Page 30 - Journeys Through Society-7
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patwari, qanungo, muqadam and shiqdar were Akbar was fighting the Afghans under Sikandar Suri in
responsible for the collection of land revenue, which Gurdaspur when he received the news of his father’s
was fixed at 1/4th or 1/3rd of the total produce death.
payable in cash or kind. On becoming the emperor, he immediately lost Delhi
and Agra to Hemu. Hemu was the chief minister of
Wow Fact Sultan Adil Shah, the nephew of Sher Shah. He wanted
Sher Shah is most remembered for the to re-establish Afghan supremacy. In 1556 CE, Akbar
reforms he made in the field of agriculture defeated and killed Hemu in the Second Battle of
and the revenue administration.
Panipat. Thus, the Mughals recaptured Delhi and
Agra. With the death of Hemu, the Afghan threat to
the Mughal Empire was over. Akbar freed himself from
Trade and Commerce Bairam Khan’s guardianship and took the reins of the
government in his own hands in 1560 CE. Deprived of
Sher Shah encouraged trade and commerce. Custom
power, Bairam Khan was killed by an Afghan on his way
duties were levied only on the frontiers and at the
to Mecca. After resolving internal issues. Akbar turned
places of sale. In order to encourage trade, excellent
his attention towards territorial expansion of the
roads were built, including the Grand Trunk Road, to
empire.
further trade and commerce. He planted trees and
built sarais or rest houses for the travellers, most of Expansion of Mughal Empire Under Akbar’s Rule
whom were traders and pilgrims.
After having consolidated his position, Akbar sent
End of Sher Shah’s Rule military expeditions to Gwalior, Ajmer, Jaunpur and
Sher Shah Suri died in 1545 CE and his son and Malwa. He then conquered Gujarat in the west, and
successor, Islam Shah died in 1554 CE. This weakened Bengal and Odisha in the east. In the north-west,
the Afghan Empire and Humayun saw in this a perfect Kashmir, Kandhar and Kabul were added to the
opportunity to regain his lost kingdom. Humayun thus empire. In the Deccan, Khandesh, Berar and parts of
gathered a vast army with the help of the Persian ruler Ahmednagar were brought under the Mughal Empire.
Shah Tahmasp I, and attempted the challenging task of
retaking the throne of Delhi. Wow Fact
Throughout his reign, Akbar expanded the
Mughal Empire, using a combination of
diplomacy, marriage alliances and military
conquests.
Map showing the route of the Grand Trunk Road
He regained control of Kandahar, Badakhshan and
Kabul by 1546 CE. In 1555 CE, Humayun conquered
Agra and Delhi and established himself as the emperor
of India. But he did not survive for long and died due to
a fall from the stairs of his library.
Akbar (1556 CE-1605 CE)
After Humayun’s death in 1556, his 13 years old son,
Akbar was crowned king with Bairam Khan as regent.
Extent of Akbar’s empire
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