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Akbar and the Rise of the Mughal Empire
The history of India has been marked with the rise and fall of many dynasties. The Mughal Empire was one of the greatest and longest reigning empires on Indian soil. The foundation of the Mughal Empire was established by Babar, a great warrior and conqueror who could not assimilate Indian values into the Mughal administration, which is why his successor Humayun could not keep the throne his father had won. It was Akbar who had the vision to change the old system of governance and introduce a more secular and tolerant rule. After reclaiming the Delhi throne at the young age of 14, Akbar established himself as a compassionate king, an astute administrator and a virtuous secularist. He fought many wars, both on the battlefield and off of it at times, as his new, open-minded ways were not well-accepted by all. Akbar's ambition was not to merely subjugate his Indian subjects, but to govern them in a way which was fair, conducive to development and prosperity. T H E R I S E O F T H E M U G H A L E M P I R E Akbar and the Rise of the Mughal Empire tells the story of Akbar, who started as a child prodigy and went on to become the greatest, most revered kings of the Mughal Empire.
166 pages, Paperback
First published January 15, 1890
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About the author
George Bruce Malleson
195 books10 followersColonel George Bruce Malleson, CSI, was an English officer in India and the author of several works on British Indian colonial history.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 11, 2020
On the whole, it is an informative read, artfully extracting the information about the Maharaj's life from his various memoirs and biographies and extrapolating on the manner of his administration. The book is divided into three parts, one deals with Babar and Humayun's life, the second on the conquests and political administration of Akbar's empire and the third, which is the last chapter, about the internal regulations and moral inclinations of the great mughal.
However, I found parts of the book intentionally prejudiced against the pre-colonial rulers, with the sole exception of Akbar, and highly resonant of the British imperial thoughts of the time when it was written. For a modern reader, this isn't a fair account of the facts that have shaped the history. Much undue emphasis is on war and the battles, with very few pages devoted to the cultural, moral and educational reforms that were brought forth during the Mughal empire. Often the narrative sounds like the author feels the British did an actual honour to India when they ceased the land, which of course, it must be remembered, was the much accepted belief during GB Malleson's time.
This is a rather short book. Give it a read, but be cautioned, as the publisher's note in the initial pages points, of the skewed view the author takes. He views the historical India through the colonial eyes.
However, I found parts of the book intentionally prejudiced against the pre-colonial rulers, with the sole exception of Akbar, and highly resonant of the British imperial thoughts of the time when it was written. For a modern reader, this isn't a fair account of the facts that have shaped the history. Much undue emphasis is on war and the battles, with very few pages devoted to the cultural, moral and educational reforms that were brought forth during the Mughal empire. Often the narrative sounds like the author feels the British did an actual honour to India when they ceased the land, which of course, it must be remembered, was the much accepted belief during GB Malleson's time.
This is a rather short book. Give it a read, but be cautioned, as the publisher's note in the initial pages points, of the skewed view the author takes. He views the historical India through the colonial eyes.
December 31, 2019
A great read. If you could see through the prejudices and mottos held by the author, this is a great introduction to Akbar. It also throws many a precious insights into his life, conduct and his accomplishments.
August 30, 2021
I recommend this book on its clarity and neutrality. The author seems to have researched and referred quite a few books to come up with an unbiased account of Akbar.
The book shows Akbar's insightful and bold intervention in bringing harmony and unity to a vast landmass with its cacophony of culture, religion and languages. Quite commendable on Akbar's part that he was instilling discipline to his fellow Muslims and in so doing was making sure that the weeds of corruption, malfeasance and bigotry were cleared within his own community before he could make the practice standard throughout his empire.
The book shows Akbar's insightful and bold intervention in bringing harmony and unity to a vast landmass with its cacophony of culture, religion and languages. Quite commendable on Akbar's part that he was instilling discipline to his fellow Muslims and in so doing was making sure that the weeds of corruption, malfeasance and bigotry were cleared within his own community before he could make the practice standard throughout his empire.
July 26, 2018
Brief insight into the mind of Akbar the Great
This book is a brief and yet in depth insight into the mind of Akbar. It neatly transcends the mob culture that pre existed in earlier monarchs and erudite how the mindset of a leader can set the foundation of an empire and a nation for centuries thereafter.
This book is a brief and yet in depth insight into the mind of Akbar. It neatly transcends the mob culture that pre existed in earlier monarchs and erudite how the mindset of a leader can set the foundation of an empire and a nation for centuries thereafter.
July 27, 2019
Wonderful book
I have always been interested in knowing this person and fortunately I picked this book,but this book doesn't give an andher which I am looking for is that why akbar killed 30,000 innocent people in mewar when he had already won that battle. Still it's a book gives lot of idea what was going on in that period...
I have always been interested in knowing this person and fortunately I picked this book,but this book doesn't give an andher which I am looking for is that why akbar killed 30,000 innocent people in mewar when he had already won that battle. Still it's a book gives lot of idea what was going on in that period...
May 18, 2022
A gentle prolific colonialist approach was taken by Colonel G.B Malleson (1825-1898) while penning this literary work. A subtle amount of time was motioned by the Rupa publishing house while morphing this vintage 19th historical work for the 21st-century general readers.
August 19, 2019
Good
Great book front beginning to end about Amber money and funding of india. Title from india legal money. And all fitted in with queen Elizabeth ii?
Great book front beginning to end about Amber money and funding of india. Title from india legal money. And all fitted in with queen Elizabeth ii?
December 22, 2012
Not upto the mark at all. Like the author himself has mentioned in the beginning of the book, only the last two chapters are interesting. This was not a good read at all. The way of presenting the facts is not interesting at all. It is very difficult to hold on to the book for long and you'd be fed up by the time you reach the good part .
If you really want to read about Akbar's achievements only, jump on to the last two chapters directly.
If you really want to read about Akbar's achievements only, jump on to the last two chapters directly.
September 15, 2015
I read this with no background knowledge of the rulers of India and I thought maybe I would not probably grasp the Akbar's rule but I was wrong. I like that the author began with information on Akbar's father and grandfather. It helped explained the life of Akbar's and the policies he implemented and laws he changed. This book inspired me to do more online reading on the Mughal Empire.
December 29, 2020
This book written in the 19th century by an English man is very interesting.Akbar the great leaves an indelible impression as the founder of the Mughal empire and as a compassionate ruler.His reformist, tolerant,secular outlook can be a role model in current times too.Wish the book could have covered his personal life in more detail.
September 17, 2014
The book focuses on Akbar - as a consolidator and not a conqueror, the more or less secular ideology of Akbar against the backdrop of his begot predecessors'. And it this quality of Akbar of Akbar that has been explained at length in this book.
August 18, 2015
Objective overview of the period and the emperor
December 17, 2017
Amazing
This book is so well written and describes the events so precisely and vividly. Brings out one of the best of akbars image.. thank you
This book is so well written and describes the events so precisely and vividly. Brings out one of the best of akbars image.. thank you
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews