Carpet-making in India goes back as far as the Mughal emperors of the 16th and 17th centuries. Carpets were woven by Persian craftsmen who traveled to India at the invitation of the Mughal Emperor Akbar (1556-1605) in Agra. Classical rugs have been around since that time. During the 19th century, British merchants for the East India Company set up many more carpet factories in several Indian cities. The merchants specified designs that were in line with and adapted to Western taste, creating a synthesis of Persian and Indian motives. Motives, such as central medallions are clear evidence of Persian influence, while many other Indian designs were present all-over as well.
