The Empire of the Great Mughals: History, Art and Culture
Product ID: 52807063
Translated by Corinne Attwood The Mughal empire (1526-1857) has long been viewed as a wonderland of unimaginable treasure; it was in fact the mightiest Islamic empire in the history of India. In this comprehensive cultural history, now available in paperback, Annemarie Schimmel describes the political, military and economic rise of the Mughals, their system of rule, the incredible unfolding of their power and splendour, and their gradual collapse, finally supplanted by the British colonial empire in 1857. Beginning with a concise historical overview, she paints a detailed picture of life at court: of rank and status in this strictly hierarchical society; of the life of women; of the various religions, languages and literatures of the Mughal era; of the patronage of the arts by the rulers; and the remarkable accomplishments and techniques of artists at the Mughal court. Who, for example, has not heard of the Taj Mahal, the renowned mausoleum that the emperor Shah Jahan constructed for his wife in the Indian city of Agra? This amazing edifice of white marble, inlaid with a filigree of precious stones, is an impressive demonstration of the refined sense of beauty of the Mughal rulers. Building and landscape architecture, painting and literature, indeed, the entire court culture of the Mughals, all testify to an aesthetic sensibility within which they strove to harmonise all aspects of life. The Empire of the Great Mughals is a richly illustrated and fascinating portrait of an advanced civilization, the historical and cultural legacy of which still inspires universal admiration today. Review: A useful handbook for History pof the epoch - I read this hand in hand with other histories of greater India and it fleshed out / coloured the imagery of the period that text books don't always cover. Review: All the glory of the Mughal era - Having purchased other books on this subject I was extremely impressed with A.M. Schimmel's approach in her book. She begins by detailing the life and achievements of the first six mughal rulers (Babur to Aurangzeb), followed by a section on the last 150 years of decline when the rulers changed in quick succession. The book then goes on to discuss this wonderful period of the history of the subcontinent in the context of developments in art and literature and all aspects of culture from marriage to fashion. In this manner the book lends itself to being a handy reference text and the illustrations are a real treat. The author's knowledge on the subject is quite staggering and a real love of this glorious period in history shines through. Proud to own this one.
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| Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 40 Reviews |
M**R
A useful handbook for History pof the epoch
I read this hand in hand with other histories of greater India and it fleshed out / coloured the imagery of the period that text books don't always cover.
B**N
All the glory of the Mughal era
Having purchased other books on this subject I was extremely impressed with A.M. Schimmel's approach in her book. She begins by detailing the life and achievements of the first six mughal rulers (Babur to Aurangzeb), followed by a section on the last 150 years of decline when the rulers changed in quick succession. The book then goes on to discuss this wonderful period of the history of the subcontinent in the context of developments in art and literature and all aspects of culture from marriage to fashion. In this manner the book lends itself to being a handy reference text and the illustrations are a real treat. The author's knowledge on the subject is quite staggering and a real love of this glorious period in history shines through. Proud to own this one.
V**D
Wealth and culture
A very detailed study of many and varied aspects of life at the Mughal court. I have one small criticism, it reads rather like a text book. The photographs are excellent although I missed indications of where the originals can be seen. The glossary of Arabic/Persian/Hindu terms is an essential addition which I referred to throughout the book.
T**N
Fascinating reading
This book bills itself as a social and cultural history, but covers the political history pretty well too. I bought this book without knowing that Dr. Schimmel was the greatest Indo-Persian scholar of the 20th century. Her love for her subject shines through this book and her writing is engaging. There is a wealth of information in this book but it is not a dry read by any means - it is a lively and rich introduction to a fascinating time and culture.
C**N
Five Stars
Excellent
S**H
A beautiful book on Mughals
This is not just a book telling us the stories of the emperors. Rather it goes behind the scenes to tell us about the life inside the palace. Full of beautiful trivias and pictures. Highly recommended!
R**L
The Empire of the Great Mughals
Amazing book by an amazing scholar! I picked up this book on a friend's recommendation because I am planning a first trip to India in 2016. I had no idea that the Mughal Empire was so vast and so gloriously cultural. Nor did I know that it was Muslim. My preconceptions about pre-Raj India were way off the mark. This book is a must read! It is fascinating on every page.
I**L
Good book
Very good book
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