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[I][COLOR="Sienna"][SIZE="4"]Shah Jahan's reign marked the climax of the Mughal dynasty and empire. Discuss.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/I]
Answer:

[B][U]I- Introduction:[/U][/B]
The imperial Mughals, particularly from Akbar to Shah Jahan(1556-1657) gave a long era of peace and prosperity to the people of India for a century. During this period, the name and fame of the mighty Mughal monarchs of the greatest empire in asiaattracted a stream of foreign visitors like Bernier, Tavernier and Manuci were dazzled by the wealth, magnificance and grandeur of the Mughal emperors and drew unstinted admiration from them. The thirty years rule of the Shah Jahan was the goldern age of Mughal period. The Mughal empre reached its zenith in his time. There was peace and prosperity in th country. Land was fertile and revenues were abundant. Export was carried on profitably. He built a large number of buildings which undoubtedly masterpieces of the Mughal architeture.

[B][U]II- Saliend Merits of Shah Jahan's Reign:[/U][/B]

[COLOR="Blue"][U]i- Uniterrupted Peace and Order:[/U][/COLOR]
The Mughal empre under Shah Jahan enjoyed maximum peace and order. The Rajputs were faithful and the Shia states of the Deccan had accepted the overlordship of the Delhi empire. Accroding to Tavernier (expressing his views about Shah Jahan), "like a father over his family, he ensures security of the roads and just administration of laws.
[COLOR="Blue"][U]ii- Prosperity of the Country:[/U][/COLOR]
Since ther was peace and prosperity in the country, the provinces brought much revenue. The land was very fertile and the royal income from land revenue alone amounting to 45 crores of rupees annually was so great that after all his vast expenses, he left a treasure of 24 million pounds in coins besides gold, silver, and jewels. Moreland has described the reign of Shah Jahan as a period of agrarian tranguility.
[COLOR="Blue"][U]iii- Administration of Equal Justice:[/U][/COLOR]
Shah Jahan maintained his ancestoral tradition of personally administering justice. He was very strict in punishing the opressors and dispensing even-handed justice. Manucci has clearly said that in ht matter of justice, Shah Jahan spared none.
[COLOR="Blue"][U]iv- Development of Foreign Trade:[/U][/COLOR]
India under Shah Jahan had developed a very lucrative foreign trade with the countries of Europe. Trade between India and West Asian countries also existed. Consequently the trade brought immense profits to the Mughal Treasury and the country grew rich. Commodities like silkh, connton, salt-petre, lac, opium, wax, long, long pepper and various drugs used to be exported by sea. The was kingdom was called the strorehouse of these commodities. Thousands of labourers were employed in the silk and cotton factories.
[COLOR="Blue"][U]v- Development of Architecture:[/U][/COLOR]
Shah Jahan's reigh should properly be called as the golden period in the Medieval history of India. The Red fort with its white marble palaces and Jami Masjid at Delhi, the Moti Masjid, Diwan-i-Khas, Diwan-i-aam, Agra fort and the famous TAJ MAHAL besides many other buildings at several places are the best examples of Indo-Muslim architecture. Their grace and elegance extort universal admiration. Shah Jahan is rightly called the "Prince of Builders."
[COLOR="Blue"][U]vi- Development of Arts & Literature:[/U][/COLOR]
Shah Jahan was fond of literature and fine arts, such as music and painting and above all architecture. The arts of drawing and painting reached a high level of perfection. The jewellers' and goldsmith's art, pottery and metal works of flourished well. He extended his patronage not only to Persian but also to Hindi and Sanskrit. Jagan Nath Pandit and kavandra Acharya Sarasvati adorned emperor's court. The other literary works of historical nature were Abdul Hamid's Badshahnama and KHafi Khan's Muntakhab-ul-Lubab.
[COLOR="Blue"][U]vii- Works of Publice Utility:[/U][/COLOR]
He constructed projects of public utility at a great expense. THe chief work of public utility was the Western Jamna canal. He also constructed many other canals ti irrigate barren lands.
[COLOR="Blue"][U]viii- Paternal Nature of Shah Jahan:[/U][/COLOR]
Elphinstone remarks that notwithstanding the unamiable character given to Shah Jahan in his youth, the personal conduct of Shah Jahan seems to have been blameless when he was on the throne. His treatment of his people was beneficent and paternal and his liberal sentiments towards those around him cannot be better shown than by confidence which unlike most eastern provinces, he so generously reposed in his sons.

[B][U]III- Dark Side of Shah Jahan's Reign:[/U][/B]
Ther is another school of thought headed by Dr. V.A. Smith, which holds a diametrically opposite view to above discussed views. Dr. Smith and others who hold this view say that it was not a golden period. It was not all sunshine and the dark clouds were already gathering on all sides, which indicated the approaching peril to the empire. In this context following points must be considered.
[COLOR="Blue"][U]i- Imposition of Heavy Taxes:[/U][/COLOR]
In constructing magnificent buildings and maintaining the splendeur of his court, Shah Jahan needed huge sums of money forwhich he must have heavily taxed teh agricultural and industrial classes. Elphinstone and Lane-Poole have asserted that Shah Jahan's expensive hobbies must have been oppressive to his subjects.
[COLOR="Blue"][U]ii- His Bigotry & Intolerance:[/U][/COLOR]
He ordered to pull down newly built temple. He revived the pilgrim tax, Checked the conversion of Muslims to other faiths and forbade the inter-religion marriages. Thus Shah Jahan signalized his reign by these politically negative acts.
[COLOR="Blue"][U]iii- His Opposition Against Shias States:[/U][/COLOR]
The very existence of the independent shia states of Golkanda and Bijapur was highly offensive to the imperialistic zeal of Shah Jahan. Consequently the Shia states of Golkanda and Bijapur became the staunch enemies of the empire.
[COLOR="Blue"][U]iv- Deterioration of Mughal Army:[/U][/COLOR]
Dr. Smith is of the opinion that Shah Jahan had little skill as a military leader and thus the organization and command of his army was inefficient. Its inefficiency was exposed in Kandahar and Central Asian expeditions.
[COLOR="Blue"][U]v- Failure of North West Frontier and Central Asian Policy:[/U][/COLOR]
His foreign policy proved and utter failure in his Central Asiatic and North West Frontier policy. He received several reverses. It considerably lowered the prestige of Mughal empire. THis to led to gradual political weakness of the empire.
[COLOR="Blue"][U]vi- Rise of Marhattas:[/U][/COLOR]
The exposure of material and military weakness of empire encouraged the Marhattas to take up arms. This Threat later on reached danger level and uder Aurangzeb became the important factor in the collapse of empire

[B][U]IV- Conclusion:[/U][/B]
From the above mentioned discussion about Shah Jahan's reign, one can safely conclude that, his reign was brimmed with growth and progress in agriculture, trade and import export sector. There were opportunities of employment due to this industrial and agricultural progress and architectural projects. But still there was a part of the society which was oppressed for upholding the splendeur of the imperial and local officials. Society made an all round progress in all the sectors of life.