The great emperors of Mughal India (1526-1724) tried to create a paradise with their gardens, palaces, forts, and tombs. Ed Rothfarb blends historical narrative with accounts of his own extensive travels in India to make the great age of the Mughals come alive.
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Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 7 UpALively writing and in-depth research intermingle seamlessly in this compelling treatment of an exciting period of Indian history. The span of this book goes well beyond the Taj Mahal itself to concentrate on the period of greatest Mughal rule, from the birth of Babur in 1483 to the death of Aurangzeb in 1707. From the first page, this book reads like a great adventure story, retelling the tales of great emperors who came from Central Asia to India in search of their own kingdoms. Rothfarb goes beyond the usual narrative account of the emperors' lives to delve into tougher issues: the conflicts between Hindu and Muslim beliefs, the role of women and harems, and the interfamily power struggles. The author is aware that many of his readers may not have a background in Indian traditions and he frames many concepts within the context of Western thought. For example, he compares a sacred Hindu religious text, the Mahabharata, to Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. Also, the extensive time line includes Western events: the Puritans' arrival in Plymouth in 1620, just 12 years before construction was begun on the Taj Mahal. Filled with several black-and-white images of Mughal art, the text also includes photos of the structure. There are few titles for young adults on the Mughal empire, and this is a superb choice to fill that void.AKristen Oravec, Woodridge Middle School, Peninsula, OH
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 9^-12. A glorious dynasty deserves a glorious tribute, and Rothfarb gives the Mughals their due in this atmospheric account of love, conquest, and betrayal. Ruling what is now India during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the Mughals built their empire the old-fashioned way--by conquering weaker rulers. However, Rothfarb focuses less on the bloody power plays (there's only little about warfare's physical toll) than on the Mughals' triumphs in art, architecture, and literature. He zeros in on the men who occupied the throne, but he also includes a fascinating segment about life inside a palace harem and explains the secret of the Mughals' lasting power--a radical move by a sixteenth-century Muslim emperor to allow the Hindu majority to participate in political and social circles. Although few schools will study Indian history to this extent, the book offers curricular support in other areas--among them, art, warfare, and the roles of women. Included are a time line, a glossary, a source list, and many photos, some in full color. Randy Meyer
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding introduction to Mughal History,
By Jay (San Diego CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: In the Land of the Taj Mahal: The World Of The Fabulous Mughals (Hardcover)
One of the most astonishing cultures in history, the Mughals created art and architecture that continue to delight and astonish. There society successfully mixed two divergent religions, Islam and Hinduism, in ways that we today can only regard with wonder. Rothfarb has presented the most delightful and provocative introduction to time in history that I can imagine (I have read probably 45 books on the period and visited India a few times). He ties together not only Mughal culture, but India's ancient past, its religion, its mores, and culture showing the Mughals in a far wider and more accessible context than any other book I have seen. If I were to write a nonfiction book about this culture, this is the book I would want to write. While targeted (apparently) at juveniles, it is more than suitable for adults as well. If this is your subject, this is your book.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Good book,
By A Customer
This review is from: In the Land of the Taj Mahal: The World Of The Fabulous Mughals (Hardcover)
This book is very well written..I just got it somedays back..& let me say that this is one of the good books I have read..it takes us back to the mystical era of the Mughals (Mughlas were Muslim emporers who invaded present India & Pakistan region & created beautiful architectures Taj Mahal (Agra, India), Badshahee Mosque(Lahore, Pakistan)) & a lot of other architectures & gardens) this books describes their (Mughals) life style...I definitely reccomend it...but the best thing you can do is go to India & Pakistan yourself & see their architecture for yourselves...during my stay in Lahore (Pakistan) I visited different Mughal architectures & one garden built my Mughals..it was wonderful..I visited a Mughal fort (in Lahore) in the fort their was a thing which really caught me...their was a very big water pool..& right in the middle of that water pool was a small square shape marble made sitting place for Mughal women & it was connected by a marble path to the end of the pool...& I was like wowwww....these Mughals were I think the only emporers in the world with a sense of building beautiful architecture..I think other emporers destroyed the architecture but never bothered to built any architecture..but the Mughals not only did they built the architecture..but they built one of the best that can be seen..I have seen Taj Mahal in Agra, India (built by Mughal emporer Shah Jehan) for his dead wife..thats really a touching piece of architecture...then there is a Mosque in Lahore (Pakistan)..Badshahee mosque..the architecture & the beauty of this mosque is wonderful..their are many other architectures (Forts & Gardens)..though most of their architecure is mosques)...you can only enjoy their architecture if you see it with your own eyes ...ok I think now I will shut up..heheh & let you enjoy this book :)
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Nice Book,
By VJ (Long Island NY) - See all my reviews
This review is from: In the Land of the Taj Mahal: The World Of The Fabulous Mughals (Hardcover)
This is one of the better books written on Taj Mahal, Taj Mahal was built by the Mughals (Muslim emporers) who were the greatest people when it comes to invent & innovate art & architecture, they (Mughals) blessed pre-British India (India & Pakistan region)with their wonderful architecture, I highly recommend it, also I think the following two books will be excellent to add to your collection 1)Taj Mahal by Jean-Louis Nou 2)The Taj Mahal (Great Buildings) by Christine Moorcroft,
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