What news reports from 1600s tell us about life in Mughal India
Thousands of forgotten news reports are reshaping our understanding of Aurangzeb and the Mughal world.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
What news reports from 1600s tell us about life in Mughal IndiaImage source, Heritage Images via Getty ImagesImage caption, Aurangzeb, carried on a palanquin in this 1775 painting, was the Mughal emperor whose reign remains among the most debated and controversial in Indian historyBySoutik BiswasIndia correspondentPublished5 hours agoWhile Europe was inventing newspapers, Mughal India had its own news network.From the late 16th Century, armies of scribes, agents and secretaries compiled akhbarat - brief news reports on court intrigue, military campaigns, appointments, finances and gossip.Written in Persian on brittle paper in hurried hands, they formed the Mughal empire's information network: part intelligence brief, part official circular, part news bulletin.Hundreds, perhaps thousands,…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at BBC News.