The Mughals

The Mughals were the descendants of two great lineages of rulers. From their mother's side they were descendants of Genghis Khan (died 1227) , ruler of the Mongol tribes , China and Central Asia. From their father's side they were the successsors of Timur (died 1404 ) , the ruler of Iran,Iraq and modern day Turkey. However , the Mughals did not like to be called Mughals or Mongols. This was because Genghis Khan's memory was associated with the massacre of innumerable people . It was also linked with Uzbegs , their Mongol competitors. On the other hand , the Mughals were proud of their Timurid ancestry , not least of all because their great ancestor had captured Delhi in 1398.Mughal dynasty, Mughal also spelled Mogul, Arabic Mongol, Muslim dynasty of Turkic-Mongol origin that ruled most of northern India from the early 16th to the mid-18th century. After that time it continued to exist as a considerably reduced and increasingly powerless entity until the mid-19th century. The Mughal dynasty was notable for its more than two centuries of effective rule over much of India, for the ability of its rulers, who through seven generations maintained a record of unusual talent, and for its administrative organization. A further distinction was the attempt of the Mughals, who were Muslims, to integreate Hindus and Muslims into a united Indian state.The dynasty was founded by a chagatai Turkic prince named Babur (reigned 1526–30), who was descended from the Turkic conqueror Timur(Tamerlane) on his father’s side and from Chagatai, second son of the Mongol ruler Genghis Khan, on his mother’s side.