To the vast majority of people of India the Mughal Empire was essentially a foreign Empire, and on that account could not expect to secure its existence upon a firm foundation of spontaneous popular supports. At its best, the Mughal Government sought no higher goal than the maintenance of internal order and the preservation of external peace. The life of the country centred in and was held together by the imperial Court. Consequently, when the administrative machine deteriorated and the Government proved incapable of fulfilling its police duties, and when at the same time the line of the Great Mughals degenerated into a succession of puppets, who were the sport and victims of contending factions; the Empire was deprived of the only factors contributing to its continued stability. The invasion of Nadir Shah involved the Mughal Empire in disgrace and dismemberment. It was, however, not a cause of the decline of the Empire, but one of the clearest symptoms of that decline. The thought-provoking essays contained in this book are judiciously selected from various authoritative sources which weave an authentic history of the period. Major topics elaborately dealt are: Decline of Mughal Power; Later Mughals; Nadir Shah's Invasion of India; Internal Condition of India in 1738-Rise and Progress of Nadirshah; Diwan Al-Insha (A Comparative Study of Medieval Egypt); Nadir Shah in Dilhi: His Return; Trade Training in Saudi Arabia: A Strategy for the Eighties; Political Letters of Shah Wali Allah; India in Eighteenth Century; Medieval Indian Historiography etc.

History is a seamless web. It is a record of continuous human activity. The advance of Mughals was facilitated by the political disruption of medieval India. The nature of Mughal conquest of India and the manner in which the new conquerors consolidated their gains is fascinating. For permanent establishment of a stable dominion, mere military conquest and consolidation are insufficient, and for its achievement, an efficient administrative organization acceptable to people is very necessary. The Mughals, before they could build anew, had no doubt, to destroy and sweep away much, but they did not or could not make a clean sweep. This book imparts authentic information on administration, law and justice in medieval India. The salient issues covered herein are: Medieval India: A historical perspective; Relations with nobility; Consolidation; Administrative setup; Mughal administration; and Law and Justice; Police and jails etc.

The question of the nature of the administrative divisions of the Mughal Empire has only recently received from scholars the attention that it deserves. The few writers who have dealt with the subject of Mughal administration seem to have assumed that the provinces, sarkars and their sub-divisions were political divisions for purpose of general administration. An in-depth study is made about administrative system in this book. The present book encompasses panoramic review of local government and administration during Muslim rule in India, Major themes, given elaborate treatment are: The Geographical Factor in History; Pre-Mughal Political Structure; From the Slaves to the Tughlaqs; The Period of Decline; Re-organisation on a New Plan; The Vazir under the Ghaznavies; Growth of the Vizarat Department (Under the Delhi Sultans); Growth of the Vizarat Department (Under the Early Mughal Padshahat); Political Organisation of the Crown Territories; The Nature of the Administrative Divisions of the Mughal Empire; Political Organisation; The Provincial Government: Structure and Working of the Executive; The Sub-divisions of a Province: Local Administration etc.

Throughout the medieval period (1206-1803) the administration was military in character. And in fact, the state in medieval India could not be called a welfare state. This book encompasses authentic literature on the condition of art, architecture, social activities and culture of medieval India. Major themes, given elaborate treatment in the present book are: History, Society and Culture in Medieval India; Wars in Medieval India; Social conditions; Economic Condition; Architecture of the Sultanate Period (1206-1526); Mughal Architecture (1526-1605); Mughal Architecture 1605-1707); Painting; Music, Dance and Drama; Sculpture, Other Arts and Gardens; Hindu Influence on Mughal Architecture and the Arts; Contribution of Zahiru'd-din AIBayhaqi to Arabic and Persian Literature etc.