-
HISTORY
What were the main languages spoken in the Mughal Empire?
-
1 Reply
-
The main languages spoken in the Mughal Empire were:
Persian – Persian was the official court language and language of administration in the Mughal Empire. It was used by the ruling elite and the educated classes.
Hindustani (including Hindi and Urdu) – Hindustani was the predominant language spoken by the common people in the northern regions of the Mughal Empire. It gradually evolved into the distinct languages of Hindi and Urdu.
Braj Bhasha – Braj Bhasha was another prominent language spoken in the Mughal heartland, especially in the region around Agra.
Turkish – Turkish was spoken by the Mughal ruling dynasty, as they were of Turkic origin. It was used in the imperial court and among the military.
Sanskrit – Sanskrit maintained its status as a learned language and was used in religious, literary and scholarly contexts during the Mughal period.
Regional Languages – In addition to the major languages, various regional languages such as Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Rajasthani etc. were also spoken in different provinces of the Mughal Empire.
The multilingual nature of the Mughal Empire reflected its diverse ethnic and cultural composition, with the Persian, Turkic and Indian linguistic traditions coexisting and influencing each other.
Log in to reply.