Fabulously wealthy and immensely powerful, the Mughal emperors of India commissioned peerless paintings and architecture, ruled over courts renowned for culture and refinement, and possessed incomparable jewels. This book follows the Mughal dynasty from its rise in the 16th century through its decline in the 19th, entering the splendid courts, discovering political schemes, ambitions, lavish ceremonies, and high learning--and visiting such marvels as the Taj Mahal and the scented gardens of Shalimar.