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This biography illumines the life and times of the founder of the Timurid-Mughal Empire, Zahir al-Din Muhammad Babur. Despite his remarkable achievements in founding a great empire and writing an extraordinary autobiography, his achievements as a ruler, writer and human being are unsung. He has been reduced to a little more than a footnote in most histories of the Timurid-Mughal Empire.
The book is based on the study of Babur’s Chaghatai Turkish autobiography and poetry, Persian historical texts and research undertaken in the Ferghanah Valley and Samarqand, his Central Asian homeland. It analyses the three different phases of Babur’s tumultuous reign – his time in Central Asia, Afghanistan and India. It studies the Turco-Mongol environment of his homeland, his administration in Afghanistan, and the Timurid ideology and personal motivation which led him to invade India.
It discusses the evolution of his military tactics and analyses the role of firearms in his victories over Afghans and Rajputs. This work also foregrounds Babur’s personality – his exceptional intelligence and knowledge, skills as a ruler, and his sensibility as an individual. It presents Babur not only as a successful conqueror but also as an equally charismatic individual at par with his celebrated grandson, Akbar.
ISBN - 9781107107267
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