1. The pair Akbar - Sir Thomas Roe is not correctly matched. Sir Thomas Roe was an ambassador from King James I of England. He arrived at the Mughal court in 1615 seeking trade agreements and spent nearly four years at the court of Emperor Jahangir (Akbar’s son). The other pairs—Shah Jahan/Tavernier, ARead more

    The pair Akbar – Sir Thomas Roe is not correctly matched. Sir Thomas Roe was an ambassador from King James I of England. He arrived at the Mughal court in 1615 seeking trade agreements and spent nearly four years at the court of Emperor Jahangir (Akbar’s son). The other pairs—Shah Jahan/Tavernier, Aurangzeb/Manucci and Jahangir/Hawkins—are correctly matched. Roe’s detailed accounts of Jahangir’s court life and administration are a vital source of Mughal history.

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  2. The port of Surat, located in Gujarat, was famously known as 'Bab-ul-Makkah' (The Gate of Mecca) during the Mughal era. This designation reflects its enormous religious and economic significance. Surat was the largest and most important port on the Arabian Sea, serving as the main embarkation pointRead more

    The port of Surat, located in Gujarat, was famously known as ‘Bab-ul-Makkah’ (The Gate of Mecca) during the Mughal era. This designation reflects its enormous religious and economic significance. Surat was the largest and most important port on the Arabian Sea, serving as the main embarkation point for Muslims undertaking the annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca. It was also the headquarters for European trading companies and a major center for Mughal maritime trade and customs revenue.

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  3. The Battle of Dharmat was fought in April 1658 between the forces of Princes Aurangzeb and Murat Baksh and the imperial army, which was commanded by Raja Jaswant Singh on behalf of Dara Shikoh. This battle, fought near Ujjain, was the first major engagement in the bloody War of Succession among ShahRead more

    The Battle of Dharmat was fought in April 1658 between the forces of Princes Aurangzeb and Murat Baksh and the imperial army, which was commanded by Raja Jaswant Singh on behalf of Dara Shikoh. This battle, fought near Ujjain, was the first major engagement in the bloody War of Succession among Shah Jahan’s sons. Aurangzeb’s victory at Dharmat boosted his political standing, shattered the morale of the royal forces and paved the way for his decisive advance toward Agra and subsequent capture of the throne.

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  4. Abdul Hamid Lahori was the principal court historian (waqa'i navis) during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan. He was personally entrusted by Shah Jahan to write the official history of his rule, which resulted in the detailed and authoritative 'Padshahnama'. His work is a crucial primary source for unRead more

    Abdul Hamid Lahori was the principal court historian (waqa’i navis) during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan. He was personally entrusted by Shah Jahan to write the official history of his rule, which resulted in the detailed and authoritative ‘Padshahnama. His work is a crucial primary source for understanding Shah Jahan’s administration, military campaigns and, most famously, the construction of his architectural masterpieces, including the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort of Delhi.

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  5. Sher Shah established the Second Afghan Empire (Sur dynasty) in Delhi by winning the Battle of Kannauj (or Bilgram) in 1540. This final confrontation with Humayun, following the earlier defeat at Chausa, was catastrophic for the Mughals. The Mughal army was routed and Humayun was forced to flee theRead more

    Sher Shah established the Second Afghan Empire (Sur dynasty) in Delhi by winning the Battle of Kannauj (or Bilgram) in 1540. This final confrontation with Humayun, following the earlier defeat at Chausa, was catastrophic for the Mughals. The Mughal army was routed and Humayun was forced to flee the Indian subcontinent. The victory allowed Sher Shah to occupy Delhi and Agra, thereby displacing the Mughals entirely and commencing the brief, but highly significant, era of Afghan Sur rule in India.

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