Shah Jehan’s Rule [1628-58]
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Shah Jehan |
Jehangir was succeeded by his second son, Khurram in 1628. Khurram took the name of Shah Jehan - meaning Emperor of the World. He further expanded his Empire to Kandahar in the North and conquered most of Southern India. The Mughal Empire was at its zenith during Shah Jehan’s rule. This was due to almost a hundred years of unparalleled prosperity and peace. As a result, cultural sphere during Shah Jehan’s reign witnessed a unique glory.
Diwan-e-Aam
(Hall of Public Audience) During the
reign of Shah Jehan Mughal architecture reached it’s supreme
exuberance. He chose marble as the chief medium for all his
architectural undertakings. Elaborate ornamentation, pietra dura and creation of exclusive
landscape setting are some important features of the buildings of
the period.
Diwan-e-Khas Shah Jehan built
marble edifices at Agra such as the Diwan-e-Aam, the Diwan-e-Khas,
the Shish Mahal, the Moti Masjid which have been described as the
most elegant buildings of their class to be found anywhere.
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Mumtaz Mahal |
But all other architectural creations of Shah Jehan are nothing when compared to the exquisite conception of the mausoleum of his wife, Arjumand Banu Begum (Mumtaz Mahal) at Agra. The Taj Mahal is the crowning glory and culmination of Mughal architecture. It was commenced in 1631 and completed sometime around 1653.
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Taj Mahal, the exquisite mausoleum of Mumtaz Mahal built by her husband, Emperor Shah Jehan |
Gulbadan Begum’s "Humayun Namah", Jehangir’s autobiography
"Tuzuk-i-Jahangir", Abdul Hamid Lahori’s "Padshahnama", Inayat
Khan’s "Shah Jahannama" are some of the examples of Mughal
literature in the later period.
