In the Land of the Taj Mahal

The great emperors of Mughal India (1526-1724) tried to create a paradise with their gardens, palaces, forts, and tombs. Ed Rothfarb blends historical narrative with accounts of his own extensive travels in India to make the great age of the Mughals come alive.

Grade 7 UpALively writing and in-depth research intermingle seamlessly in this compelling treatment of an exciting period of Indian history. The span of this book goes well beyond the Taj Mahal itself to concentrate on the period of greatest Mughal rule, from the birth of Babur in 1483 to the death of Aurangzeb in 1707. From the first page, this book reads like a great adventure story, retelling the tales of great emperors who came from Central Asia to India in search of their own kingdoms. Rothfarb goes beyond the usual narrative account of the emperors' lives to delve into tougher issues: the conflicts between Hindu and Muslim beliefs, the role of women and harems, and the interfamily power struggles. The author is aware that many of his readers may not have a background in Indian traditions and he frames many concepts within the context of Western thought. For example, he compares a sacred Hindu religious text, the Mahabharata, to Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. Also, the extensive time line includes Western events: the Puritans' arrival in Plymouth in 1620, just 12 years before construction was begun on the Taj Mahal. Filled with several black-and-white images of Mughal art, the text also includes photos of the structure. There are few titles for young adults on the Mughal empire, and this is a superb choice to fill that void.AKristen Oravec, Woodridge Middle School, Peninsula, OH
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 9^-12. A glorious dynasty deserves a glorious tribute, and Rothfarb gives the Mughals their due in this atmospheric account of love, conquest, and betrayal. Ruling what is now India during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the Mughals built their empire the old-fashioned way--by conquering weaker rulers. However, Rothfarb focuses less on the bloody power plays (there's only little about warfare's physical toll) than on the Mughals' triumphs in art, architecture, and literature. He zeros in on the men who occupied the throne, but he also includes a fascinating segment about life inside a palace harem and explains the secret of the Mughals' lasting power--a radical move by a sixteenth-century Muslim emperor to allow the Hindu majority to participate in political and social circles. Although few schools will study Indian history to this extent, the book offers curricular support in other areas--among them, art, warfare, and the roles of women. Included are a time line, a glossary, a source list, and many photos, some in full color. Randy Meyer