There were two kinds of structures made during the 8th and 18th centuries. First were meant for kings and their officers themselves such as forts, palaces, garden residences and tombs. The second were structures meant for public activity such as temples, mosques, tanks, wells, caravanserais and bazaars. Rich merchant also built temples, mosques and wells for public use and havelis for themselves.

1. Grade – 7-
History Chapter
– 5. Architecture
as the Power
Prepared By: Navya Rai
Navya Rai

2. Introduction
There were two kinds of structures made
during the 8th and 18th centuries.
First were meant for kings and their officers
themselves such as forts, palaces, garden
residences and tombs.
The second were structures meant for public
activity such as temples, mosques, tanks,
wells, caravanserais and bazaars.
Rich merchant also built temples, mosques
and wells for public use and havelis for
themselves.
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Navya Rai

3. Engineering Skills and Construction
Monuments sheds much needed light on
construction technologies and the skills and maturity
of the architecture.
For example, during 8th and 13th centuries, trabeate
style was popular in construction of temples,
mosques, tombs and in buildings attached to large
stepped-wells (baolis).
Two major developments are evident from the 12th
century.
These are 1. The weight of the superstructure above
the doors and windows was carried by the arches.
This was called “arcuate”.
2. The use of limestone cement in construction
increased manifold. Navya Rai

4. Trabeate Style
⋆ Lintel
⋆ Shikar
⋆ No use of Minar
⋆ Material- Sand stone
Arcuate Style
⋆ Lintel replaced by arch.
⋆ Dome
⋆ Concept of minar.
⋆ Material- brick, lime and
mortar- used for making
dome.
Navya Rai

5. Chand Bawri- Step well (Baoli) at
Rajasthan Pushkarani at Hampi Karnataka
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6. Building Temples, Mosques and
Tanks
Temples and mosques are some of the most
beautiful constructions of this era as they
were places of worship and also demonstrate
power, wealth and devotion of the patron.
Several kings who commissioned these
temples took the names of their gods as they
wished to potrayed like them.
For example, the Chola royal patron of
Rajarajeshvara Temple, adopted the
Rajarajadeva.
⋆ Navya Rai

7. The Qutb Minar, also spelled as Qutub Minar
and Qutab Minar, Originally known as Rao
Petarah's Temple is a minaret and "victory
tower" that forms part of the Qutb complex,
a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the
Mehrauli area of New Delhi, India.
Navya Rai

8. Brihadishvara Temple, also called Rajarajesvaram or
Peruvudaiyār Kōvil, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located
in South bank of Kaveri river in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India.
Architectural style: Dravidian architecture
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9. Why they built Temples
To show
their
wealth
To show
their
power
To show
their
devotion
To God
As
represent-
atives of
God
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10. On another hand, Muslim Sultans and
Padshahs did not claim to be the incarnation
of god but Persian court chronicles
described themselves as the Shadow of the
God.
New kings and rulers used temples and
mosques to emphasise their moral right to be
rulers and connect with the populace.
They built several water tanks and reservoirs
to ensure ample supply of clean and pure
water. Hauz-i-Sultani by Iltumish near Delhi-i-
Kuhna is one such example. Navya Rai

11. Why were Temples Destroyed?
Besides showing the devotion to
their Gods, they constructed temples
for displaying their wealth.
They also destroyed temples to make
a political-religious point.
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12. Gardens, Tombs and Forts
Under the rule of Mughals, Indian architecture
matured and became complex.
Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, and
especially Shah Jahan were personally
interested in literature, art and architecture.
Babur laid the foundation of a special type of
garden known as chahar baghs.
They had four equal rectunglar sections with
other fancy features.
Later, the architecture of chahar bagh was
perfected by Akbar, Jahangir and Shahjahan.
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13. chahar bagh
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14. Mughal Garden Navya Rai

15. During Akbar's reign, a central towering
dome and the tall gateway (pishtaq) became
important aspects of Mughal architecture.
The patten was first visible in Humanyun's
tomb.
During Shah Jahan reign, the Mughal
architecture reached its peak.
He was known for several construction in
Delhi and Agra.
The Taj Mahal is the prime example of
Mughal architecture. Navya Rai

16. Buland Darwaza, or the "Door of
victory", was built in 1602 A.D. by
Mughal emperor Akbar to
commemorate his victory over
Gujarat.
It is the main entrance to the Jama
Masjid at Fatehpur Sikri, which is
43 km from Agra, India.
Buland Darwaza is the highest
gateway in the world and is an
example of Mughal architecture.
The
An immense mausoleum of
white marble, built in Agra
between 1631 and 1648 by
order of the Mughal
emperor Shah Jahan in
memory of his favourite
wife,the Taj Mahal is the
jewel of Muslim art in India
and one of the universally
admired masterpieces of
the world's heritage.
Navya Rai

17. Masjid-i Jehan Numa commonly known as the Jama
Masjid of Delhi, is one of the largest mosques in India.
It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between
1650 and 1656 at a cost of one million rupees.
The mosque was completed in 1656 AD with three great
gates and two 40 metres high minarets constructed with
strips of red sandstone and white marble.
The courtyard can accommodate more than 25000
people.
Navya Rai

18. Humayun’s Tomb
Humayun's tomb
The tomb was commissioned by Humayun's
first wife and chief consort, Empress Bega
Begum (also known as Haji Begum), in
1569–70, and designed by Mirak Mirza
Ghiyas and his son, Sayyid Muhammad,
Persian architects.
It was the first garden-tomb on the Indian
subcontinent, and is located in Nizamuddin
East, Delhi, India,
The Red Fort is a historical
fortification in the old Delhi area.
Shah Jahan constructed it in the
year 1639 as a result of a capital
shift from Agra to Delhi.
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19. Region and Empire
Between 8th and 18th century, there was a lot
of cultural exchange among different
communities.
For example, in Mathura, temple architecture
drew its inspiration from Mughal architecture
in Fatehpur Sikri.
The large empires such Mughal Empire paved
the way to the growth and intermixing of
artistic and architectural styles. Navya Rai
Even after the decline of Mughal Empire, the
architecture developed under their rule were
adopted by different states.

20. Navya Rai