In the West, 'Mogul' refers to a person of great influence and power. The term derives from the people who, initially under Chingiz (Genghis) Khan, had a devastating impact on Asia as they set out to conquer the world. This book is the first to describe those rulers from the 13th to the 20th centuries who all shared the Muslim high civilization which flourished from Iran and Central Asia through Afghanistan to India. Among them are Timur or Tamerlane, who lived a life of remorseless conquest and Shah Jahan, who gave India and arguably the world its finest monument, the Taj Mahal. In lively biographical portraits, illuminated by vivid contemporary descriptions, these great men, good and bad, come to life. Special features range from great cities such as Samarqand and Fatehpur Sikri, to astronomy and Mughal painting - and are illustrated with exquisite paintings and manuscripts, architecture and decoration.