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Akbar vs. Sher Shah: Governance Strategies

Akbar established a centralized state that incorporated local customs and laws, balancing central control with regional autonomy through the Mansabdari system and fair revenue reforms. In contrast, Sher Shah Suri focused on a strong, centralized administration with practical governance, efficient revenue systems, and military reforms, including the creation of the Grand Trunk Road. While Akbar promoted religious tolerance and innovation through his failed Din-i-Ilahi, Sher Shah maintained a secular approach prioritizing economic and administrative development.

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18 views6 pages

Akbar vs. Sher Shah: Governance Strategies

Akbar established a centralized state that incorporated local customs and laws, balancing central control with regional autonomy through the Mansabdari system and fair revenue reforms. In contrast, Sher Shah Suri focused on a strong, centralized administration with practical governance, efficient revenue systems, and military reforms, including the creation of the Grand Trunk Road. While Akbar promoted religious tolerance and innovation through his failed Din-i-Ilahi, Sher Shah maintained a secular approach prioritizing economic and administrative development.

Uploaded by

bobandkevin.68and1
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

1

Akbar:
Centralization with a Blend of Autonomy: Akbar also created a centralized state but
did so by incorporating local customs and laws in the administration.
He appointed regional rulers (nobles and governors) who had the freedom to
manage their territories, thus balancing between central control and regional
autonomy.
Akbar introduced the Mansabdari system, a military-cum-bureaucratic system that
assigned ranks to officers and nobles. This system was crucial for the Mughal
Empire's stability.
His revenue reforms were more focused on fairness and tax assessment, and his
Zabt system ensured that revenue collection was uniform across the empire.

2
Sher Shah Suri:
Pragmatic and Efficient: Sher Shah focused on creating
a strong, centralized administration. He was a military
leader first and foremost, and his policies were aimed
at strengthening the state’s control, maintaining order,
and ensuring that the empire ran smoothly.
He was hands-on and kept a tight control over his
empire's workings, ensuring that his officers were
accountable and honest.
He divided his empire into smaller, manageable regions
(provinces and districts) called sarkars and parganas,
making governance more efficient.
His revenue reforms were practical and aimed at
improving the agricultural sector. The land revenue
system he introduced was efficient and based on
accurate land assessments, which was later adopted by
the Mughals.
Military Reforms: He built a strong military system with
disciplined and well-trained soldiers, which helped
maintain order and defend his empire.

3
4
Religious Tolerance and Innovation:
Akbar was much more innovative in his
approach to religion. He believed in
religious tolerance and sought to
bridge the gap between Hinduism and
Islam in his empire.
Din-i-Ilahi: Akbar even founded his
own religion, Din-i-Ilahi, which sought
to combine elements of Islam,
Hinduism, Christianity, and other
religions to promote peace and
tolerance. This was an experiment that
failed, as it didn’t gain mass support.

Building a Powerful Mughal Army: Akbar


continued the strong military legacy of his
father Humayun and Sher Shah, but he
focused more on using artillery and
modernized cavalry tactics.
He was the first to establish the Mughal
Empire’s dominance by defeating
powerful kingdoms like the Rajputs,
Deccan Sultanates, and Afghans, and
incorporating these regions into his
empire.
5
Sher Shah Suri:
Religious Tolerance with Practical
Governance: Sher Shah was not interested
in religious experimentation or mixing
religion with politics. He followed a
practical approach to governance where
religious tolerance was important, but he
didn’t force policies upon his subjects.
His policies were mainly secular, and he
ruled with a focus on economic and
administrative development rather than
religious or cultural reforms.
Military Reforms and Infrastructure: Sher
Shah was a military genius and built a
strong, disciplined army. He is known for
introducing military strategies that helped
him in his successful campaigns against
the Mughals and other local powers.
He also created a military highway system
(the Grand Trunk Road) that allowed for
quick troop movements and
communication across his empire,
enhancing his military reach.

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