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Zahir
ud-Din BABUR (r.1526-30) |
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Babur's Central Asian roots gave
*the
Mughals*
a continuing urge to push the frontiers of their empire in that
direction |
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Like much of Central Asia,
Afghanistan is
full of Buddhist stupas and other monuments |
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In 1504, Babur seized Kabul; the
military
intrigues of the time saw him conquer, lose, and reconquer many cities,
as an ally of the Safavids of Iran |
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The Bala Hisar fort in Kabul, from
which
Babur would have left on his way to Hindustan-- probably through its
"Lahori
Gate" |
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The battle of PANIPAT in 1526
finished off
the Lodhi dynasty, and won Babur a new throne; he built a commemorative
mosque there to show his gratitude
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Babur's coins are today very rare,
especially
the earliest ones |
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Portraits of Babur were painted to
illustrate
the Babur-namah, his *inimitable
autobiography*, and other works-- but unfortunately, none date from
his lifetime
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Many such miniature paintings
depicted his
formal court life |
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Other such miniature paintings
illustrated
more casual moments and depicted enjoyable little marginal scenes |
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Babur died in Agra, but his body
was taken
back to Kabul for final burial |
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