A History of Agriculture in India v2.c73.4

v2.c73.4

WHEN Humayun died, Akbar was in the Punjab engaged in the pursuit of Sikandar Sur, a nephew of Sher Shah. Akbar was enthroned at Kalanaur, in the Gurdaspur District, on 14 February 1556. On 5 November 1556 Akbar defeated Hemu, the general of Adali Sur, another claimant for the throne of India, at Panipat. This is known as the Second Battle of Panipat. After defeating Hemu, Akbar pressed on and occupied Delhi and Agra. From A.D. 1558 to 1560, Gwalior and Ajmer were occupied. After this Chitor was occupied in A.D. 1568 and from A.D. 1572 to 1576 Gujarat and Bengal were conquered. The extent of Akbar's empire in A.D. 1605 is shown in Fig. 32. It included the whole of Hindustan down to the Narbada. Expansion of the empire went hand in hand with orderly administration. According to Lane-Pool, ‘Much of the improvement was due to his employment of Hindus, who at that time were better men of business than the uneducated and mercenary adventurers who formed a large portion of the Mohammedan invaders.’