AKBAR THE GREAT1543-1605

EARLY LIFE AT THE AGE OF 13 HE WAS PROCLAIMED THE EMPEROR OF MUGHAL EMPIREBAIRAM KHAN HUMAYUNS FAITHFUL GENERAL BECAME AKBARS REGENT AND LOOKED AFTER THE AFFAIRS OF THE GOVERNMENT ON HIS BEHALFAKBAR SPENT HIS EARLY LIFE IN ROYAL PURSUITS SUCH AS POLO, HUNTING AND CAMEL RIDING.AT THE AGE OF 18 HE DECIDED TO TAKE CHARGE OF THE AFAIRS OF THE STATE HIMSELF. HE DISMISSED BAIRAM KHAN AND ASSUMED ABSOLUTE POWER AND AUTHORITY

Second Battle of Panipat.

Second Battle of PanipatThe Mughal throne was unstable and insecure Adilshah the nephew of Sher Shah wanted to re-establish the Afghan rule.The Rajputs had become powerful and were waiting for an opportunity to expel the MughalsIn 1556 Hemu the chief minister and the general of Adilshah occupied the city of DelhiIn November 1556 the two armies of Hemu and Bairam Khan met on the historic battle of panipat. Hemu was defeated and Killed, and thus the Afghan rule came to an end and the Mughal Empire was esatablished.

Conquests of AkbarConquest of Malwa:In 1561 Akbar sent his foster brother Adham Khan to conquer Malwa.Baz Bhahadur Afghan King of Malwa fled from his capital leaving all including his beautiful queen Rani Rupmati to their fate. Malwa was annexed. Baz Bahadur was later on given a high post in Akbars court.

Conquest of Gondwana:In 1564 the Mughal Army was sent to capture Gondwana.The brave Queen Durgawati fought courageously She was defeated and Gondwana was annexed.

Conquest of Gujarat: In 1572 Akbar led an expedition against the ruler of Gujarat. Conquered the rich province and annexed it.Conquest of Bengal: Between 1574-76 Akbar conquered Bengal and annexed it. It was the most fertile province in India which brought rich revenues to the Mughal treasury.

Conquest of the north-east: By 1595 Akbar added the important territories of Kabul, Kashmir, Kandhar, Sindh and Eastern Baluchistan.The Deccan campaign: Between 1596-1601 Akbar sent diplomatic missions to Ahmadnagar, Bijapur and Golconda to persuade them to acknowledge his supremacy and pay him annual tribute when they refused he conquered them forcefully.

EXTENT OF HIS EMPIREFrom the Hindukush mountains in the west to the Brahmaputra in the east and from the Himalayas in the north to the Godawari in the south

Subjugation of the RajputsAkbar realized that to strengthen and expand the Mughal Empire he should have the support and friendship of the Rajputs Conflict with Udai Singh and Rajputs of Mewar continued until the death of Rana Pratap Singh who was adamant to give in to the demands of the Mughals. Who after the battle of Haldighati began to wander in the mountains and eventually died.

ADMINISTRATION centralCentralized government was set upAkbar the commander in chief of the armed forces and supreme judge on all matters of justiceAssisted by a team of ministers and officialsAppointment, promotion, and dismissal all depended on the emperor and his wisdom

CentralCouncil of ministers consisted ofMansabdar: The holder of rank in the administrationThe Qazi: Chief JudgeChief Sadr: Supervisor of the royal householdThe Vakil: Prime ministerMeetings housed at the Diwan-i-khas and Diwan-i-Aam

PROVINCIAL

Subedar looked after the provinces and military and civil affairsDiwan looked after the records and revenue

The Mansabdari SystemMansab means office or rank, Mansabdar means holder of the rank in the administration.Civil and military administration based on the Mansabdari systemRanking was based on the importance of the job, lowest mansab to the one who controlled ten horsemenHigher Mansabs reserved to the members of royal family

The Mansabdars were appointed, promoted or dismissed by the emperorSalary according to their rank and paid in Jagir both for themselves and troopsMansab not hereditary. Jagir reverted to the king in case the Mansabdars death and then given to some other person.The system of Dagh and Chera was continuedTroops supplied by the Mansabdars.

Revenue SystemLand source of revenueSher Shahs revenue system adopted under Todar Mal known as Todar Mal BandobastLand was surveyed with the help of Jarib(Bamboo) joined together with iron rings.Land grouped in to four categories namely cultivated regularly, good, middling and badThe average produce for ten years was calculated, and the revenue was fixed as 1/3rd of this average produce in cash or kind.

Revenue systemRevenue officers to treat the peasants wellLoans given to farmers to buy seeds, cattle and implements to be paid back in easy installments.Taxed reduced/cancelled in case of drought or floodsTrade another source of revenue, trade flourished with China, Central Asia and Europe. Goods such as textile, spices, indigo and saltpetre.Gold coins called mohur was introduced

AKBARS RELIGIOUS POLICYReligious integration: Religious tolerance and respect for other religions. He lead by marrying people of other faith.Abolished the jaziya and the pilgrim taxFreedom to build temples and celebrate festivalsAppoints based on merit and not religionGrants given to all

Ibadat KhanaThe Ibadat Khana (1575) was built as a place meant for discussion on the principles and teachings of different religion. Discussion were carried on with the help of the scholars and priest from all the religions.In 1579 the declaration of Mazar gave him the power to choose between different interpretation of Islamic law.

Akbars New ReligionThe belief in sulh-i-khul ( universal peace) led to the culmination of a new religion called Din-i-Ilahi.Din-i-Ilahi based on the best aspects of all the religion. It consisted of moral codes, with Akbar as the protector of the codes and representative of GodNo one was forced to follow this religion and so after his death it came to an end

Rajput PolicyTreated the Rajputs with honor and equalityHe strengthened his ties with the Rajputs through Matrimonial alliances He gave them important posts of trust and responsibilityAbolished the Jaziya and Pilgrim taxHe allowed the Rajputs to retain their kingdom if they recognized Akbar as their over lord.

Social and Cultural AchievementsSocial reforms: He prohibited satiHe discouraged child marriageEducational reformsAkbar laid more emphasis on secular subjects, ie Mathematics, Astronomy and HistoryHe translated the Sanskrit Vedas and Mahabharatha, Arabic, Greek work in to Persian.

Persian was the court language Akbarnama was written by Abu FazlHe had a passion for books, his library consisted of 24,000 especially written and illustrated for the emperor in Calligraphy

ArchitecturePersian style of architecture was used in the construction of various buildings such as Humayuns tomb.Fatehpur Sikri has interesting buildings in the Rajput style made of sand stone.Important monuments built him; Diwan-i-aam, Diwan-i-Khas, Jodhabais palace, Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahal, Agra fort, Ibadat Khana

Akbars Nine GemsAbu Fazl: Scholar and Historian he wrote Akbarnama and Ain-i-AkbariFaizi: Persian poet and philosopherAbdur Rahim: Hindi poet and composer of DohasTansen: Singer and musician Todar Mal: Excellent revenue minister

Birbal: Known for his intelligence and sharp witRaja Mansingh: Great military commander and trusted adviser of the empireHumam: Well known physicianMulla Do Piaza: A scholar known for his ready wit

End of the regimeAkbar died in 1605 and was buried in Sikandra.He was succeeded by his son Salim (Jahangir)