Mughal Music

The Mughals really did have a great influence over the music of South Asia. They brought with them a unique mix of musical styles from many cultures including the Persians, Hindu, and the existing Indian music. All of this resulting in several variations on musical style including some which today are known as Indian classical music which are still popular with some. They also brought some new musical instruments to the area such as the Raga, Sarod, and Tambura. Many of these can still be seen in Pakistani music today.

I find it interesting how the Mughals were able to leave such a lasting impact on some many aspects of life in South Asia. The music they left behind is rich with many sounds and different from really anything else I have heard. While I would not listen to it normally I do find it enjoyable.

Fort Agra

Fort Agra was one of the first major projects undertaken by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Fort Agra took over fifteen years to build. It stands at the edge of the Yamuna River. Today most of the fort remains intact, though some was torn down during several wars in the 1600's.

At the time, Fort Agra was a massive show and foot hold of power in the Mughal Empire. It contained the empires largest treasury, served as the home of the emperor, it also served as the entrance point for foreign dignitaries.


The fort also stood as an artistic peice. As you can see from the above image, the building is covered in ornate stonework and rich geometric patterns. The interior is also laced with intracit columns and tilework. It was also surrounded by and filled with many gardens which contained many rare species and many others that were brightly colored.



Really I find Fort Agra to be as facinating as the Taj Mahal. It may be much less known but also has a rich history of being a keystone to an empire. I also find it amazing that Akbar also had such a strong influence over how the building was built and desighned. Books indicate that he had to approve even the smallest details before they could be carried out.

Different Forms of Mughal Art

I think one of the most interesting contributions the Mughals brought to India was there different forms of art. Not only was painting a huge part of art, but they also formed calligraphy, jewelry and mosaics. Although calligraphy was associated with painting, in some cases it was considered more important than any other works of art. I think most people see paintings and sculptures as the most skillful and important pieces of art, but for the Mughals this was not true. The penmanship of manuscript was considered of higher value because it was a combination of drawings with meaningful writing. Sometimes calligraphy was seen on the backs of paintings, even if it had no realtion to that painting. Without the Mughals bringing their cultural diversity and intelligence to India, some of these interesting aspects would not exist!

The Rise and Fall of the Muhgal Dynasty

The start of the Mughal Dynasty and how they came to power is very important to their history and influence on Pakistan. It started with one man, Zahir Al-Din Muhammad Barbur who invaded Punjab several times before he finally won in 1526. Alhtough he only had this one area of India, he expanded his territory and spread throughout the country taking over more and more land. Barbur invaded India because of a family tradition to recover their lost posessions. After the death of Barabur, his son took over and throughout the years and many different rulers, the dynasty was formed.
However, the Mughal Dyansty could not rule forever, so in 1757 we start to see a decline when the British established control over India by defeating the India Army. Although the Mughals had taken over India, they were able to centralize their governments and contribute to their culture and society.

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal # Agra India
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12708811@N07/2992188425/


The Taj Mahal was built during the Mughal Empire. It is known to be the most fascinating piece of Architecture built during Mughal's reign. The Taj Mahal was built in 1632 by Shah Jahan. What I found to be incredibly interesting is that the Taj Mahal actually took about 21 years to build. Today a building like that can be strung together in just a few short years. Another neat fact is that it was built as a memorial for Jahan's wife after she died. The Taj Mahal is an amazing piece of architecture with thousands of vivid paintings along with beautiful art everywhere. Just another great thing that the Mughal Empire created!

History of the Mughals

Below are some interesting fact on the history of the Mughal Empire:

• Ruled India from 1526-1857
• Pakistan was part of India during the reign of the Mughal Empire meaning, the cultural perspectives along with the history carried over to Pakistan when it became its own country.
  
• Zahir al-Din Muhammad Barbur was responsible for the invasion of Punjab on several occasions. When he finally won, he continued to take over parts of India slowly.
  
• The Mughals are famous for their Architecture, Art, and Music. To this day, the Mughals culture is used in both Pakistan and India.

Mughal Art and Architechture

The Mughals were known for their amazing artwork. But they did more than just paint. They included art in everything they did, from calligraphy to paintings to their buildings and gardens. In a previous post I talked about Mughal architecture. In this it can be seen that there is a tremendous amount of effort that goes into not only making the buildings functional, but in making them beautiful as well. Looking back at the Jali, or screens, we can see that many many hours went into carving these, inlaying stones, and creating patterns and designs. Another prime example of beauty in architecture is the Taj Mahal, built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife. This building is well known for its amazing gardens and spectacular architecture.

The rule of the Mughals saw a rise and fall in the arts from emperor to emperor. Some took more interest in the arts than others, others tried to change the style of the art.

Overall I find the art of the Mughals to be facinating and amazing, but most of all I am astounded by how they incorporated it into their way fo living, so much of the art was useful. Not to mention how they brought it into their form of architecture. Even modest homes incorportated many aspects of the artictic architecture. All of this I find amazing given the technology of the time.