Medieval and Islamic History

Babar wrote the Baburnama, his memoir in Turki, which is considered one of the finest autobiographical works in Islamic literature. Jahangir wrote the Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri, his autobiography documenting his reign and personal experiences. Both emperors were known for their literary contributions and personal writings.

Madarasa-I Nasiri was built by Iltutmish, the third Delhi Sultanate ruler, in the region of Delhi. It was an important educational institution established during his reign to promote Islamic education and learning. Iltutmish was known for consolidating the Delhi Sultanate and supporting educational institutions.

Agra Fort was commissioned and built by Emperor Akbar between 1565 and 1573 as the principal residence of the Mughal emperors. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and served as the main military fort until 1638 when the capital shifted to Delhi. Humayun, Jehangir, and Shah Jahan all lived in or added to the fort, but Akbar was its original builder.

Muhammad bin Tughluq notoriously shifted his capital from Delhi to Devagiri (renamed Daulatabad) in 1327, then back to Delhi in 1334, earning him the nickname 'Mad Monarch' for this disastrous decision. The move caused immense suffering and loss of life due to the forced migration and inadequate water supply at the new location.

Ikhtiyar-Ud-Din Muhammad Khiljee invaded Bengal in 1206-1207 during the reign of Lakshmana Sena, the last ruler of the Sena dynasty. This invasion marked the beginning of Muslim rule in Bengal and led to the decline of Buddhist monasteries like Nalanda and Vikramashila. Dharmapala and Sasanka were earlier rulers, while Bhaskar Varman ruled in a different region.

Akbar's full name was Abu'l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar, also known as Akbar the Great. This name appears in contemporary Mughal records and coins. The other options are his royal titles but not his actual birth name.

Faizi (Shaikh Abu al-Faiz ibn Mubarak) was one of the Navratnas (nine jewels) in Emperor Akbar's court and a close friend. He served as Akbar's poet laureate and wrote books like Akbarnama. Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb came later, while Bahadur Shah Zafar was the last Mughal emperor.

The Jahangir Mahal (Jahangir's Palace) in Agra Fort was built by Shah Jahan as a palace for his father Jahangir, featuring typical Mughal architecture with balconies and intricate stone carvings. Akbar built Agra Fort itself but not this specific palace.

Nadir Shah, the Persian ruler, invaded India in 1739 during Muhammad Shah 'Rangeela's' reign, defeating the Mughals at the Battle of Karnal and plundering Delhi. Babur founded the Mughal dynasty, Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded later in the 1700s, and Genghiz Khan lived in the 13th century.

Shah Alam II was restored to the Mughal throne in 1772 with Maratha help under Mahadji Shinde after being blinded and deposed by the Rohilla Afghans. The Sikhs, Afghans, and Turks were involved in different conflicts but not this restoration.

Nur Jahan, wife of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, is credited with introducing chikan embroidery to Lucknow in the 17th century. She brought Persian artisans who taught the delicate white-on-white embroidery technique to local craftsmen, establishing Lucknow as the center of chikan work.

Ibn Battuta, the Moroccan traveler, visited India during Muhammad bin Tughluq's reign (1324-1351) and stayed for 8 years (1333-1341). He served as a qazi (judge) in the Tughluq administration and documented his observations in his travelogue 'Rihla'.

Emperor Akbar founded the city of Allahabad (originally named Illahabas, meaning 'Abode of God') in 1574 at the sacred confluence of Ganga and Yamuna rivers. He recognized the strategic and religious importance of this location and constructed the magnificent Allahabad Fort nearby. Jahangir, Babur, and Aurangzeb were not associated with the city's founding.

Nur Jahan, wife of Emperor Jahangir, was the only Mughal empress granted the privilege of issuing coins in her own name, reflecting her unprecedented political power and influence. She effectively became co-ruler during Jahangir's later reign. Jodha Bai was Akbar's wife, Mumtaz Mahal was Shah Jahan's beloved, and Hamida Banu was Humayun's wife.

Nadir Shah, the Persian invader, gave the name 'Koh-i-Noor' (Mountain of Light) to the famous diamond after his conquest of Delhi in 1739. He seized the diamond from the Mughals and was so impressed by its brilliance that he bestowed this famous name. The diamond had previously been known by other names including Samantik Mani.