Krishna Deva Raya: After the death of Deva Raya II in 1446 AD, there was a series of civil wars among the various contenders to the throne. After some time, the throne was usurped by the king's minister, Saluva, who restored the internal law and order. This dynasty also soon ended and a new Tuluva dynasty was founded by Krishna Deva Raya (1509 AD - 1530 AD). Under him the empire emerged as the strongest military power in the south. After his death there was a struggle among his relations as his sons were all minor. Ultimately in 1543, Sadashiva Raya ascended the throne and ruled till 1567, however the real power was in the hand of Rama Raja, who played off the various Muslim powers against one another.

The Mughal period can be called a second classical age in Northern India. In this cultural development, the Indian traditions were amalgamated with the Turko-Iranian culture, brought to the country by the Mughals. The Mughal rulers of India kept up the closest of contacts with Iran and there was a stream of scholars and artists coming over the frontiers to seek fame and fortune at the brilliant court of the Great Mughal, Babar.

Babar (1526 AD - 1530 AD):  Founder of the Mughal dynasty, was the king of Kabul. He was invited to India to fight against Ibrahim Lodhi. He was the first king to bring artillery to India and succeeded because of the cavalry that he had brought from central Asia, which was new to the Indian army, He arranged soldiers in such a way that they could be easily moved from one part to the other, He was a good general.

Before his death, he had made himself the master of the Punjab, Delhi and the Gangetic plains as far as Bihar. He wrote Tuzuk-i-Babari an autobiography, containing a lively description of India, in Turkish.

Akbar, The Great (1556 AD - 1605 AD):  He consolidated the empire. He was daring and reckless, an able general, and yet gentle and full of compassion. An idealist and a dreamer, and yet a man of action and a leader of men who roused the passionate loyalty of his followers. He was only thirteen, when he came to the throne. His first conflict was with Hemu, a general of Adil Shah, under whom the Afghan resistance had regrouped. At the second battle of Panipat (1556 AD), Hemu was defeated and Akbar reoccupied Delhi and Agra.

Shah Jahan (1628 AD - 1658 AD): On his succession to the throne, the first thing he had to face was revolts in Bhundelkhand and the Deccan.The former he put down easily and the latter came into control with difficulty. Meanwhile the Marathas also emerged as a major threat to the authority of the Mughals. The Famous peacock throne and the Red Fort were built by him. The Taj Mahal was also built in his beautiful wife's memory. His failing health started a war of succession amongst his four sons in 1657.