Medieval and Islamic History

Humayun died in 1556 after falling down the stairs of his library, the Sher Mandal, in Delhi. He is often described as having stumbled out of life as he had stumbled through it.

Malik Kafur was a prominent general of Ala-ud-din Khalji, known for his military campaigns in Southern India.

Qutb-ud-din Aibak died in 1210 after a fall from his horse while playing Chaugan (an early form of polo).

Akbar introduced a liberal policy toward Rajput rulers, offering them high administrative and military positions (mansabs) to consolidate his empire. This policy of religious tolerance and alliance helped secure the loyalty of the powerful Rajput clans. Other early Mughal rulers like Babur and Humayun did not integrate Rajputs into their administration on such a large scale.

Al-Biruni was a Persian scholar who accompanied Mahmud of Ghazni during his invasions of India in the early 11th century.

Babur wrote his autobiography, the Baburnama (Tuzk-e-Babri), and Jahangir wrote his, the Tuzk-e-Jahangiri.

Din-i-Ilahi was a syncretic religious movement introduced by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1582 to promote harmony among different religions.

Persian was the official court language of the Mughal Empire, used for administration, literature, and diplomacy.

Ghazi Malik, who served as a general under Alauddin Khilji, assumed the title Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq and founded the Tughlaq dynasty after the fall of the Khiljis. Malik Kafur was a famous general but did not found the dynasty.

Jahanara Begum was the eldest daughter of Shah Jahan. She famously remained by his side and cared for him during his years of imprisonment in the Agra Fort.

Iskander Mirza served as the last Governor-General of Pakistan and became the first President of Pakistan in 1956.

The Iron Pillar of Delhi is attributed to Chandragupta II, as it bears an inscription mentioning a king named Chandra.

Qutub-ud-din Aibak was the founder of the Mamluk dynasty and the first ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. He was originally a slave of Muhammad Ghori, which is why his dynasty is known as the Slave or Mamluk dynasty. He began the construction of the Qutub Minar in Delhi, which was later completed by his successor Iltutmish.

The use of the nimbus, or halo, around the heads of royal figures became a distinct feature of Mughal portraiture during the reign of Emperor Jahangir. This artistic element was influenced by European religious art and was used to emphasize the divine right and spiritual status of the emperor. It became a standard iconographic element in later Mughal paintings.