Warrior Empire: The Mughals

Who, you ask, were the Mughals? They were nomadic Indian tribesmen who made fierce warriors and created a loosely knit empire that stretched across South Asia, covering much of today's India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. For three centuries (1526-1828), the Mughals ran roughshod over their adversaries, relying not only on their natural ferocity but also on their development of technologically innovative weaponry, including their own types of firearms, cannons, chain mail, and even rockets. The Mughals used their expertise to create as well as destroy, building countless forts, palaces, and even the magnificent Taj Mahal, so that—somewhat ironically—their generally brutal reign produced a plethora of cultural advances. Combining scholarly interviews, dramatic reenactments, illustrations, and on-location footage shot at the Taj Mahal, among other places, Warrior Empire: The Mughals, which originally aired on the History Channel, offers an interesting portrait of a complex people. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (E. Hulse)