Mughal Empire: Akbar

Mughal Empire: Akbar

Akbar (1556 - 1605)

• Akbar was an illiterate person, but he was a patron of men of eminence. He maintained a Scholastic Assembly (Navratnas) in his court. They included the following personalities.
• Abul Fazal: Akbar’s court historian who wrote Akbar’s biographical works Ain-i-Akbari and Akbar Namah.
• Abul Faizi: Persian poet and brother of Abul Fazal. He translated Mahabharata into Persian in name ‘Razam Namah’ and Bhaskaracharya’s mathematical work Leelavati into Persian.
• Mian Tansen: His original name was Ram Thanu Pande. He was the court Musician of Akbar. He composed a Raga, Rajdarbari in honour of Akbar.
• Birbal: His real name was Mahesh Das. He was the court jester of Akbar.
• Raja Todarmal: Raja Todarmal was Akbar’s finance or revenue minister. He formulated Akbar’s revenue system Zabti and Dashala systems. Raja Todermal also translated Bhagavatapurana into Persian.
• Maharaja Man Singh: Akbar’s military commander.
• Bhagawandas: Son of Bharmal
• Abdur Rahim Khankhana: Hindi Poet
• Mulla Do Pyaja

Here is a map showing the reign of various Mughal rulers:

Administration during Akbar's Reign

Land revenue

• Akbar started the Annual assessment system where land was assessed by Qanungos or hereditary holders of land and tax collected by Karoris.
• In 1580, a new system Dahsala (prices over the last 10 years) were calculated. The land was measured using the Zabti system which was an improvement over the Dahsala system. It was also known as Todarmal’s Bandobast
• In Batai system, the production was divided in fixed proportions.
• In Nasaq system, a rough calculation of Peasant’s payments over the past years was calculated and the empire’s share was fixed.
• Types of Cultivable Lands
  1. Polaj – land under cultivation every year
  2. Paratti – fallow land
  3. Chanchar – land fallow for 2-3 years
  4. Banjar – land fallow more than 2-3 years
• Taccavi – loans to the peasants
• Land divisions for the purpose of revenue
  1. Khalisa – lands kept separately to meet the expenses of the emperor
  2. Jagir – land was given to nobles or mansabdars to meet their expenses
  3. Inam – land was given to religious persons.

Also Check: Mughal Empire: Babur, Humayun & Shershah Suri

Mansabdari System:

This was introduced to maintain a huge army. Ranks (Mansabs) were awarded to nobles. They were divided into Zat (Personal status) and Sawar (Cavalryman required to maintain). Along with this, Dagh and Chehra system were also followed. Mansabdars were assigned Jagirs which they used to pay the salary of soldiers

Important Posts:

• Wazir/Diwan – Head of Revenue department
• Subedar – Governor of a province
• Mir Bakshi – head of Military who was also the head of nobility
• Barids – Intelligence officers
• Waqia-navis – news reporters
• Mir Saman – in charge of imperial households and royal workshops (Karkhanas)
• Chief Qazi – head of Judicial departments
• Chief Sadr – responsible for charitable and religious endowments
• Diwan-i-am – open durbar
• Ghusal Khana – private consultation chamber

Architecture during Akbar’s period

• He built Agra Fort, Lahore Fort, Allahabad Fort, Humayun’s tomb and Fatehpur Sikri near Agra.
• At Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar built Ibadat Khana or Hall of Prayer in which he called selected theologians and mystics with whom he discussed religious and spiritual topics.
• Akbar built Buland Darwaza at Fatehpur Sikri in 1601 to commemorate his victory over Gujarat.
• He opened Ibadat Khana to people of all religions and took liberal views in discussing religions.

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