Contemporaries referred to the empire founded by 

Babur as the Timurid Empire,[31] which

reflected the hśeritage of his dynasty, and this was the term preferred by the Mughals
themselves.[32]
The Mughal designation for their own dynasty
was Gurkani (Persian: ‫گورکانیان‬, romanized: Gūrkāniyān, lit. 'sons-in-law').[33] The use of "Mughal"
and "Moghul" derived from the Arabic and Persian corruption of "Mongol", and it emphasised the
Mongol origins of the Timurid dynasty.[34] The term gained currency during the 19th century, but
remains disputed by Indologists.[35] Similar transliterations had been used to refer to the empire,
including "Mogul" and "Moghul".[36][37] Nevertheless, Babur's ancestors were sharply distinguished
from the classical Mongols insofar as they were oriented towards Persian rather than Turco-
Mongol culture. The Mughals themselves claimed ultimate descent from Mongol Empire
founder Genghis Khan.[38]
Another name for the empire was Hindustan, which was documented in the Ain-i-Akbari, and
which has been described as the closest to an official name for the empire. [39] In the west, the
term "Mughal" was used for the emperor, and by extension, the empire as a whole. [40]

History
Main article: Mughal dynasty

Babur and Humayun (1526–1556)

Main articles: Babur and Humayun

South-Asia
1525 CE
DELHI SULTANATE
(LODIS)
TIMURID EMPIRE
(Babur)
SHAH MIR
SULTANATE
PHAGMODRUPAS
KHANDESH
SULTANATE
BERAR
SULTANATE
MALWA
SULTANATE
ARGHUNS

KALMAT

LANGAH
SULTANATE
GUJARAT
SULTANATE
RAJPUTANA
DIMASA
TRIPWA
AHOM
KAMATAS
CHEROS
 BENGAL
SULTANATE
GAJAPATI
EMPIRE
GONDWANA
AHMADNAGAR
SULTANATE
VIJAYANAGARA
EMPIRE
BIJAPUR
SULTANATE
BIDAR
SULTANATE
GOLKONDA
SULTANATE
MAPS
-500
-150
125
350
500
600
800
1000
1175
1250
1400
1525

Main South Asian polities circa 1525 CE, on the eve of the establishment of the Mughal Empire by Babur.[41]

The Mughal Empire was founded by Babur (reigned 1526–1530), a Central Asian ruler who was
descended from the Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur (the founder of the Timurid Empire) on his
father's side, and from Genghis Khan on his mother's side.[42] Ousted from his ancestral domains
in Central Asia, Babur turned to India to satisfy his ambitions. [43] He established himself
in Kabul and then pushed steadily southward into India from Afghanistan through the Khyber
Pass.[42] Babur's forces defeated Ibrahim Lodhi in the First Battle of Panipat. Before the battle,
Babur sought divine favour by abjuring liquor, breaking the wine vessels and pouring the wine
down a well. However, by this time Lodhi's empire was already crumbling, and it was actually
the Rajput Confederacy which was the strongest power of Northern India under the capable rule
of Rana Sanga of Mewar. He defeated Babar in the Battle of Bayana.[44] In a decisive battle
fought near Agra, the Timurid forces of Babur defeated the Rajput army of Sanga. This battle
was one of the most decisive and historic battles in Indian history, as it sealed the fate of
Northern India for the next two centuries.
After the battle, the centre of Mughal power became Agra instead of Kabul. The preoccupation
with wars and military campaigns, however, did not allow the new emperor to consolidate the
gains he had made in India.[45] The instability of the empire became evident under his
son, Humayun (reigned 1530–1556), who was forced into exile in Persia by rebels. The Sur
Empire (1540–1555), founded by Sher Shah Suri (reigned 1540–1545), briefly interrupted
Mughal rule.[42] Humayun's exile in Persia established diplomatic ties between the Safavid and
Mughal Courts, and led to increasing Persian cultural influence in the later restored Mughal
Empire.[citation needed] Humayun's triumphant return from Persia in 1555 restored Mughal rule in some
parts of India, but he died in an accident the next year.[42]