The Mughal Empire
Established by Persian warrior Babur in 1526, the Mughal empire's rule eventually covered most of the Indian sub-continent and Central Asia, and lasted well into the nineteenth century. Emperor Akbar (1556-1605), who is widely seen as the greatest of the Mughal emperors, extended Mughal control over Bengal. It was under Akbar that much of the territory which makes up modern Bangladesh was reclaimed from the forest and began to be cultivated. It was during his rule that 'soldier-saints' took Islam to these parts, converting the people of the eastern delta to a new faith. Islam grew strong in eastern Bengal. By the time the East India Company established its rule over Bengal, almost half the people of Bengal were Muslims, and in the east they were the large majority.
