The Empire of the Great Mughals: History, Art and Culture / Annemarie Schimmel

Long viewed as an exotic wonderland of unimaginable treasures, the Mughal Empire (1526–1857) was, in reality, the mightiest Islamic empire in the history of India. In The Empire of the Great Mughals, historian Annemarie Schimmel describes the political, military, and economic rise of the Mughals, the incredible unfolding of the empire’s power and splendor, and the empire’s gradual collapse at the hands of the British. 

Beginning with a concise historical overview, Schimmel paints a detailed picture of daily life in the empire: the role of rank in this strictly hierarchical society, the life of women, and the various religions, languages, and styles of literature of the era. She pays particular attention to the remarkable accomplishments and techniques of artists at the Mughal court—including the Taj Mahal, the most impressive demonstration of the Mughal rulers’ refined sense of beauty.

The capstone to the career of Annemarie Schimmel, whom the New York Times called “one of the 20th century’s most influential scholars of Islam,” The Empire of the Great Mughals is a fascinating portrait of an exquisitely rich and refined civilization.