Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: 1483
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Babur was the founder of the Mughal empire in India and a key figure whose life connects Central Asian political history with the Indian subcontinent. His birth year is an important factual detail that situates him in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. This question checks whether students can correctly place Babur in the historical timeline before his invasions and battles in India.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Babur fought major campaigns in the early sixteenth century and died in 1530. To be the founder of a dynasty at that time, he must have been born in the late fifteenth century. Historical records state that Babur was born in 1483 in the region of Fergana in Central Asia. Any date later than 1500 would make his age at the time of Panipat unreasonably young. The options 1583, 1683, and 1783 belong to much later centuries and cannot fit his known life story.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526 and died in 1530.
Step 2: Estimate that he must have been a mature leader in his forties at least by 1526.
Step 3: A birth year of 1483 fits this estimate, placing him at about 43 years old in 1526.
Step 4: Recognise that years 1583, 1683, and 1783 are too late and belong to different centuries.
Step 5: Select 1483 as the correct answer.
Verification / Alternative check:
Historical biographies and Babur's own memoirs, often referred to as Baburnama, confirm his birth in 1483. This aligns with his Central Asian campaigns and later move into India. Remembering 1483 as Babur's birth year provides a consistent framework for understanding his life span of 1483 to 1530.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
1583: Would place his birth more than 50 years after the battle he is famous for, which is impossible.
1683: Even later, far removed from the early sixteenth century context in which Babur lived.
1783: Belongs to the late eighteenth century when Mughal power was already in decline.
Common Pitfalls:
One common error is to pick any year ending with 83 without checking the century, because the number pattern looks familiar. To avoid this, always match both the year and century with key events such as the First Battle of Panipat. Linking Babur's life firmly to the period around 1500 makes the choice of 1483 clear and reliable.
Final Answer:
Babur was born in the year 1483.
Discussion & Comments