Old NCERT Summary (Satish Chandra): Consolidation of Mughal Empire (Age of Akbar) | History for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Introduction

• After the death of Humayun, Akbar found himself in a difficult position as the Afghans had taken over Delhi.
• In 1556, Akbar won a crucial victory in the second battle of Panipat against Hemu, leading to a significant Mughal triumph as Hemu's army fled.
• Bairam Khan served as Akbar's regent during the initial five years of his rule.
• Akbar later dismissed Bairam Khan, sending him to Mecca, but Bairam Khan was killed by an Afghan during the journey.
• Akbar conducted extensive military campaigns to expand and consolidate his empire.

Early Phase Contest with Nobility

• Bairam Khan, as regent, maintained strict control over the nobility and expanded the empire significantly.
• However, Bairam Khan's growing arrogance led to his downfall, and he ultimately chose to go to Mecca, where he was assassinated.
• The Uzbeks, becoming a powerful faction within the nobility, revolted against Akbar between 1561 and 1567.
• Akbar made Jaunpur his capital during this period and eventually subdued the Uzbeks.
• The Mirzas also rebelled, accepting Akbar's half-brother, Mirza Hakim, as their leader.
• Akbar's military campaigns included marching from Jaunpur to Lahore to quell the rebellions and returning to Jaunpur to defeat the Uzbeks in 1567.
• After subduing the nobility, Akbar focused on expanding the Mughal Empire.

Early Expansion

• Under Bairam Khan's regency, the Mughal Empire expanded by conquering Ajmer and Malwa.
• Bairam Khan initially served Akbar well but later fell out of favour and chose to submit to Akbar.
• After suppressing the Uzbeks, Akbar launched a campaign against Malwa, defeating Baz Bahadur and incorporating the region into the Mughal Empire.
• Garh Katanga, a kingdom in the Narmada Valley and Madhya Pradesh comprising Gond and Rajput states, was also integrated into the Mughal Empire during this period.
• In the following decade, Akbar captured Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Bengal.
• Chittor in Rajasthan was a key conquest, symbolising the Rajput resistance and providing a strategic route to Gujarat.
• The fall of Chittor led to the submission of most Rajputs, except for Mewar.
• Gujarat, a vital trade centre, was captured following a rebellion by the Mirzas.
• In Bengal, internal conflicts and Daud Khan's declaration of independence allowed Akbar to assert control over the region.

Administration

• Akbar reformed the corrupt revenue system established by Sher Shah by appointing karoris to oversee revenue collection and verify information provided by qanungos.
• With the help of Raja Todar Mai, Akbar implemented the Zabti, Bandobast, or Dahsala System, where revenue was usually paid in cash.
• The batai system allowed peasants to pay revenue in cash or kind, while the nasaq system estimated payments based on previous years' records.
• The average yield of the land over the past ten years determined the revenue, and land was categorised into four types for assessment.
• The land was divided into four categories
  1. Polaj (cultivated every year)
  2. Parauti (once in two years)
  3. Chachar (once in three or four years)
  4. Banjar (once in five or more years)

Mansabdari System and Army under Akbar

• Akbar introduced the Mansabdari system in his administration.
• Under this system, every officer was assigned a rank.
• The lowest rank was 10, and the highest was 5000 for the nobles.
• Princes of royal blood received even higher ranks.
• The ranks were divided into two categories: Zat and Sawar.
• Zat means personal, and it fixed the personal status of a person.
• Sawar rank indicated the number of cavalrymen a person was required to maintain.
• Every sawar had to maintain at least two horses.
• All appointments, promotions, and dismissals were directly made by the emperor.

Organisation of Government under Akbar

• Few changes were implemented.
• Pargana and Sarkar continued as before. The chief officers of the Sarkar were:
  • Fauzdar. law and order
  • Amalguzar. revenue collection
• The territories were divided into:
  • Jagir. allotted to nobles and members of the Royal family
  • Khalisa. income from Khalisa lands went directly to the Royal exchequer
  • Inam. allotted to learned and religious men

Relation with the Rajputs

• Akbar married the Rajput princess, the daughter of Raja Bharmal.
• For four generations, the Rajputs served the Mughals, and many held positions as military generals.
• Akbar appointed Raja Man Singh and Raja Bhagawan Das to senior positions in the Mughal Administration.
• Though most Rajput states surrendered to Akbar, the Ranas of Mewar continued to resist despite being defeated several times.
• In 1576, the Mughal Army defeated Rana Pratap Singh in the battle of Haldighati. Following this defeat, other leading Rajput leaders surrendered to Akbar and accepted his authority.
• Akbar's policy towards the Rajputs included broad religious toleration.
• He abolished the pilgrim tax and later the jiziya.

Rebellions and Further Expansion

1. The new system of administration was not well-received by many nobles because of:

• the tightening of administrative machinery
• greater control over nobles
• more regard to the interests of the people.

2. Sentiments of regional independence were strong.

3. Rebellions occurred in Bengal and Bihar, extending up to Jaunpur, related to the strict enforcement of the Dagh system.

4. Mirza Hakim (Akbar's half-brother), ruler of Kabul, supported rebellion, preparing to invade Punjab and join forces with the Afghans.

Expeditions

• Akbar led a campaign to Lahore to quell a rebellion and became the first Indian ruler to enter Kabul.
• He demonstrated his broad-mindedness by entrusting the kingdom to his sister.
• Akbar conquered Sindh and remained in Lahore until the Uzbek rebellion threat was resolved.
• After securing the north-west, he expanded towards the east, west, and Deccan regions.
• Akbar achieved not only political unity but also cultural and emotional integration among the diverse people of his vast empire.

State, Religion & Social Reforms

• Akbar's religious policies significantly shaped his historical legacy.
• Despite being a devout Muslim, he abolished the pilgrim tax after marrying Jodha Bai of Amber.
• In 1562, he abolished the jiziya tax.
• He granted his Hindu wives the freedom to worship their own deities.
• In 1575, he established the Ibadat Khana (House of Worship) in his new capital, Fatehpur Sikri, inviting scholars from various religions, including Christianity, Hinduism, Jainism, and Zoroastrianism.
• Akbar opposed the involvement of Muslim Ulemas in political matters.
• In 1579, he proclaimed the "Infallibility Decree. to assert his religious authority.
• In 1582, he founded a new faith called Din Ilahi or Divine Faith, promoting the belief in one God and incorporating positive elements from various religions.
• The faith aimed to unite different religions without endorsing any specific philosophy.
• Only 15 followers joined this faith, including Birbal, and Akbar did not coerce anyone to convert.
• However, Din Ilahi largely declined after Akbar's passing.