The Garden of the Eight Paradises: Bābur and the Culture of Empire in Central Asia, Afghanistan and India (1483-1530)This the first critical biography of Zah?r al-D?n Muhammad B?bur, the founder of one of the great premodern Islamic empires, the Timurid-Mughul empire of India. It contains an original evaluation of his life and writings as well as fresh insights into both the nature of empire building and the character of the Timurid-Mughul state. Based upon recently published critical editions of B?bur's autobiography and poetry, the book examines B?bur's life from the time he inherited his father's authority in the Ferghanah valley, east of Samarqand, in 1494, until his death in Agra, India in 1530. The book is written in an alternating series of thematic and narrative chapters. The thematic or analytical chapters examine his major writings, discuss his cultural personality and his reaction to Indian culture, while the narrative chapters relate the story of his life while critically commenting on his autobiographical intent. The book contributes to the history of the Timurid period, the study of early modern Islamic empires and the nature of autobiographical literature in Islamic and Asian societies. It is illustrated with fifteen colour plates and four maps. |
Other editions - View all
The Garden of the Eight Paradises: Bābur and the Culture of Empire in ... Stephen Dale Limited preview - 2004 |
The Garden of the Eight Paradises: Bābur and the Culture of Empire in ... Stephen Frederic Dale No preview available - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
Afgh§n Afghanistan Agra Ahmad AlÊ AmÊr Arabic army arrived autobiography B§bur Babur battle began BN-M brother campaign Central Asian century Chaghatay commanded court cousin cultural Delhi describes discussion drinking earlier early east evidence example fact father Ferghanah finally force four garden ghazal given Harat Haydar MÊrz Hisar Hum§yån Husayn important included India Iran Iranian Islamic Kabul Khan Khusrau known language late later least literary Mahmåd Mawarannahr memoirs mentions MÊrz military Mongol Muhammad Muslim narrative nature never observes offers perhaps period Persian person poem poet poetry political Press probably reference region relatives religious remarks reports rule ruler Samarqand says seems sent Sh§h Shaykh ShÊb§nÊ social society sometimes Sult§n TÊmår TÊmårid term territory troops Turco-Mongol TurkÊ Turks University Uzbek verse writes written wrote