2.  Following the fall of the Gupta, Muslims from central Asia would fight for control of India against the Hindus for 300 years  Delhi Sultanate: loose Turkish- Muslim rule established between 1200 and 1400s

3. Timur the Lame (Tamerlane)  Mongol ruler who destroyed the Delhi Sultanate in 1398  Descendent of Genghis Khan

4. Mughal Empire  Muslim Turks and Afghans descended from Tamerlane take control of India, beginning in the 1500s.

5. Babur: (1494-1527)  Grandson of Tamerlane  Military leader who originally set up the Mughal empire in the 1500s

6. Akbar: (1556-1605)  Akbar= “Great”  Grandson of Babur  Established the golden age for Mughals  Brought peace and order  Created centers for art and learning and established libraries  Repealed nonbeliever tax on Hindus, therefore encouraged religious toleration  Allowed foreigners and natives into political office  Established a graduated income tax

7. Shah Jahan (1628-1658)  Grandson of Akbar  Built the Taj Mahal for his wife  Took 20,000 artisans over 20 years to make  Made of white marble and exotic jewels that had to be transported from 250 miles away  Bankrupted the Mughal Empire

9. Aurangzeb (1658-1707)  Son of Shah Jahan  Erased all gains Hindus made under Akbar  Expanded empire to largest size.  Raised taxes to fight wars, causing the deaths of 2 million due to famine  Civil war erupted after his death  Gave port of Bombay to Europeans in 1661 which eventually led to European imperialism