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Year 8 - History

Akbar the Great

The Mughal Empire: how important was violence to the Mughal conquests in India?

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils learn about the foundation of the Mughal Empire, early Mughal rule and the way in which this had developed by the late 17th century. They end the unit by reflecting on the role played by violence during the expansion of Mughal rule in India.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to assess Akbar the Great's contribution to Mughal expansion.

Key Notes

  • Mughal power at the start of Akbar's reign was not fully secure.
  • Akbar expanded the size of the Mughal Empire.
  • Akbar was a strong military leader who conquered many rival states.
  • Akbar also used diplomacy to help expand the empire.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • jihad: A personal or collective struggle against evil. Jihad may also be a military struggle to defend Islam carried out according to specific rules.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Akbar is remembered as a strong military leader because he only used violence to expand the Mughal Empire.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.

Mughal power at the start of Akbar's reign was not fully secure. Akbar expanded the size of the Mughal Empire.

2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'jihad'

A personal or collective struggle against evil. Jihad may also be a military struggle to defend Islam carried out according to specific rules.

3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.

Mistake: Akbar is remembered as a strong military leader because he only used violence to expand the Mughal Empire. Correction: Akbar used a variety of methods to expand the Mughal Empire. In some cases, such as to gain control over the Rajput states, diplomacy was more important for expansion under Akbar than violence.

More Lessons In This Unit

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