AKBAR THE GREAT

1543-1605

EARLY LIFE
AT THE AGE OF 13 HE WAS PROCLAIMED THE
EMPEROR OF MUGHAL EMPIRE
BAIRAM KHAN HUMAYUNS FAITHFUL GENERAL
BECAME AKBARS REGENT AND LOOKED AFTER
THE AFFAIRS OF THE GOVERNMENT ON HIS
BEHALF
AKBAR 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 Panipat

The Mughal throne was unstable and insecure
Adilshah the nephew of Sher Shah wanted to reestablish the Afghan rule.
The Rajputs had become powerful and were waiting for
an opportunity to expel the Mughals
In 1556 Hemu the chief minister and the general of
Adilshah occupied the city of Delhi
In 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 Akbar
Conquest 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 EMPIRE

From 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 Rajputs

Akbar 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
central
Centralized government was set up
Akbar the commander in chief of the
armed forces and supreme judge on all
matters of justice
Assisted by a team of ministers and
officials
Appointment, promotion, and dismissal all
depended on the emperor and his wisdom

Central
Council of ministers consisted of
Mansabdar: The holder of rank in the
administration
The Qazi: Chief Judge
Chief Sadr: Supervisor of the royal
household
The Vakil: Prime minister
Meetings housed at the Diwan-i-khas and
Diwan-i-Aam

PROVINCIAL
15 SUBAS
SUBEDAR

DIWAN

TEAM OF OFFICIALS

SARKARS

TEAM OF OFFICIALS

PARGANAS

Subedar looked after the provinces and military

and civil affairs
Diwan looked after the records and revenue

The Mansabdari System

Mansab means office or rank, Mansabdar
means holder of the rank in the administration.
Civil and military administration based on the
Mansabdari system
Ranking was based on the importance of the
job, lowest mansab to the one who controlled
ten horsemen
Higher Mansabs reserved to the members of
royal family

The Mansabdars were appointed, promoted or

dismissed by the emperor
Salary according to their rank and paid in Jagir
both for themselves and troops
Mansab 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 continued
Troops supplied by the Mansabdars.

Revenue System
Land source of revenue
Sher Shahs revenue system adopted under
Todar Mal known as Todar Mal Bandobast
Land 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 bad
The average produce for ten years was
calculated, and the revenue was fixed as 1/3 rd of
this average produce in cash or kind.

Revenue system
Revenue officers to treat the peasants well
Loans given to farmers to buy seeds, cattle and
implements to be paid back in easy installments.
Taxed reduced/cancelled in case of drought or
floods
Trade 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 POLICY

Religious integration: Religious tolerance
and respect for other religions. He lead by
marrying people of other faith.
Abolished the jaziya and the pilgrim tax
Freedom to build temples and celebrate
festivals
Appoints based on merit and not religion
Grants given to all

Ibadat Khana
The 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 Religion

The 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 God
No one was forced to follow this religion
and so after his death it came to an end

Rajput Policy
Treated the Rajputs with honor and equality
He strengthened his ties with the Rajputs
through Matrimonial alliances
He gave them important posts of trust and
responsibility
Abolished the Jaziya and Pilgrim tax
He allowed the Rajputs to retain their kingdom if
they recognized Akbar as their over lord.

Social and Cultural Achievements

Social reforms:
He prohibited sati
He discouraged child marriage
2. Educational reforms
Akbar laid more emphasis on secular subjects,
ie Mathematics, Astronomy and History
He translated the Sanskrit Vedas and
Mahabharatha, Arabic, Greek work in to
Persian.
1.

Persian was the court language

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

Architecture
Persian 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-iaam, Diwan-i-Khas, Jodhabais palace,
Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahal, Agra fort,
Ibadat Khana

Akbars Nine Gems

Abu Fazl: Scholar and Historian he wrote
Akbarnama and Ain-i-Akbari
Faizi: Persian poet and philosopher
Abdur Rahim: Hindi poet and composer of
Dohas
Tansen: Singer and musician
Todar Mal: Excellent revenue minister

Birbal: Known for his intelligence and

sharp wit
Raja Mansingh: Great military commander
and trusted adviser of the empire
Humam: Well known physician
Mulla Do Piaza: A scholar known for his
ready wit

End of the regime

Akbar died in 1605 and was buried in
Sikandra.
He was succeeded by his son Salim
(Jahangir)