First impressions are everything. When one visits a new region, especially in a new country, the initial reaction is usually formed simply by what is seen first. Buildings and the general architecture can reveal a lot about a country. Brazilian favelas reveal extreme poverty, as people are forced to live in close proximity in poorly-made houses. Cities with immense skyscrapers and other impressive landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower in France or the Kremlin in Moscow, display great wealth. However, little is known of some ancient civilizations, due to the fact that there is nothing left to study today. With the Mughal empire, this is simply not the case. More than simply conquering new territories and expanding its borders, the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan began a revolution of architecture that is still marveled at today.

Shah Jahan came to power in the early 17^th century. He acquired a broad and prosperous empire; by the middle of the century, it was arguably the grandest in the world. Very soon after coming to power, he embarked on a series of military campaigns which expanded his lands even further. He joined his kingdom with Baglana and Bundelkhand on his western side and conquered Bijapur and Golconda, along with smaller provinces located in Kashmir and the Himalayas. His progress was halted after several unsuccessful campaigns in central Asia, and it was at that point that he decided to look inward. [i]

Many argue that the Mughal Empire reached the height of its success under Shah Jahan. He built hospitals and rest houses, which provides evidence of a concern for the wellbeing of the general population. He planned his military campaigns carefully, and carried them out conscientiously. He gave to the poor, was strict but fair in punishment, and poetry and music flourished. However, even with all the attention he paid to other matters of his kingdom, architecture remained his passion. [ii]

Although the entire Mughal period was characterized by a revival in Islamic architecture, the climax was reached during Jahan’s rule. As a way to display his immense wealth, he created the Peacock Throne, which has been called one of the most magnificent seats ever made. It had golden supports, silver steps, and was backed by a likeness of two peacock’s tails, coated with countless diamonds and rubies, among other precious stones.[iii] Another of his more famous works is the Red Fort. Located within the city of Delhi, construction began in 1639 and was finished after roughly nine years of work. In the planning of the Red Fort, Jahan drew on his previous experiences, and created a masterpiece that still towers over the northern end of the city today.[iv]

All of his other work pales in comparison to his greatest exploit. He and his wife were inseparable; consequently, after the death of his wife in childbirth, he was heartbroken. As a memorial to her, he built the Taj Mahal, which was his most famous work.[v] Starting in 1631, he employed craftsmen from every discipline from his entire kingdom, as well as others from outside. Likewise, the white marble, which the entire building was made out of, was brought in from all over  central Asia. Approximately 22,000 laborers using 1,000 elephants worked for 22 years to complete it.[vi] His original intention was to build another monument across the river to be buried in and connect the two with a bridge, which never came to fruition.[vii] Nevertheless, the Taj Mahal has been characterized as one of the seven man-made wonders of the world, and is still an immensely popular tourist attraction today.

When the term empire is used, images are conjured of factions conquering others, fighting battles in the name of their cause. Emperors are seen as warlords. How, then, can they be measured against one another? Is land more important than gold, or obtaining resources more important than spreading one’s religion? Often, success is quantified by possessions, such as wealth, land, or objects. The wealth of an empire did affect everybody, but the ruler usually prospered the most. The prosperity of an empire, then, can’t be determined by the riches of the 1%. When Shah Jahan acquired his wealth, instead of making his life more comfortable, he gave back to his people. He built wonders that still stand today. When famous leaders are remembered, many are remembered by what they obtained. The best, however, are remembered by what they left behind.