CLASS 7 GEOGRAPHY · NCERT · CH 4: THE MUGHALS (16TH TO 17TH CENTURY) (NCERT CLASS 7 — OUR PASTS II)
NCERT-aligned Class 7 Geography topic. Every item is anchored to a real location on India's map — built for boards (CBSE, ICSE, state) and UPSC aspirants.
Who was Babur and what was his lineage?
ZAHIRUDDIN MUHAMMAD BABUR (1483-1530) — descendant of TIMUR (paternal) and GENGHIS KHAN (maternal); king of Fergana at age 12; lost it to Uzbegs; seized KABUL (1504); invaded India invited by Daulat Khan Lodi.
How did Babur win the First Battle of Panipat?
21 April 1526 — Babur with ~12,000 troops defeated Ibrahim Lodi's army of ~100,000 + 1000 elephants; used Ottoman-style ARTILLERY (cannons) and CAVALRY TULUGHMA (flanking) tactics. Lodi was killed; Mughal rule began.
Babur's memoir?
"BABURNAMA" — written in Chaghatai Turkish; vivid first-person account of his battles, gardens (CHAR BAGH style brought from Central Asia), reflections on India's climate, fauna, customs. One of the great medieval autobiographies.
Battle of Khanwa (1527) — opponent + significance?
BABUR vs RANA SANGA of MEWAR + Rajput confederacy + Afghan allies; near Bharatpur (Rajasthan); Rajputs had ~80,000+ troops; Babur won decisively using ARTILLERY + cavalry tactics; CRUSHED the Rajput challenge to Mughal power; Sanga died of wounds 1528.
Battle of Ghaghra (1529) — opponent + significance?
BABUR vs the AFGHAN-BIHARI coalition (led by Mahmud Lodi + Sultan Nusrat Shah of Bengal); fought near the Ghaghra-Ganga confluence in Bihar; Babur won; consolidated Mughal hold up to BENGAL frontier; final major battle of his reign.
What is the Char Bagh and who introduced it?
Persian-style FOURFOLD GARDEN — square divided into 4 quadrants by water channels (representing the 4 rivers of paradise); BABUR introduced it to India via his RAM BAGH at Agra (1528) — possibly the first Mughal garden in India. Set the template for Humayun's Tomb gardens, Taj Mahal gardens, Shalimar Bagh.
How did Babur die and where is he buried?
Died December 1530 at AGRA, aged 47; legend says he sacrificed his life for his sick son Humayun (walking around Humayun's sickbed praying for his death to be transferred to himself). BURIED first at Agra; later as per his wishes, body re-interred at his BAGH-I BABUR garden in KABUL (still there).
Babur's autobiography — Baburnama?
Written in CHAGATAI TURKISH (his mother tongue); translated to Persian (1589 by Akbar's order, by Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan); one of the world's great memoir-autobiographies — vivid first-person on battles, friendships, gardens, fruits of Kabul, regret for not having mountains in India. Known for HONESTY about failures + drinking.
How did Humayun lose the throne?
NASIR-UD-DIN HUMAYUN (r. 1530-40, 1555-56) defeated by Afghan SHER SHAH SURI at CHAUSA (1539) and KANNAUJ (1540); fled to Persia. Returned with Persian help, recaptured Delhi 1555; died 1556 falling down library stairs.
Sher Shah Suri's major reforms?
SHER SHAH SURI (r. 1540-45) — reorganised land revenue (measurement → assessment → cash payment, basis of Akbar's system); built the GRAND TRUNK ROAD (Sasaram to Peshawar with sarais every 4 km); introduced silver RUPIYA (basis of modern rupee) and copper DAM coins; his tomb at SASARAM (Bihar) is one of medieval India's finest monuments.
Why did Humayun lose to Sher Shah?
Strategic blunders: (i) wasted 2 years on the GUJARAT campaign (1535) while Sher Shah grew stronger in Bihar; (ii) gave Sher Shah time to consolidate; (iii) at CHAUSA (June 1539) Humayun was tricked by a fake peace + surprise night attack — fled across the Ganga; (iv) at KANNAUJ (May 1540) decisively beaten — empire lost; fled to PERSIA via Sindh + Marwar.
What happened during Humayun's exile?
Spent 15 YEARS in exile (1540-55); wandered through SINDH (his son AKBAR was born here in Umarkot, 1542); reached PERSIA where SHAH TAHMASP I (Safavid emperor) gave him 12,000 troops in exchange for adopting Shia Islam (publicly); Humayun reconquered KANDAHAR (1545) + KABUL (1545); recaptured DELHI 1555 after Sher Shah's successors collapsed.
This topic is part of the NCERT Class 7 History syllabus, drawn from the chapter Ch 4: The Mughals (16th to 17th Century) (NCERT Class 7 — Our Pasts II). Content is cross-referenced against the latest NCERT textbook editions + standard reference works.
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