A new interpretation of the Mughal Empire explores Mughal state formation through the pivotal role of its princes.

This work, based on Persian and non-Persian sources, contemporary and later, is an impartial study of the rise and fall of the Nizam Shahi Kingdom of Ahmadnagar, founded in 1490 A.D., conquered by Shahjahan and annexed to the Mughal empire in 1636 A.D. From the very beginning, Nizam Shahis, struggled against the neighbouring states of the North, the Daccan and the South, the rising power of the Portuguese and then against the expansionist designs of the Mughal Emperors, to preserve the local cultural traditions, political independence and also to maintain balance of power between the imperial power of the North and independent states of the Daccan. In their struggle against the Mughals, they were supported by the Portuguese, and the states of Bijapur and Golkunda, by the Marathas and Abyssinians. For a while they successfully resisted the forward movement of the Mughal forces. A complete account of it has been given. Apart from the political achievements and failures of the Nizam Shahi kings, their cultural contributions and political institutions have been closely examined in proper perspective.

Aurangzeb Alamgir (r. 1658-1707), the sixth Mughal emperor, is widely reviled in India today. ... While many continue to accept the storyline peddled by colonial-era thinkers--that Aurangzeb, a Muslim, was a Hindu-loathing bigot--there is an untold side to him as a man who strove to be a just, worthy Indian king.

The present volume is a collection of excerpts from al-Ṭabarī's biographical work entitled The Supplement to the Supplemented (Dhayl al-mudhayyal). In the introduction to his History, al-Ṭabarī declared his intention to append to it a biographical work for the reader's convenience. Only a collection of excerpts has survived, however. It was first published as part of the Leiden edition of the History and is now presented as a volume in the Ṭabarī Translation Project. It brings together biographies of Companions, successors, and scholars of subsequent generations; many chapters are devoted to women related to the Prophet who played a role in the transmission of knowledge. The biographies vary in length and style, ranging from a mere identification of a person to long accounts and anecdotes. This volume represents a long tradition characteristic of Muslim culture. Muslim scholars developed biographical literature into a rich and complex genre. It was intended to be an auxiliary branch of religious study, aimed at determining the reliability of chains of transmission through which traditions were handed down. More often than not, however, works in this genre contain valuable historical information of the kind often ignored by the authors of mainstream history books. Even though not a complete work, this volume is thus not merely a supplement to al-Ṭabarī's History but also a source in its own right, often supplying new and rare insights into events and social conditions.

An anthology of Pas'hto poetry, The Hidden Treasure (Pata Khazana) was written in 1728-29 by Mohammad under the patronage of emperor Shah Hussain Hotak. The author of the book was an outstanding literary figure of his time in Qandahar and sanctified this work to Pas'hto poets. The book is written in three parts: The first is dedicated to poets of the past from the eighth to the seventeenth century. The second deals with contemporary poets of Mohammad Hotak's time and the third refers to known poetesses of the Pas'hto language. At the end of the book the author talks about his life and literary prowess. It was translated into Persian by Professor Abdul Hay Habibi in 1944. He also provided detailed annotations of literary works and historical events, and a list of over 200 words which are out of use in the language now or are rarely used. In presenting the importance of the book Professor Habibi provides notes on its prose and poetry by examining the history of Pas'hto prose.

This Book Attempts A Detailed Study Of The Political, Economic And Social Forces Which Caused, Hastened Or Simply Accompanied The Process Of Imperial Disintegration During The Reign Of Muhammad Shah. The Book Argues That The King Has Been Misjudged By Historians And Popular Writers And Painted As A Debanch, Holding Him Entirely Responsible For The Ruin Of The Empire, And That It Was A Foral Combination Of Circumstances Which Led To The Ultimate Collapse Of The Empire. Without Dustjacket.