A non-European contrast: Mughal India
While Tudor England was ruled from a small island kingdom, the Mughal Empire controlled a vast, wealthy and religiously diverse empire in South Asia.
Part of your national curriculum
- Wider world history: Understand a study of a non-European society that provides historical contrasts with British history
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Understand a study of a non-European society that provides historical contrasts with British history
Key learning points
- • Founding the empire
- • Religious policy
- • Wealth and architecture
- • Government structure
This lesson at a glance
- 26 minutes
- 24 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 24
Visual introductionPicture this
A non-European contrast: Mughal India
While Tudor England was ruled from a small island kingdom, the Mughal Empire controlled a vast, wealthy and religiously diverse empire in South Asia.
In a nutshell
Understand a study of a non-European society that provides historical contrasts with British history
What you already know
Part 2 of 24
Before we start
What you already know
You should already know that studying societies beyond Europe gives a fuller picture of the past.
Key words
Part 3 of 24
Key words
Words you'll need today
- Mughal Empire
- The powerful South Asian empire founded in 1526.
- Akbar
- The emperor known for a policy of religious toleration.
- Mansab
- The ranked system organising Mughal officials and their duties.
- Contrast
- Comparing societies to see what is distinctive about each.
Reset break
Part 4 of 24
Pause
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Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 5 of 24
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Founding and governing
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 6 of 24
Learn
Founding the empire
The Mughal Empire was founded in 1526 when Babur defeated the Sultan of Delhi at the Battle of Panipat. At its height under rulers like Akbar the Great, it controlled most of the Indian subcontinent, far larger in population than Tudor England.
Explore the idea
Part 7 of 24
Learn
Religious policy
Akbar, who ruled from 1556 to 1605, promoted religious tolerance between Hindus and Muslims and even created a new syncretic faith, Din-i-Ilahi. This contrasts with Tudor England, where Henry VIII and his successors enforced religious conformity, sometimes violently.
Reset break
Part 8 of 24
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 6 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 9 of 24
Quick check
Part 10 of 24
Learning cycle
Part 11 of 24
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Wealth and administration
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Reset break
Part 12 of 24
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 6 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 13 of 24
Learn
Wealth and architecture
Mughal India was extraordinarily wealthy from trade in textiles and spices, funding grand architecture such as the Taj Mahal, built by Shah Jahan from 1632 as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Its scale dwarfed anything built in Tudor or early Stuart Britain.
Explore the idea
Part 14 of 24
Learn
Government structure
The Mughals governed through a centralised bureaucracy called the mansabdari system, ranking officials by military and administrative duty. Comparing this to England's developing Parliament highlights very different paths towards organising a large state.
Quick check
Part 15 of 24
Reset break
Part 16 of 24
Pause
That's sitting 4 of 6 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Common mix-ups
Part 17 of 24
Common mix-ups
Things people often get wrong
- People often see Mughal India through later British rule. It was a wealthy, powerful empire in its own right.
- People often assume toleration was constant. Policy varied sharply between emperors.
Challenge round
Part 18 of 24
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 19 of 24
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
This ____ with Tudor England, where Henry VIII and his successors enforced religious conformity, sometimes violently.
Reset break
Part 20 of 24
Pause
That's sitting 5 of 6 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 21 of 24
Game · Recall cards
Who founded the Mughal Empire in 1526?
Card 1 of 3
Exit quiz
Part 22 of 24
Exit quiz
Show what you've learned
6 questions, marked together at the end. Nothing is timed.
1. The Mughal Empire was founded in…
2. Akbar is best known for…
3. The Taj Mahal shows Mughal…
4. Mughal government used a system of…
5. Religious policy under the Mughals…
6. Contrast studies are valuable because they…
Mastery quiz
Part 23 of 24
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: A non-European contrast: Mughal India
3 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. Who founded the Mughal Empire in 1526?
2. What did Akbar promote during his reign?
3. What did Shah Jahan build from 1632?
Lesson round-up
Part 24 of 24
Lesson round-up
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Understand a study of a non-European society that provides historical contrasts with British history