Aurangzeb's Fight to Lead India in the 17th Century
In Aurangzeb's Fight to Lead India in the 17th Century, host Andrew Marr takes us to India in the early 17th Century. It is an open-minded place where ideas thrive and there is intellectual freedom and cultural celebration. But when the ruler, Shah Jahan, falls ill, his two sons fight for the throne. Aurangzeb wins the battle and takes over India. He starts an oppressive regime that undoes the progressive work of his father, taking India along a much different path. This video is excerpted from BBC’s A History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
Advisory: Contains scenes of moderate violenceLesson Express
Q: What was India like in the 17th Century?
A: Indian civilization was open-minded and tolerant.
Q: What happened when Shah Jahan got sick?
A: His sons fought for the throne. Aurangzeb won and took over.
Q: How did India change when Aurangzeb took over?
A: Intellectual freedoms were taken away. He was focused on oppression and reversing the freedoms his father promoted.
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