1st Edition

Mughal Warfare Indian Frontiers and Highroads to Empire 1500–1700

By J.J.L. Gommans Copyright 2003
    288 Pages
    by Routledge

    288 Pages
    by Routledge

    Mughal Warfare offers a much-needed new survey of the military history of Mughal India during the age of imperial splendour from 1500 to 1700. Jos Gommans looks at warfare as an integrated aspect of pre-colonial Indian society.
    Based on a vast range of primary sources from Europe and India, this thorough study explores the wider geo-political, cultural and institutional context of the Mughal military. Gommans also details practical and technological aspects of combat, such as gunpowder technologies and the animals used in battle. His comparative analysis throws new light on much-contested theories of gunpowder empires and the spread of the military revolution.

    List of illustrations, List of abbreviations, Note on transliteration, Introduction, 1 The Indian frontier, 2 War-band and court, 3The military labour market, 4 Camp, warhorse and elephant, 5 Forts, guns and sails, 6 The limits of empire, Conclusion and epilogue, Appendix: The Mughal Dynasty 1526–1712, Notes, Bibliography , Index

    Biography

    J.J.L. Gommans

    'A masterly survey of a critical period in the history of the Subcontinent.' - Simon Gillett

    'Gommans' reading of the Mughal secondary literature is refreshingly insightful' - Seema Alavi Modern Asian Studies

    'On the Mughal case the argument is pioneering, intellectually stimulating and reflects an extremely intelligent reading of the Mughal literature' - Seema Alavi Modern Asian Studies