Step 1: Idea:
We will date the monument through its builder, Shahjahan, and then match the date with the passage and the options.
Step 2: Recall the builder:
The passage names Emperor Shahjahan as the builder. He ruled from 1628 to 1658.
Step 3: Convert the reign to a century:
The years 1628 to 1658 all fall between 1601 and 1700. That is the 17th century.
Step 4: Match the options:
Option 3 is the 17th century. Options 1 and 2 are before his reign. Option 4 is after his death, so they cannot be right.
Step 5: Confirm with the passage:
The first line says mid-17th century, which agrees with the count above and with Option 3. Shahjahan also built the Red Fort at Delhi in the same period, so the two monuments share the same century.
Final Answer:
The reign of Shahjahan places the Taj Mahal in the 17th century, so the answer is Option 3. \[ \boxed{\text{17th century}} \]
