to its breakup in 1720. Richards stresses the dynamic quality of Mughal territorial expansion, their institutional innovations in land revenue, coinage and military organization, ideological change and the relationship between the emperors and Islam. He also analyzes institutions particular to the Mughal empire, such as the jagir system, and explores Mughal India's links with the early modern world.

Genres: History, India, Nonfiction, Islam, Historical, World History

340 pages, Paperback

First published January 26, 1993

Reviews

[Yigal Zur · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of the most amazing dynasties of India. great read. i love this time, their monuments and their stories.

[AC · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sturdy, academic history (it is part of the Cambridge History of India series) of the Mughal Empire, a topic of which I knew nothing before reading Monsoon and which formed a gapping whole in my knowledge.

It's far more academic than I personally have the need (at this point in my life) for -- given that the topic is not really pressing for me (hence the 4-stars) - but it allowed for a quick review (with some skimming) and it is very good and not terribly dry. Richards seems to be a very competent historian. His account of Akbar is quite remarkable -- Akbar was clearly one of the most enlightened rulers in history - and his model of an enlightened and cosmopolitcan Islamic ruler may set an important canon for the 21st century -- where Islam's attempt to modernize itself, especially in the Indian Ocean littoral and in Central Asia, and its need to adapt to the rise of India and China especially..., will be key, perhaps, to the survival (or not) of all of us.

[Humza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good and informative for the most part! However, the author does fall into the tired "Akbar Good Aurangzeb Bad" line towards the end.

[William Guerrant · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read that could have been much better.

Although I realize that summarizing 200 years of rich and complex history into 300 pages is a daunting task, it seems to this reader that this book breezes past many important episodes (especially during the reign of Akbar) that deserved at least a few more sentences.

The book certainly would have profited from illustrations and the absence of any is surprising. More and better maps would also be helpful to readers. Of the few maps included, a couple are trivial and the two principal maps are so convoluted that they are practically worthless.

[Michael Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative but very dry. Richards suffers from the same problem that a lot of scholarly writers have in that his writing is just not pleasant to read. While reading this book I almost skimmed right over my favorite story of Akbar the Great (in which he has a dissident thrown down the stairs repeatedly until dead) because it was written so dryly. Despite this I did learn from the text so I can't reasonably rate it any lower than 3 stars. It served its purpose.

I would not recommend this for anyone who knows nothing of the Mughal Empire nor for anyone who already knows a lot about it. The text is too specific for the former and not specific enough for the latter. I would say it is good for someone who has a decent pre-existing knowledge but is still learning which was the case for me. Best use of the text I can see is as a source for taking note of significant people and events to look into in more detail later.

[Talulla Shaughnessy · Rating 3 out of 5]

(really a 3.5/5 or 7/10) !!

well written and covers a LOT of ground, I think Richards was limited research wise in that he only read Persian and none of the vernacular languages, def a couple anachronisms/biases/contradictions come up. The narrative parts on specific wars/periods were really engaging, but I wish the parts about bureaucracy/economy were more integrated instead of appearing as really dry standalone chapters. Lots of very interesting stuff about people of higher status but very little on popular culture/art/theology and lower status people (again, not a lot of multilingual or visual sources) overall enjoyable and informative and a good summarization of a constantly evolving time and place with a lot of factors and people at play.

[Milpool · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very useful survey that tracks Mughal hegemony from Babur to the post-Aurangzeb decline. The chapters on Akbar and Aurangzeb, in particular, give some wonderful insights into these figures’ dispositions to show why they governed as they did. The most pleasant surprise here is Richards’ lucid explanation of the zabt system and centralization of the agrarian economy – a helpful reference that grants continual revisiting. Too many names, dry prose, and a rushed narrative hinder the closing chapters, a shame since the rest of the book is so well written and organized.

[Tré · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a rather neglected focus of history, Richards provides a great history of the Empire( though, I question to call it it an empire, after Akbar's reign, it basically is downhill, from his drug addict son to later an hier in open civil war to dethrone and imprison his own father). It is amazing how this such a state existed.

[Tosh Toshniwal · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book disseminating knowledge about the dynasty, their individual outlook, the building and collapse of the empire, the governing infrastructure, their views on religion and social networking, and the Indian demography of that time.

[Agney · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is more of a political history. From the point of narration the author has done a fantastic work.

[Moeen Khan]

6 volumes

[Kev D'Olivo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Richard's comprehensive monograph on the Mughals is an important work for the history of the period, but comes up lacking in style and presentation. I appreciate the perspective of a well-trained and objective historian in a field muddled with intense nationalist belief and vested interests but this book is just so damn boring.

[Adeetya · Rating 4 out of 5]

the perfect analysis of the most aristocratic high culture during the medieval India.

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not the most scintillating book, it offered the history in a clear read.

[Mauliana Hannah]

Good book😁😁😁