Maputo, Matola,
Beira, Nampula
200 Mozambique BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Mozart,
Wolfgang
Amadeus
Mozart was a brilliant composer of
classical music. He wrote many
different types of music and excelled in
every one. During his short life he
composed more than 50 symphonies
and 15 operas. He also wrote many
works for choir, orchestra, and smaller
groups of instruments. Although they
are more than 200 years old, his
compositions are still very popular.
Child Genius
Wolfgang AmadeusMozart was born on
January 27, 1756, in Salzburg (now in
Austria). At age 4 he began playing a
keyboard instrument called a
harpsichord. At age 5 he composed his
own pieces. A year later his father began
taking him and his sister to perform
concerts throughout Europe.Mozart
played the violin, organ, piano, and
harpsichord.
Mozart mastered the styles of music that
were popular in different cities in
Europe. He also published his first musical
compositions. His first opera was
performed in Salzburg in 1769, when he
was just 13.
Mature Career
Mozart worked in Salzburg for a few
years. First he was an assistant
conductor. Later he was an organist.
During this time he produced a
number of religious works. He also
wrote his first serious opera. It was first
performed in 1781, just after Mozart’s
25th birthday.
Later that year Mozart moved to
Vienna. He was successful there as a
pianist and composer. But he spent
more money than he earned. He had
financial problems for much of his life.
In Vienna Mozart wrote some of his best
works for piano and orchestra. During
his last years he wrote some of his greatest
symphonies and operas. His most
popular operas include Le nozze di
Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Don
Giovanni, and Die Zauberflote (The
Magic Flute). In 1791 Mozart began
working on a mass for the dead, called a
requiem. But he fell ill and died before
completing it. Mozart died on December
5, 1791, in Vienna.
#More to explore
Classical Music • Opera
Mozart
composed a
symphony (an
orchestra
piece that is
long and has
several parts)
at age 8.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus 201
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire ruled most of
northern India from the 1500s to the
1700s. The Mughal rulers practiced the
religion of Islam. Most of the people
they ruled practiced Hinduism. Even so,
the Mughals were able to rule successfully.
They worked to bring Muslims
and Hindus together into a united
India.
The founder of the Mughal Empire was
named Babur. He was descended from
Genghis Khan, who had founded the
Mongol Empire in Mongolia more than
300 years earlier. In 1526 Babur conquered
the Indian sultanate, or kingdom,
called Delhi. By his death in 1530
he controlled much of northern India.
The next great Mughal ruler was Babur’s
grandson Akbar. He ruled from 1556 to
1605. Akbar led conquests that greatly
expanded the empire. He married a
Hindu princess and let non-Muslims
practice their beliefs. He also encouraged
art and learning. Because of his
accomplishments, he is also known as
Akbar the Great.
Akbar’s grandson Shah Jahan was the
next notable Mughal ruler. He reigned
from 1628 to 1658. He is best known
for building the beautiful Taj Mahal in
the city of Agra.
Shah Jahan’s son Aurangzeb ruled from
1658 to 1707. He expanded the empire
to its greatest size. But he mistreated
Hindus and other non-Muslims. This
cost him the support of the people.
Some groups rebelled against him. The
empire gradually became weaker.
By the middle of the 1700s the Mughals
ruled only a small area around the city
of Delhi. The British took over this land
in 1803. The last Mughal emperor was
Bahadur Shah II. The British allowed
him to reign until 1857. Then they
forced him to leave India.
#More to explore
India • Islam • Taj Mahal
Muhammad
The prophet Muhammad was the
founder of the religion of Islam. Followers
of Islam, called Muslims, believe that
Muhammad received messages from
Allah (God). These messages were later
collected into the Koran, the holy book
of Islam.
Early Life
Muhammad was born in the Arabian
town of Mecca (now in Saudi Arabia) in
The Mughal ruler Humayun is buried in a
large tomb in Delhi, India. Humayun was
the father of Akbar, one of the greatest
Mughal emperors.
202 Mughal Empire BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
about 570. Muhammad’s father died
before Muhammad was born, and
Muhammad’s mother died when he was
6. He was then raised by his grandfather
and later by his uncle.
When Muhammad was about 25 years
old, he married a rich, older woman
named Khadijah. Their marriage helped
Muhammad gain wealth and social
standing, and they had six children.
Although many men at the time had
more than one wife, Khadijah was
Muhammad’s only wife until after her
death.
Beginnings of Islam
According to tradition, in about 610
Muhammad had a vision (thought to be
of the angel Gabriel) and heard a voice
tell him, “You are the messenger of
God.” At various times during the rest
of his life, Muhammad received verbal
messages that he believed came directly
from God.
Muhammad began preaching in Mecca
in about 613. He told people they
should worship only one God, which
