CLOTHING ACCORDING TO SOCIAL CLASSES IN THE MUGHAL EMPIRE: A STUDY BASED ON AKBARNAMA MINIATURES
CLOTHING ACCORDING TO SOCIAL CLASSES IN THE MUGHAL EMPIRE: A STUDY BASED ON AKBARNAMA MINIATURES

Summary/Abstract: Clothing and accessories are important tools for understanding and expressing the social and cultural richness of civilization. The Mughals were a Turkic-Mongol dynasty that ruled over India and its surrounding regions from the 16th to the 19th century, playing a significant role in the development of culture and civilization in that area. The aim of this research is to examine the clothing characteristics of the Mughals as depicted in the miniatures from the Akbarnama. A biography of the Mughal emperor Akbar written between 1595 and 1605. Furthermore, the research aims to determine clothing characteristics based on the social classes of the era. The research follows a qualitative approach. A total of 98 miniatures from the Akbarnama were obtained from the catalogues of various museums. From these miniatures, 65 figures were selected for analysis through purposive sampling. The selection of figures was based on social class determinants. The clothing of the selected figures was analysed through observation forms, and their characteristics were described and illustrated. The obtained data were classified according to social class to reach research findings. Furthermore, the clothing was classified according to social classes, including the king, royals, governors, generals, army men, servers, and laborers, in order to determine the specific characteristics of their attire and dressing styles. This research contributes to the understanding of various social and cultural features of the Mughal era by revealing how clothing changed according to social classes during the reign of the Mughals.

• Details
• Contents