States increasingly relied on slave soldiers to establish large empires.

The invention of the stirrup allowed expanding states to use cavalry more effectively.

The development of new types of armor reduced casualties and allowed states to expand faster than before.

States used gunpowder weapons to establish large empires.

The Mughals practiced religious tolerance toward non-Muslim subjects, while the Ottomans did not.

The Ottomans ruled over people who were predominately Muslim, while the Mughals did not.

The Mughals used gunpowder weapons to expand their territory, while the Ottomans did not.

The Ottomans made Shia Islam the official state religion, while the Mughals made Buddhism the official state religion.

The Mughal Empire’s scientific achievements

The extended travels of Emperor Jahangir to Eurasian pilgrimage sites

The Mughal Empire’s control of global trade networks

The expanding power of the Mughal Empire

To demonstrate the Mughal Empire’s conversion to Islam

To honor the continued influence of Hellenistic art forms in India

To represent the Mughal belief in the emperor’s divinity

To glorify his rule through the sponsorship of artworks

To display power and legitimize their rule

To spend excess money collected in taxes

To encourage tourism and pilgrimages

To increase employment opportunities for struggling artists

Emergence of capitalist economies

Expansion of coercive labor systems

Creation of a global trade network

Cultural syncretism

The collection of tribute

Establishment of religious uniformity

Abolition of feudal privileges

The granting of autonomy to minority groups

Rulers using art as a way to communicate with their illiterate subjects

Rulers using art to expand their territories

Rulers using art as a way to increase literacy

Rulers using art to legitimize their rule

Muslim families

Zoroastrian families

Christian families

lower classes