3 Review(s)

This five volumes series covers the history of the sixth Mughal emperor Aurangzib’s (r. ad 1658-1707) sixty years reign. The first and second volumes began with his nativity and the early part of his career in various parts of the Mughal government under his father and fifth emperor Shah Jahan (ad 1627-1658) before the latter’s death. The major part of the text deals with the war of succession and his capture of the throne at Agra Fort, followed by the assassination of his brothers, Shah Shuja, Murad Bakhsh, and Dara Shikoh. The third volume deals with the first half of his political conquests. His major campaigns at North East India, Koch Behar, and Assam, which was under the Ahoms, insurrections by the Afghans under Khushhal Khan Khattak, problems with the Raj­putana chieftains, rebellion of Aurangzib’s son Akbar, his orthodox pol­icies, and the Hindu reaction are covered in this part of volume. The fourth volume concerns Aurangzib’s Deccan conquest and the emergence of Marathas under Chhatrapati Shivaji, followed by the eclipse of Adil Shahis and Qutb Shahis. The fifth volume deals with the assessment of the Mughal administration, es­pecially his long struggle with Marathas, wars with Rathors, entry of the English East India Company, and the situation of commoners under Aurangzib’s administration. The economic?condit­ion?under?his?rule?is?the?final?part?of?this?volume.