When the Earth Trembled: Earthquakes in Babur's Early Reign
Published on 5/28/2024
The Akbarnama, Abu'l Fazl's monumental history of Emperor Akbar's reign, is a treasure trove of political events, military campaigns, and courtly life. Yet, nestled within its pages are unexpected glimpses into the natural world, reminding us that even empires are subject to the earth's unpredictable power. One such passage details significant earthquakes that struck Kabul and India during the early years of Babur's rule, Akbar's grandfather.
The Shaking of Kabul
The chronicle recounts a particularly severe earthquake that hit Kabul and its surrounding areas. It wasn't a single tremor, but a relentless series of shocks. The text notes that the ramparts of the fort, many buildings within the citadel and city, and even entire villages, like Pemghan, were brought down. The sheer duration of the event is striking – thirty-three shocks in a single day, followed by a month where the earth continued to shake two or three times daily and nightly. The physical impact on the landscape was dramatic: a piece of ground near Pemghan and Baktub separated and descended, causing springs to burst forth from the breach. Further afield, between Istirghac and Maidan, the ground contorted so severely that parts rose as high as an elephant. The account even mentions clouds of dust rising from the mountaintops at the earthquake's onset, a vivid detail that speaks to the scale of the event.
While the text doesn't dwell on the human perception of these events in a spiritual sense, the very act of recording such detail in a royal history suggests their profound impact. For people of the time, natural disasters were often interpreted through a lens of divine favor or displeasure. Yet, the description here focuses on the observable physical effects – the number of shocks, the damage, the changes in the land – reflecting a keen, almost observational interest in the phenomenon itself.
A Tremor in India
Intriguingly, the Akbarnama mentions that in the same year as the major Kabul earthquake, there was also a great earthquake in India. The text provides no further details about the Indian event, leaving us to wonder about its location, severity, and impact. This brief mention, however, links the seismic activity across a vast geographical area, suggesting a period of significant geological unrest.
Babur's Eye for Detail
What stands out in this account is the level of detail provided for the Kabul earthquake. Babur, known for his sharp observations in his own memoirs (Baburnama), likely provided the source material for this section of the Akbarnama. His recording of the number of shocks, the specific types of damage, and the changes in the landscape goes beyond a simple note of a disaster. It reflects a mind interested in the world around him, not just the political and military spheres. This dedication to documenting even natural phenomena adds a rich layer to our understanding of the era and the individuals who shaped it.
Preserving the Past, Remembering Nature's Power
Including accounts of natural disasters in historical chronicles serves a vital purpose: it reminds us that human history unfolds within the context of a dynamic and often challenging natural environment. These passages preserve the memory of past struggles against forces beyond human control. They highlight the resilience required to rebuild and carry on after devastation.
Today, as we face our own environmental challenges, these historical records underscore the enduring power of nature and the importance of understanding our planet. The detailed observations, even from centuries ago, contribute to a broader historical record of seismic activity, valuable for understanding long-term patterns. More importantly, they connect us to the experiences of people long past, reminding us that vulnerability to natural forces is a shared human experience across time.
The earth trembled then, as it does now, and the act of recording it, whether for historical completeness or sheer fascination, ensures that these moments, and the resilience they demanded, are not forgotten.