The Mughal Emperors: and the Islamic Dynasties of India, Iran and Central Asia 1206 -1925

A richly illustrated history tracing the reigns of Islamic dynasties across India, Iran, and Central Asia from the 13th to the 20th century. Robinson, a Professor of History of South Asia at the University of London, presents a reign-by-reign record of sultans, shahs, emperors, and khans, connecting the Mughal Empire to its broader Persianate and Mongol heritage.

The book begins with the Mongol conquests under Genghis Khan (died 1227) and extends to the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah II, exiled by the British in 1857 after the Indian Mutiny. It covers major dynasties: the Il Khans, Muzaffarids, Timurids, Safavids, Qajars, Delhi Sultans, and Mughals, with detailed biographical portraits of figures like Timur (Tamerlane), Shah Abbas the Great, Akbar the Great, and Shah Jahan, the builder of the Taj Mahal. The narrative highlights their shared Muslim high civilization, flourishing from Iran and Central Asia through Afghanistan to India, and explores their cultural achievements—architecture, painting, astronomy, and poetry—alongside themes of power struggles, substance abuse, and women’s roles in governance and architecture.

Spanning 240 pages with 238 illustrations (123 in color), the book uses family trees, maps, and timelines to navigate the complex history, starting with the Mongol impact in Persia (1250s) and culminating with the Mughal decline under British dominance. It emphasizes the Mughals’ peak under Akbar’s inclusive rule and their decline after Aurangzeb, influenced by Maratha and British pressures. Robinson suggests that power often overshadowed Islamic ideals, challenging preconceptions about the period, though some critique his focus on rulers’ weaknesses (e.g., opium addiction) and the coffee-table-book format, which prioritizes visuals over deep narrative cohesion.