Exams » UGC Net Notes » Foundation of the Mughal Empire

Foundation of the Mughal Empire: Check History of Babur, Humayun, Sher Shah Suri and Battles Timeline

Q: What is the Foundation of the Mughal Empire?

The Foundation of the Mughal Empire occurred in 1526 when Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at Panipat, ending the Delhi Sultanate and starting Mughal rule in India.

foundation of the mughal empire in this topic you learn how babur established rule in india key battles humayun struggles exile return sher shah suri reforms administration and timeline that shaped early mughal power and legacy

May 5, 2026
7:35 AM

The Foundation of the Mughal Empire marks a pivotal chapter in Indian history, introducing a dynasty that shaped the subcontinent for centuries. The Foundation of the Mughal Empire began in 1526 when Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi and established Mughal rule in northern India.

Who Was Babur?

Babur, born Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur in 1483, descended from Timur on his father’s side and Genghis Khan on his mother’s side. He inherited a small principality in Ferghana (modern Uzbekistan) at age 12 but faced constant struggles to hold power in Central Asia.

Babur captured Kabul in 1504 and used it as a base. He made several raids into India before launching a full invasion.
Invited by disaffected nobles like Daulat Khan Lodi and Alam Khan, Babur saw an opportunity against the weakening Delhi Sultanate under Ibrahim Lodi.
The turning point came at the First Battle of Panipat on April 21, 1526. Babur’s smaller army of about 12,000-15,000 men faced Ibrahim Lodi’s much larger force of 30,000-100,000 soldiers and 1,000 elephants.

Babur used innovative tactics: he tied carts together to form barriers, protected his artillery, and employed gunpowder cannons and matchlocks effectively early examples of firearm dominance in Indian warfare.

Ibrahim Lodi died in the battle, ending the Lodi dynasty and the Delhi Sultanate. Babur seized Delhi and Agra, laying the Foundation of the Mughal Empire.
He consolidated power further by defeating Rajput confederacy led by Rana Sanga at the Battle of Khanwa in 1527 and Afghan forces at the Battle of Ghaghra in 1529.
Babur ruled briefly until his death in 1530. His memoirs, the Baburnama, provide valuable insights into his life and conquests.

Enroll UGC NET Online Coaching

Humayun

Humayun succeeded his father in December 1530 at age 22. He inherited an unstable empire with divided loyalties among nobles and threats from Afghan chiefs and Rajputs.

Humayun faced immediate rebellions. His brothers Kamran, Askari, and Hindal challenged his authority. He recaptured Gujarat and Malwa temporarily but struggled with administration.
The biggest threat came from Sher Shah Suri, an Afghan noble who rose under the Lodis and later became governor of Bihar. Sher Shah built his power base independently.

Key defeats for Humayun included:

Battle of Chausa (June 26, 1539): Sher Shah surprised Humayun’s army during the monsoon. Humayun barely escaped with his life, saved by a water carrier.
Battle of Kannauj (Bilgram) (May 17, 1540): Humayun’s forces collapsed again. Sher Shah captured Delhi and Agra.

Humayun fled into exile, wandering through Sindh and reaching Persia in 1544. There, Safavid Shah Tahmasp provided military aid in exchange for Humayun adopting Shia practices temporarily.

Enroll UGC NET Online Course

Sher Shah Suri

Sher Shah Suri (born Farid Khan) founded the short-lived Sur Empire after defeating Humayun. He assumed the title Sher (lion) after killing a tiger.

Sher Shah ruled from 1540 to 1545. His administration proved efficient and influential, laying groundwork that later Mughals adopted.

reforms by Sher Shah:

Introduced a unified currency system with the silver rupiya.
Built the Grand Trunk Road from Bengal to Peshawar for trade and communication.
Reformed revenue system based on land measurement (introduced zabt-like system).
Established efficient postal system and justice administration.
Maintained a strong army and suppressed rebellions.

After Sher Shah’s accidental death in 1545 (from a cannon explosion during the siege of Kalinjar), his son Islam Shah ruled until 1554. The dynasty weakened under later successors like Firuz Shah and Sikandar Shah.

The Sur Empire controlled much of northern India but remained unstable due to internal rivalries.

Enroll UGC NET Coaching in Jaipur

Humayun’s Return and Restoration

With Persian support, Humayun returned in 1555. He defeated Sikandar Shah Suri at the Battle of Sirhind (June 22, 1555) and recaptured Delhi and Agra.

Humayun’s second reign lasted only months. He died in January 1556 after falling from the stairs of his library in Delhi.
His restoration set the stage for Akbar’s long reign and the empire’s true consolidation.

Babur, Humayun, and Sher Shah Suri

Aspect	Babur (1526–1530)	Humayun (1530–1540, 1555–1556)	Sher Shah Suri (1540–1545)
Origin	Central Asia (Timurid prince)	Son of Babur	Afghan noble
Key Achievement	Founded Mughal Empire via Panipat victory	Lost and regained empire	Established Sur Empire, administrative reforms
Military Strength	Innovative use of artillery	Weak leadership, defeats	Strong strategies, defeated Mughals
Administration	Limited, focused on conquest	Unstable, divided loyalties	Efficient revenue, roads, currency
Legacy	Laid Foundation of the Mughal Empire	Bridge to Akbar’s consolidation	Reforms adopted by later Mughals

Events Timeline

1526: First Battle of Panipat – Babur defeats Ibrahim Lodi.
1527: Battle of Khanwa – Babur defeats Rana Sanga.
1529: Battle of Ghaghra – Babur secures eastern frontiers.
1530: Babur dies; Humayun ascends.
1539: Battle of Chausa – Sher Shah defeats Humayun.
1540: Battle of Kannauj – Humayun exiled; Sur Empire begins.
1545: Sher Shah dies.
1555: Humayun recaptures Delhi.
1556: Humayun dies.

Enroll UGC NET Offline Coaching in Jaipur

Battles and Outcomes

Battle	Year	Key Figures	Outcome
First Battle of Panipat	1526	Babur vs Ibrahim Lodi	Mughal victory; Foundation of the Mughal Empire
Battle of Khanwa	1527	Babur vs Rana Sanga	Mughal victory over Rajputs
Battle of Chausa	1539	Humayun vs Sher Shah	Afghan victory; Humayun flees
Battle of Kannauj	1540	Humayun vs Sher Shah	Sur victory; Humayun exiled
Battle of Sirhind	1555	Humayun vs Sikandar Suri	Mughal restoration

Babur introduced gunpowder effectively in India.
Humayun’s exile exposed Mughal vulnerabilities.
Sher Shah’s reforms strengthened central authority.
The period tested resilience, leading to stronger foundations under Akbar.

The Foundation of the Mughal Empire involved conquest by Babur, trials under Humayun, and a brief but impactful Afghan interlude under the Suris. This early phase blended military innovation, administrative experiments, and recovery from setbacks. It prepared the ground for the empire’s golden age.

	Read UGC NET Notes
1	Archaeological Sources for UGC NET	Epigraphy – Study of Inscriptions	Meaning of Historical Sources	Archaeological
2	Meaning of Historical Sources	Archaeological Sources for UGC NET	Literary Sources in History	Archaeological
3	Exploration in Archaeology	Excavation Techniques in Archaeology	Dating of Archaeological Sites	Archaeological
4	Excavation Techniques in Archaeology	Exploration in Archaeology	Dating of Archaeological Sites	Archaeological
5	Epigraphy – Study of Inscriptions	Inscriptions in Reconstructing History	Numismatics in History	Archaeological
6	Inscriptions in Reconstructing History	Epigraphy – Study of Inscriptions	Archaeological Sources for UGC NET	Archaeological
7	Numismatics in History	Importance of Coins in History	Epigraphy – Study of Inscriptions	Archaeological
8	Importance of Coins in History	Numismatics in History	Archaeological Sources for UGC NET	Archaeological
9	Dating of Archaeological Sites	Excavation Techniques in Archaeology	Dating Ancient Literary Sources	Archaeological
10	Indigenous Literature	Literary Sources in History	Secular Literature as Historical Source	Literary
11	Dating Ancient Literary Sources	Literary Sources in History	Dating of Archaeological Sites	Literary
12	Literary Sources in History	Indigenous Literature	Foreign Accounts of India	Literary
13	Foreign Accounts of India	Greek Accounts on Ancient India	Chinese Accounts on India	Literary
14	Greek Accounts on Ancient India	Foreign Accounts of India	Chinese Accounts on India	Literary
15	Secular Literature as Historical Source	Literary Sources in History	Indigenous Literature	Literary
16	Role of Myths and Legends in Historical Reconstruction	Literary Sources in History	Secular Literature as Historical Source	Literary
17	Chinese Accounts on India	Foreign Accounts of India	Greek Accounts on Ancient India	Literary
18	Arabic Accounts on India	Foreign Accounts of India	Chinese Accounts on India	Literary
19	Neolithic and Chalcolithic Phases	Neolithic Revolution in India	Chalcolithic Culture in India	Neolithic
20	Hunting, Gathering & Food Production	Neolithic Revolution in India	Neolithic Settlements in India	Neolithic
21	Neolithic Revolution in India	Neolithic Settlements in India	Tools and Technology in Neolithic Period	Neolithic
22	Neolithic Settlements in India	Distribution of Neolithic Cultures in India	Neolithic Revolution in India	Neolithic
23	Distribution of Neolithic Cultures in India	Neolithic Settlements in India	Tools and Technology in Neolithic Period	Neolithic
24	Tools and Technology in Neolithic Period	Neolithic Revolution in India	Chalcolithic Culture in India	Neolithic
25	Chalcolithic Culture in India	Settlement Pattern & Economy in Chalcolithic Phase	Trade & Exchange Networks in Chalcolithic Societies	Neolithic
26	Settlement Pattern & Economy – Chalcolithic Phase	Chalcolithic Culture in India	Trade & Exchange Networks in Chalcolithic Societies	Neolithic
27	Trade & Exchange Networks – Chalcolithic Societies	Chalcolithic Culture in India	IVC Internal & External Trade	Neolithic
28	Indus Valley Civilization – UGC NET	Major Sites of Indus Civilization	Urban Planning in Harappan Civilization	IVC
29	IVC Internal & External Trade	Internal Trade – Harappan Civilization	Craft Specialization in Harappan Civilization	IVC
30	Political Organization – Harappan Civilization	Social Structure – Indus Civilization	Urban Planning in Harappan Civilization	IVC
31	Major Sites of Indus Civilization	Indus Valley Civilization – UGC NET	Urban Planning in Harappan Civilization	IVC
32	Urban Planning & Settlement – Harappan Civilization	Architecture & Town Planning – Harappan Cities	IVC as First Urbanization in India	IVC
33	Architecture & Town Planning – Harappan Cities	Urban Planning in Harappan Civilization	Major Sites of Indus Civilization	IVC
34	Craft Specialization & Industrial Activities – Harappan	Agriculture & Food Economy – Harappans	IVC Internal & External Trade	IVC
35	Agriculture & Food Economy – Harappans	Craft Specialization in Harappan Civilization	Internal Trade – Harappan Civilization	IVC
36	Internal Trade – Harappan Civilization	IVC Internal & External Trade	Craft Specialization in Harappan Civilization	IVC
37	Religion & Beliefs – Indus Civilization	Social Structure – Indus Civilization	Indus Valley Civilization – UGC NET	IVC
38	Social Structure – Indus Civilization	Political Organization – Harappan Civilization	Religion & Beliefs – Indus Civilization	IVC
39	Decline of Indus Civilization	Indus Valley Civilization – UGC NET	IVC as First Urbanization in India	IVC
40	IVC as First Urbanization in India	Urban Planning in Harappan Civilization	Second Urbanization in India	IVC
41	Vedic & Later Vedic Periods – Aryan Varna System	Early Vedic Society and Economy	Later Vedic Society and Economy	Vedic
42	Origin of Vedic Civilization	Aryan Debate – Migration, Invasion & Indigenous Theories	Early Vedic Society and Economy	Vedic
43	Aryan Debate – Migration, Invasion & Indigenous Theories	Origin of Vedic Civilization	Early Vedic Society and Economy	Vedic
44	Early Vedic Society and Economy	Political Institutions – Early Vedic Period	Social Structure – Early Vedic Period	Vedic
45	Political Institutions – Early Vedic Period	Early Vedic Society and Economy	Monarchical States in Ancient India	Vedic
46	Social Structure – Early Vedic Period	Emergence of Varnas & Social Stratification	Early Vedic Society and Economy	Vedic
47	Later Vedic Society and Economy	Emergence of Varnas & Social Stratification	Impact of Iron Technology in India	Vedic
48	Emergence of Varnas & Social Stratification	Social Structure – Early Vedic Period	Later Vedic Society and Economy	Vedic
49	Emergence of Heterodox Sects in India	Jainism, Buddhism & Ajivikas – Origins & Teachings	Later Vedic Society and Economy	Vedic
50	Impact of Iron Technology in India	Later Vedic Society and Economy	Agricultural Expansion & Economic Changes – Ancient India	Vedic
51	Religious & Philosophical Vedic Ideas	Emergence of Varnas & Social Stratification	Emergence of Heterodox Sects in India	Vedic
52	Megalithic Culture of South India	Neolithic and Chalcolithic Phases	Agricultural Expansion & Economic Changes	General
53	State System in Ancient India	Rise of Mahajanapadas	Transition: Tribal Polities to Territorial States	General
54	Transition: Tribal Polities to Territorial States	Rise of Mahajanapadas	Later Vedic Society and Economy	General
55	Rise of Mahajanapadas	Monarchical States in Ancient India	Republican States (Gana-Sanghas) – Ancient India	Magadha
56	Monarchical States in Ancient India	Rise of Mahajanapadas	Emergence of Magadha	Magadha
57	Republican States (Gana-Sanghas) – Ancient India	Rise of Mahajanapadas	Monarchical States in Ancient India	Magadha
58	Agricultural Expansion & Economic Changes – Ancient India	Second Urbanization in India	Impact of Iron Technology in India	General
59	Second Urbanization in India	IVC as First Urbanization in India	Rise of Mahajanapadas	General
60	Jainism, Buddhism & Ajivikas – Origins & Teachings	Emergence of Heterodox Sects in India	Ashoka’s Policy of Dhamma	General
61	Emergence of Magadha	Geographical Advantages of Magadha	Early Rulers of Magadha	Magadha
62	Geographical Advantages of Magadha	Natural Resources & Economic Strength of Magadha	Reasons for Success of Magadha	Magadha
63	Natural Resources & Economic Strength of Magadha	Geographical Advantages of Magadha	Economic Policies of the Nandas	Magadha
64	Early Rulers of Magadha	Haryanka Dynasty – Rise of Magadha	Emergence of Magadha	Magadha
65	Haryanka Dynasty – Rise of Magadha	Expansion Policy of Bimbisara	Early Rulers of Magadha	Magadha
66	Expansion Policy of Bimbisara	Ajatashatru – Military Reforms	Haryanka Dynasty – Rise of Magadha	Magadha
67	Ajatashatru – Military Reforms	Wars of Ajatashatru	Expansion Policy of Bimbisara	Magadha
68	Wars of Ajatashatru	Ajatashatru – Military Reforms	Udayin & Establishment of Pataliputra	Magadha
69	Udayin & Establishment of Pataliputra	Wars of Ajatashatru	Shishunaga Dynasty	Magadha
70	Shishunaga Dynasty	Administrative Structure of the Shishunagas	Nanda Dynasty	Magadha
71	Administrative Structure of the Shishunagas	Shishunaga Dynasty	Central Administration Under Mauryas	Magadha
72	Nanda Dynasty	Mahapadma Nanda – Imperial Expansion	Shishunaga Dynasty	Magadha
73	Mahapadma Nanda – Imperial Expansion	Military Strength of the Nandas	Nanda Dynasty	Magadha
74	Economic Policies of the Nandas	Nanda Dynasty	Taxation System – Mauryan State	Magadha
75	Military Strength of the Nandas	Mahapadma Nanda – Imperial Expansion	Defeat of Nandas & Rise of Mauryan Empire	Magadha
76	Reasons for Success of Magadha	Geographical Advantages of Magadha	Natural Resources & Economic Strength of Magadha	Magadha
77	Mahajanapadas to Empire – Evolution & Rise of Magadha	Rise of Mahajanapadas	Emergence of Magadha	Magadha
78	Mauryan Empire – Expansion	Rise of Chandragupta Maurya	Expansion of Mauryan Empire	Maurya
79	Rise of Chandragupta Maurya	Role of Chanakya in Rise of Mauryan Empire	Defeat of Nandas & Rise of Mauryan Empire	Maurya
80	Role of Chanakya in Rise of Mauryan Empire	Rise of Chandragupta Maurya	Defeat of Nandas & Rise of Mauryan Empire	Maurya
81	Defeat of Nandas & Rise of Mauryan Empire	Military Strength of the Nandas	Rise of Chandragupta Maurya	Maurya
82	Chandragupta Maurya – Seleucus Treaty & Diplomacy	Expansion of Mauryan Empire	Greek Accounts on Ancient India	Maurya
83	Expansion of Mauryan Empire	Chandragupta Maurya – Seleucus Treaty & Diplomacy	Kalinga War	Maurya
84	Administration of Chandragupta Maurya	Central Administration Under Mauryas	Mauryan Bureaucracy	Maurya
85	Sources for Mauryan History	Archaeological Sources for UGC NET	Greek Accounts on Ancient India	Maurya
86	Central Administration Under Mauryas	Provincial Administration – Mauryan Empire	Mauryan Bureaucracy	Maurya
87	Provincial Administration – Mauryan Empire	Local Administration – Mauryan Empire	Central Administration Under Mauryas	Maurya
88	Local Administration – Mauryan Empire	Provincial Administration – Mauryan Empire	Mauryan Bureaucracy	Maurya
89	Mauryan Bureaucracy	Central Administration Under Mauryas	Espionage System – Mauryan Empire	Maurya
90	Espionage System – Mauryan Empire	Mauryan Bureaucracy	Central Administration Under Mauryas	Maurya
91	Ancient India – Trade and Commerce	Trade and Commerce Under Mauryas	Agrarian Economy – Mauryan Period	Maurya
92	Agrarian Economy – Mauryan Period	Taxation System – Mauryan State	Trade and Commerce Under Mauryas	Maurya
93	Trade and Commerce Under Mauryas	Ancient India – Trade and Commerce	Agrarian Economy – Mauryan Period	Maurya
94	Taxation System – Mauryan State	Agrarian Economy – Mauryan Period	Economic Policies of the Nandas	Maurya
95	Kalinga War	Ashoka’s Policy of Dhamma	Expansion of Mauryan Empire	Maurya
96	Ashoka’s Policy of Dhamma	Nature & Philosophy of Dhamma	Kalinga War	Maurya
97	Nature & Philosophy of Dhamma	Ashoka’s Policy of Dhamma	Jainism, Buddhism & Ajivikas	Maurya