Emperor Akbar Chapter Notes | Social Studies for Class 4 PDF Download

• Akbar was one of the greatest rulers of India. He was so famous and powerful that people called him Akbar the Great.
• He was born in 1542, and his father was the Mughal Emperor Humayun, and his mother was Hamida Banu Begum.
• When Akbar was just 14 years old, he became the ruler of a huge kingdom. 
• He ruled India for almost 50 years—from 1556 to 1605. That's a long time!
  Akbar

Akbar, the Conqueror

Akbar was a brave leader who built a large empire by winning many battles. Here are some of his victories:
Rani Durgavati, Maharana Pratap, and Chand Bibi. 

1. Second Battle of Panipat:
   • Akbar fought and defeated a strong leader named Hemu, who was in charge of the Afghan forces.
   • This battle was in 1556, and after winning, Akbar became more powerful and controlled a large part of northern India.
2. Rani Durgavati:
   • She was the queen of the Gond people, and she was very brave.
   • Akbar's army fought against her, and he won. After this, her kingdom became part of Akbar's empire.
3. Battle of Haldighati:
   • This was a famous battle between Akbar and Maharana Pratap, the king of Mewar.
   • Even though Maharana Pratap didn’t win, he kept fighting for a long time to keep his kingdom free from Akbar’s rule.
4. Chand Bibi:
   • She was the ruler of Ahmadnagar in southern India. Akbar's army also defeated her, and her land became part of his empire.

Akbar and the Rajputs

The Rajputs were strong rulers who controlled many kingdoms in Rajasthan. Akbar wanted their support to make his empire stronger. So, he:

• Respected the Rajput kings and treated them kindly.
• Gave them important jobs in his court so they would feel like part of his empire.
• Married Rajput princesses to build strong relationships with them.

With the help of the Rajputs, Akbar’s empire became even more peaceful and powerful.

Akbar wasn’t just a fighter; he was also a kind and fair ruler. He did many things to help the people in his empire:

• He stopped unfair taxes that were difficult for people, especially those who were not Muslims.
• He reduced taxes on farmers so they wouldn’t have to pay too much money, making their lives easier.

Akbar’s Religious Beliefs

Akbar believed that everyone should be treated equally, no matter what religion they followed. Here’s what he did:

• He respected all religions and treated everyone the same, whether they were Hindus, Muslims, or from any other religion.
• He understood that all religions teach us to be kind, peaceful, and respectful.

• Love: Being kind to everyone.
• Peace: Living without fighting.
• Respect: Treating everyone with care.
• Tolerance: Letting people believe in what they want.

Akbar, the Patron of Arts and Culture

Akbar loved learning and encouraged art and music in his court. He wanted his empire to be full of creativity and knowledge:

• He had important books like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata translated into Persian, so more people could read them.
• He supported painters and musicians to create great work.

Famous People in Akbar’s Court

Akbar had many famous and talented people in his court who helped him:

• Mian Tansen: A famous singer who was known for his beautiful voice.
• Abul Fazl: He wrote a book called Akbarnama, which tells the story of Akbar’s life.
• Raja Birbal: He was Akbar’s advisor and known for his cleverness and funny stories.
• Raja Todar Mal: He helped Akbar manage money and collect taxes.
• Raja Man Singh: One of Akbar’s most trusted generals who led many battles for him.

Akbar, the Builder

Akbar also loved to build big and beautiful places. Some of his most famous constructions are:

• Agra Fort: A huge fort in the city of Agra, which is still very famous today.
• Fatehpur Sikri: Akbar built this entire city near Agra. It was designed to be the capital, but it was later abandoned because there wasn’t enough water.
  Agra fort

The End of Akbar’s Rule

After ruling for many years, Akbar died in 1605. His son Jahangir became the next ruler of the Mughal Empire and continued many of the things Akbar had started.