In which year was the Mughal emperor Jahangir (Prince Salim) born?

Introduction / Context:
Jahangir, originally named Prince Salim, was the fourth Mughal emperor and the son of Akbar. He is known for his interest in art, justice, and natural history. Questions about his birth year help test a student's ability to place Mughal rulers in chronological order and to distinguish between different centuries associated with various historical figures in India.

Given Data / Assumptions:
The question asks specifically for the birth year of Jahangir. The options include 1569, 1669, 1769, 1869, and 1559. We assume that the learner knows Jahangir ruled in the early seventeenth century and that his reign followed Akbar's, who ruled from 1556 to 1605. By relating his reign to his birth year, we can choose a reasonable date and eliminate obviously late years from later centuries.

Concept / Approach:
Jahangir reigned from 1605 to 1627. Mughal princes usually ascended the throne as adults, so his birth is typically placed several decades before 1605. Historical records state that he was born in 1569. Years like 1669, 1769, and 1869 fall far too late and match other figures in Indian history, such as the birth year of Mahatma Gandhi in 1869. Thus, by correlating Jahangir's reign period with a plausible birth year, we can confidently select 1569 as the correct option.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Jahangir ruled from 1605 to 1627. Step 2: Estimate that his birth must have been roughly 30 to 40 years before 1605, placing it in the late 1560s or early 1570s. Step 3: Check the options and note that 1569 is the only late sixteenth century date provided. Step 4: Recognise that 1669, 1769, and 1869 are too late and belong to later centuries. Step 5: Confirm from historical memory that Jahangir was indeed born in 1569 and mark this option.

Verification / Alternative check:
Biographical sketches of Jahangir in history textbooks clearly state that he was born in 1569 as the son of Akbar and Mariam uz Zamani. Many exam guides include a table of Mughal rulers with their birth and death years, repeating the date 1569 for Jahangir. The same books show that Gandhi was born in 1869, which helps keep the two dates distinct. These cross checks support the choice of 1569 as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
1669 is wrong because it falls in the period after Aurangzeb's birth and does not match Jahangir's early seventeenth century reign. 1769 and 1869 belong to even later centuries and are clearly inconsistent with Mughal imperial history. 1869 is famously noted as the birth year of Mahatma Gandhi, not Jahangir. The year 1559 is also incorrect, as it would make Jahangir significantly older than is indicated by historical sources and would not match the recorded date in reliable chronicles.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse 1569 with 1869 due to the presence of similar digits. Another pitfall is failing to connect birth dates logically with reign periods. To avoid this, learners should remember that the high point of Mughal power in terms of Akbar and Jahangir falls around the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century, whereas the nineteenth century is linked with British rule and figures like Gandhi. Keeping this broader chronology in mind simplifies such questions.

Final Answer:
Jahangir, originally Prince Salim, was born in the year 1569.