The social and economic life on India underwent many changes during the Mughal period. There were rich contributions in the fields of architecture, painting and literature.

The Mughal Empire dominated India politically, culturally, socially, economically and environmentally, from its foundation by Babur, a Central Asian adventurer, in 1526 to the final trial and exile of the last emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar at the hands of the British in 1858. Throughout the empire's three centuries of rise, pre eminence and decline, it remained a dynamic and complex entity.

The Mughal Empire, was an empire in Asia which existed from 1526 to 1858. The Mughal rule over India is called Empire because it stretched over a large area.

Babur founded the Mughal Empire in 1526 and ruled until 1530.

He was followed by Humayun (1530-1540) and (1555-1556),

Akbar from 1556-1605,  Jahangir from 1605-1627, 

Shah Jahan from 1627-1658, 

Aurangzeb from 1658-1707

and several other minor rulers until Bahadur Shah Zafar II 1837-1857.

After the death of Aurangzeb, the Mughal Empire became weak. It continued until 1857-58. By that time, India came under the British Raj.

List of Mughal Emperors:

• Babur (1526-1530)

• Humayun (1530-1540, 1555-1556)

• Akbar (1556-1605)

• Jahangir (1605-1627)

• Shah Jahan (1627-1658)

• Aurangzeb (1658-1707)

• Bahadur Shah (1707-1712)

• Jahandar Shah (1712-1713)

• Furrukhsiyar (1713-1719)

• Rafi ul-Darjat (1719-1719)

• Rafi ud-Daulat (1719-1719)

• Nikusiyar (1719-1743)

• Mohammed Ibrahim (1720-1744)

• Mohammed Shah (1719-1720, 1720-1748)

• Ahmad Shah Bahadur (1748-1754)

• Alamgir II (1754-1759)

• Shah Jahan III (1759-1759)

• Shah Alam II (1759-1806)

• Akbar Shah II (1806-1837)

• Bahadur Shah II (1837-1857)