CBSE Class 12 History – Kings and Chronicles

Chapter Overview

This chapter examines Mughal court chronicles—official histories commissioned by emperors like Babur, Akbar, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb. It explores how these texts documented kingship, court rituals, imperial ideology, administration, and more, offering historians insights into the functioning of the Mughal state. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Important Keywords

• Chronicle: A continuous, official history of the emperor’s reign, commissioned by the court. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
• Akbarnama: Three-volume chronicle by Abu’l Fazl documenting Akbar’s reign. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
• Badshahnama: Shah Jahan’s court history in three daftars (decades), authored by Lahori and Sadullah Khan. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
• Jharokha Darshan: Daily royal appearance by Akbar to consolidate divine kingship. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
• Persian: Court language during Mughal period, written in an indigenized form blending Arabic, local idioms, early Urdu. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
• Kitabkhana: Royal scriptorium where manuscripts were made by specialized teams. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
• Nastaliq: Preferred calligraphy style in Mughal court, favored by Akbar. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}