| Policy Area | Akbar (1556–1605) | Aurangzeb (1658–1707) |
|---|---|---|
| Religion | Abolished jizya; Din-i-Ilahi; Ibadat Khana debates | Reimposed jizya (1679); destroyed Hindu temples |
| Hindu nobility | Married Rajput princesses; appointed Hindu mansabdars | Reduced Hindu court appointments |
| Military strategy | Expansion through alliance and diplomacy as well as war | 26-year Deccan campaign — purely military, costly |
| Taxation | Todar Mal's fair zabt system; reduced exploitation | Treasury drained by Deccan Wars |
| Legacy | Empire at peak stability and size | Empire begins fragmenting; Maratha and Sikh resistance grows |
This comparison covers Akbar vs Aurangzeb: Two Visions of Empire within The Mughal Empire, 1526-1707 for GCSE History. Revise The Mughal Empire, 1526-1707 in Component Group 4 — Period Studies for GCSE History with 14 exam-style questions and 17 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 8 of 14 in this topic. Use this comparison to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for The Mughal Empire, 1526-1707
Describe two features of how Babur founded the Mughal Empire in 1526.
Describe two features of Akbar's policy of religious tolerance.
Quick recall flashcards
What happened to Humayun and why does it matter?
Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun at Kannauj (1540), forcing 15 years of exile at the Safavid Persian court. Humayun reconquered Delhi in 1555 but died in 1556. His Persian exile brought important artistic and cultural influences into the Mughal court.
What was Akbar's Rajput policy?
Akbar married Rajput Hindu princesses (including Jodha Bai of Amer) and appointed Rajput nobles as senior military commanders and court officials. This turned potential enemies into loyal allies, giving the Muslim Mughal emperor a strong Hindu power base.