Medieval India
The Mughal Empire Under Akbar (1556–1605)
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- The Mughal Empire Under Akbar (1556–1605)
- Introduction - Indian History
- Historical Sources (Literary & Archaeological Source)
- Human Evolution Pre-Historic Period
- The Stone Age/Lithic Age 30,00,000 BC to 1,000 BC
- 7 Highlights of India's Prehistoric Ages
- Origin & Culture of Aryans in Vedic India
- Mahajanapada Period (600 BC- 325 BC)
- Religious Movements (600 BC - 400 BC) – Jainism, Buddhism
- Maurya Period (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Post-Maurya/Pre-Gupta Period (185BC-319 AD)
- The Sangam Period (1st-3rd Century AD)
- The Gupta Period (319 AD - 540 AD)
- The Post-Gupta Period/Vardhana Dynasty (550 AD - 647 AD)
- Early Medieval Period: Rajputs to Cholas Overview
- History of Delhi Sultanate
- Vijayanagar Empire (1336-1565 AD)
- Religious Movements in 15th -16th Centuries
- Timeline of Mughal Period (1526-1857)
- Maratha State (1674-1720) and Maratha Confederacy (1720-1818)
- The Advent of the Europeans From (1498-1763)
- Expansion of British Power in India
- India’s Exploitation by the British Rule
- Socio-Religious Movements in 19th-20th Centuries
- Lower Caste/Caste Movements and Organisations
- Moderate Phase (1885-1905) - Indian National Congress
- Extremist Phase (1905-1917)
- The Gandhian Era: 1869–1948
- Miscellaneous - Indian History
- Brahmanic (Hindu) Texts
- Buddhist Texts and Jain Texts
- Historical and Semi-Historical Texts
- Biographical Texts - Indigenous Sources
- Greek Writers - Foreign Sources
- Chinese and Tibetan Writers
- Arabian & Arabic Writers
- Origin & Development of Indian Archaeology
- Inscriptions of Archaeological Sources
- Mauryan Inscriptions
- Post-Mauryan Inscriptions
- Gupta and Later Inscriptions in India
- South Indian Inscriptions
- Mesolithic Age in India (9,000 BC - 4,000 BC)
- Neolithic Age (7,000 BC - 1,000 BC)
- Neolithic Sites in India
- Chalco-Lithic Age (3,500 BC - 1,000 BC)
- Iron Age (1,000 BC–500 BC)
- Iron Using Cultures - Iron Age
- Harappan / Indus Civilization (2500 BC - 1750 BC)
- Vedic Culture (1500 BC – 600 BC)
- Rig Vedic/Early Vedic Period (1500 BC - 1000 BC)
- Later Vedic Period (1000 BC - 600 BC)
- Haryanka Dynasty (544 BC – 412 BC)
- Religious Movements of Jainism (600 BC - 400 BC)
- Religious Movements of Buddhism (600 BC - 400 BC)
- Maurya Period Sources (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Origin of the Maurya Dynasty (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Mauryan Administration & Art (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Gupta Administration: Society, Economy & Culture
- The Khilji Dynasty : 1290-1320 AD
- The Tughlaq Dynasty: 1320-1414 AD
- The Sayyed and Lodhi Dynasty
- Rise of Babur & Humayun in Mughal Period
- Sher Shah Suri Empire (1540–55): Second Afghan Empire
- Jahangir to Aurangzeb (1605–1707)
- Later Mughal Empire and Its Administration
- Mughal Culture & Architecture Explained
- Rise of Maratha Power (1674–1720): Shivaji to Shahu
- Maratha Confederacy (1720–1818)
The Mughal Empire Under Akbar (1556–1605)
Akbar, the eldest son of Humayun, ascended the throne under the title of Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar Badshah Ghazi at the young age of 14 at Kalanaur, Punjab. His tutor, Bairam Khan, was appointed as the regent.
Second Battle of Panipat – 5 Nov. 1556
Fought between Hemu (the Hindu General of Muhammad Adil Shah) and Bairam Khan (Akbar’s regent).
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Hemu was defeated, captured, and slain by Bairam Khan.
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This war ended the Mughal-Afghan contest for the throne of Delhi in favor of the Mughals, enabling Akbar to reoccupy Delhi and Agra.
Rise to Power
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In 1560, Akbar ended Bairam Khan’s regency and took control at age 18.
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From 1560 to 1562, he was influenced by Maham Anga and Adham Khan – a period called the “Petticoat Government”.
Rajput Policy
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Rajput Kingdom of Mewar resisted under Rana Uday Singh (1537–72) and his son Rana Pratap (1572–97).
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Akbar won over many Rajputs by:
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Inducting Rajput kings into Mughal service.
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Treating them on par with Mughal nobles.
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Marrying Harakha Bai, daughter of Bharmal of Amer, in 1562 – a strong gesture of secular policy.
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Exceptions: Only Rana Pratap Singh and his son Amar Singh (Sisodiya Rajputs of Mewar, Capital – Chittor) refused to submit.
Battle of Haldighati – 1576
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Fought between Rana Pratap and the Mughal army led by Man Singh of Amer.
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Rana Pratap was defeated, but he continued the resistance.
Akbar’s Conquests
Year |
Province |
Ruler/From |
---|---|---|
1560–62 |
Malwa |
Baz Bahadur |
1561 |
Chunar |
Afghan |
1562 |
Merata |
Jaimal |
1564 |
Gondwana |
Rani Durgawati (regent of Bir Narayan) |
1568 |
Chittor |
Rana Uday Singh |
1569 |
Ranthambhore |
Surjan Hada |
1569 |
Kalinjar |
Ram Chandra |
1570 |
Marwar |
Chandrasena, Kalyanmal, Raj Singh, Rawal Harirai |
1572 |
Gujarat |
Bahadur Shah |
1574–76 |
Bengal–Bihar |
Daud Khan Karrani |
1576 |
Haldighati |
Rana Pratap |
1581 |
Kabul |
Mirza Hakim |
1585–86 |
Kashmir |
Yusuf Khan and Yakub Khan |
1590–91 |
Sindh |
Jani Beg Mirza |
1590–92 |
Orissa |
Kutul Khan and Nisar Khan |
1591 |
Khandesh |
Ali Khan |
1595 |
Baluchistan |
Yusufzai Tribes |
1595Kandahar |
r |
Muzaffar Husain Mirza |
1597–1600 |
Ahmadnagar |
Chand Bibi (regent of Bahadur Shah) |
1601 |
Asirgarh |
Miran Bahadur Khan |
Religious Policy – Din-i-Ilahi (1581)
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A new religion blending Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, and Christianity.
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Rejected the concept of a prophet.
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Only Birbal (a Hindu) joined it.
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Not popular with the public.
Akbar's Architectural Works
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Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort, Lahore Fort, Allahabad Fort.
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Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi.
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Moved court to Fatehpur Sikri in honour of Sheikh Salim Chisti, who blessed him with a son: Salim (Jahangir).
Major Administrative & Cultural Highlights
Year |
Event |
---|---|
1562 |
First visit to Ajmer |
1562 |
Ban on forced conversion of war prisoners |
1563 |
Abolition of Pilgrimage Tax |
1564 |
Abolition of Jaziya |
1571 |
Foundation of Fatehpur Sikri |
1574 |
Mansabdari System introduced |
1575 |
Ibadatkhana built |
1578 |
Parliament of Religions held |
1579 |
Mahzar Proclamation (by Sheikh Mubarak) |
1580 |
Dahsala Bandobast introduced |
1582 |
Din-i-Ilahi / Tauhid-i-Ilahi |
1584 |
Ilahi Samvat (Calendar) |
1587 |
Ilahi Gaz (Yard) |
Akbar’s Navaratnas (Nine Gems)
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Birbal – Administrator
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Abul Fazl – Scholar & Statesman
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Faizi – Scholar, Brother of Abul Fazl
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Todarmal – Finance Minister, introduced the Dahsala System
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Bhagwandas – Mansabdar, Son of Bharmal
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Man Singh – Mansabdar, Grandson of Bharmal
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Tansen – Legendary Musician
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Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan – Statesman, Poet
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Mulla Do Pyaja – Scholar
Tulsidas, the author of Ramcharitmanas, also lived during Akbar’s reign.
End of Reign and Legacy
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Akbar died and was buried at Sikandara, near Agra.
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Considered the real founder of the Mughal Empire in India.
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First Mughal ruler to divorce religion from politics.
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Birbal was killed in a battle with the Yusufzai Tribe.
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Abul Fazl was murdered by Bir Singh Bundela (1601).
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Akbar established Persian as the official language of Mughal India.
Final Thoughts
Akbar’s reign (1556–1605) marked a turning point in Indian history. He wasn't just a conqueror but also a visionary who laid the foundation of a truly centralized Mughal empire.
His policy of religious tolerance, administrative reforms like the Mansabdari and Dahsala systems, and efforts to include Rajputs and other groups in his governance helped unify his vast empire.
His patronage of art, architecture, and scholars made his court culturally vibrant. Akbar's legacy remains that of a ruler who balanced power with wisdom and inclusion with authority, earning him the title ‘Akbar the Great’.
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