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

Introduction

After Humayun ’s death, Akbar confronted a tough situation with Delhi under Afghan control. In 1556 , he secured a crucial victory at the second battle of Panipat against Hemu , marking a significant Mughal triumph. Initially, Bairam Khan acted as Akbar's regent for the first five years, but after being dismissed and sent to Mecca , he was killed by an Afghan. Akbar then embarked on extensive military campaigns to expand and strengthen his empire.

Early Phase Contest with Nobility

• Bairam Khan , as regent, tightened control over the nobility and expanded the empire significantly.
• His growing arrogance led to his downfall; he chose to go to Mecca, where he was assassinated.
• The Uzbeks emerged as a powerful faction within the nobility, revolting against Akbar from 1561 to 1567 .
• During this time, Akbar made Jaunpur his capital and eventually subdued the Uzbeks.
• The Mirzas also rebelled, supporting Akbar's half-brother, Mirza Hakim , as their leader.
• Akbar's military campaigns involved marching from Jaunpur to Lahore to suppress the revolts, returning to Jaunpur to defeat the Uzbeks in 1567 .
• After gaining control over the nobility, Akbar focused on expanding the Mughal Empire .

Early Expansion

• During Bairam Khan ’s regency, the Mughal Empire expanded by conquering Ajmer and Malwa .
• Bairam Khan initially supported Akbar effectively but later fell out of favour and chose to submit to him.
• After defeating the Uzbeks, Akbar turned his attention to Malwa , defeating Baz Bahadur and bringing the region under Mughal control.
• The kingdom of Garh Katanga , situated in the Narmada Valley and consisting of Gond and Rajput states, was also integrated into the Mughal Empire during this period.
• In the following decade, Akbar captured Rajasthan , Gujarat , and Bengal .
• The conquest of Chittor in Rajasthan was particularly significant, symbolising Rajput resistance and providing a strategic route to Gujarat.
• The fall of Chittor led to the submission of most Rajputs, except for Mewar .
• Akbar captured Gujarat, a vital trade centre, following a rebellion by the Mirzas.
• In Bengal, internal conflicts and Daud Khan's declaration of independence facilitated Akbar's establishment of control over the region.

Administration

• Akbar revamped the corrupt revenue system established by Sher Shah , appointing karoris to oversee revenue collection and verify information from qanungos .
• With help from Raja Todar Mai , he implemented the Zabti , Bandobast , or Dahsala System , where revenue was mainly paid in cash.
• The batai system allowed peasants to pay revenue in cash or kind, while the nasak system estimated payments based on previous years' records.
• Revenue was determined by the average yield of land over the past ten years, with land classified into four types for assessment.

Land Classification

• Polaj : Land cultivated every year.
• Parauti : Land cultivated once in two years.
• Chachar : Land cultivated once in three or four years.
• Banjar : Land cultivated once in five or more years.

Mansabdari System and Army under Akbar

• Akbar introduced the Mansabdari system within his administration.
• Every officer was assigned a rank, ranging from 10 to 5000 for nobles, with princes receiving even higher ranks.
• Ranks were divided into two categories: Zat (personal status) and Sawar (number of cavalrymen to be maintained).
• Every sawar had to maintain at least two horses.
• All appointments, promotions, and dismissals were directly managed by the emperor.

Organisation of Government under Akbar

• Akbar made few changes to the existing government structure; the Pargana and Sarkar systems continued as before.
• The chief officers of the Sarkar included:
• Fauzdar - responsible for maintaining law and order
• Amalguzar - responsible for revenue collection
• The territories were divided into:
• Jagir - lands allotted to nobles and royal family members
• Khalisa - lands with income going directly to the royal treasury
• Inam - lands allotted to learned and religious individuals

Relation with the Rajputs

• Akbar strengthened ties with the Rajputs by marrying a Rajput princess, the daughter of Raja Bharmal .
• For four generations, the Rajputs served the Mughals loyally, with many rising to the rank of military generals.
• Notable Rajputs like Raja Man Singh and Raja Bhagawan Das were appointed to senior positions in the Mughal administration.
• Despite most Rajput states surrendering to Akbar, the Ranas of Mewar continued their resistance, facing multiple defeats.
• In 1576 , the Mughal army achieved a significant victory over Rana Pratap Singh at the battle of Haldighati .
• Following this defeat, many other Rajput leaders submitted to Akbar and recognised his authority.
• Akbar's approach to the Rajputs included broad religious toleration, exemplified by his abolition of the pilgrim tax and later the jiziya tax.

Rebellions and Further Expansion

• The new administrative system faced resistance from many nobles due to:
• Stricter administrative controls
• Increased oversight of nobles
• Greater attention to the needs of the common people
• This led to strong sentiments for regional independence and the emergence of rebellions in Bengal and Bihar , reaching up to Jaunpur, linked to the stringent enforcement of the Dagh system .
• Mirza Hakim , Akbar's half-brother and ruler of Kabul, supported the rebellion and planned to invade Punjab with Afghan allies.

Expeditions

• Akbar undertook a campaign to Lahore to quell the rebellion and became the first Indian ruler to enter Kabul .
• Demonstrating his broad-mindedness, he entrusted the kingdom of Kabul to his sister.
• Akbar also conquered Sindh and remained in Lahore until the threat from the Uzbek rebellion was neutralised.
• After securing the north-west, he focused on expanding towards the east, west, and Deccan regions.
• Akbar's expansion aimed for both political unity and cultural integration among the diverse populations of his vast empire.

State, Religion & Social Reforms

• Akbar's religious policies played a crucial role in shaping his historical legacy.
• Although a devout Muslim, he abolished the pilgrim tax following his marriage to Jodha Bai of Amber.
• In 1562 , he eliminated the jiziya tax .
• He permitted his Hindu wives to worship their deities without restrictions.
• In 1575 , Akbar founded the Ibadat Khana (House of Worship) in his new capital, Fatehpur Sikri , inviting scholars from various religions, including Christianity , Hinduism , Jainism , and Zoroastrianism , to engage in discussions.
• Akbar opposed the involvement of Muslim Ulemas in political affairs.
• In 1579 , he issued the Infallibility Decree to assert his religious authority.
• In 1582 , he established a new faith called Din Ilahi or Divine Faith , promoting the belief in one God and incorporating positive elements from various religions.
• The aim of Din Ilahi was to foster harmony among different religions without endorsing any specific philosophy.
• Only a few followers, including Birbal , joined this faith, and Akbar did not coerce anyone into converting.
• However, Din Ilahi largely faded away after Akbar's death.