How will these resources help you?

The history of the Mughal Empire, including its rulers and royal women, makes a fascinating case study for students looking at early modern history in a global context or even as a comparative to the more familiar Tudor, Stuart and Hapsburg dynasties of Europe. While it might be presumed that the women of the dynasty had a limited role as they were sequestered in the harem (or zenana), studying the lives of these women quickly reveals their political engagement and cultural influence. Women such as Nur Jahan, Jahanara Begum and Mariam-uz-Zamani offer excellent case studies of female agency in the early modern era.