Mughal Harem

[3] Mothers, step-mothers, aunts, grandmothers, step-sisters, sisters, daughters and other female relatives lived in the harem.

[5] Akbar's imperial harem was re-organized into a fortress-like institution which is quite in contrast to the image of the reigns of Babur and Humayun.

Harbans Mukhia attributed this change to the growing influence of Rajput cultural ethos on Akbar ever since his marriage in 1562 to Mariam-uz-Zamani.

[7] While Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak claims in the Akbarnama that each woman had her own suite of rooms, it is more likely that only members of the royal family and favorites of the emperor had their own apartments.

[8] The zenana was divided into sections, with (female) daroghas tending to the organizational needs of the residents and working to keep the peace.

The mahaldar, the female servant of the highest authority, often acted as an intelligence source from the zenana directly to the emperor.

Akbar's favourite wife, Mariam-uz-Zamani, is the earliest recorded woman of the Mughal empire who engaged in inland and overseas trade.

In the words of Findly, she had, in the larger arena, helped chart the role of Mughal women in the newly expanding business of foreign trade.

She describes in great detail the conflicts and tensions in the empire and how women played a mediating role in resolving them.

[13] For instance, Hamida Bano and Salima sultan Begum brought about peace in the household when Salim revolted against his father in 1601.