History of Aurangzib

History of Aurangzib is a five-volume biographical work about Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, written by Indian historian Jadunath Sarkar between 1912-1924. The series draws from Persian manuscripts, court documents, and contemporary accounts to chronicle Aurangzeb's life and 49-year reign over the Mughal Empire. The first volumes focus on Aurangzeb's early life, his path to the throne, and the war of succession against his brothers. Later volumes cover his military campaigns, administrative policies, and religious decrees as emperor of the vast Mughal domain spanning most of the Indian subcontinent. Sarkar reconstructs events through extensive use of primary sources, including official correspondence, eyewitness accounts, and diplomatic records from European travelers and traders. The work maintains a chronological structure while examining different aspects of Aurangzeb's governance - from military strategy to economic policies. The series provides insight into a pivotal period that shaped the trajectory of medieval Indian history, examining questions of religious tolerance, imperial administration, and the relationship between power and legitimacy in the Mughal state.

Readers value Sarkar's detailed research and extensive use of primary sources, including Persian manuscripts and court documents. Many note his objective analysis compared to other accounts of Aurangzeb. Liked: - Clear chronological organization - Balanced perspective on religious policies - Military campaign descriptions - Translation of original documents - Coverage of administration and economics Disliked: - Dense academic writing style - Limited coverage of cultural/social aspects - Some sections focus too heavily on military details - High price of complete set - Difficult to find all volumes Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (87 ratings) Amazon India: 4.4/5 (156 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Sets the standard for Mughal historiography" - Goodreads reviewer "Too focused on battles, needs more about common people" - Amazon reviewer "Best neutral account of a controversial ruler" - Quora user

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📚 Jadunath Sarkar spent 25 years researching and writing this five-volume masterwork, consulting Persian, English, Dutch, and Portuguese sources to create the most comprehensive biography of Aurangzeb. 👑 The book challenged the then-prevalent British colonial narrative that Muslim rule in India was purely destructive, while also not shying away from critically examining Aurangzeb's controversial policies. 🏰 Sarkar was the first Indian historian to gain access to the Rajasthani royal archives, allowing him to provide unprecedented detail about the battles between Aurangzeb and Rajput kingdoms. 📜 The author translated over 50,000 Persian documents himself to ensure accuracy, as he didn't trust existing translations of crucial historical records. ⚔️ Despite being written in the early 20th century, this work remains the authoritative source on Aurangzeb's reign and is required reading at many universities studying Mughal history.