HISTORY OF INDIA c.A.D. 1550-1750

HIS-302: HISTORY OF INDIA c.A.D.
1550-1750
Unti 1
The Mughals: Contemporary Historiography and Sources;
Abul Fazl, Badauni, Abdul Hamid Lahori, Bernier.
Historiography
• The art of writing history.The term historiography also
refers to the theory and history of historical writing.
• historiography is the history of the history of the event
the way it has been written, the sometimes-conflicting
objectives pursued by those writing on it over time, and
the way in which such factors shape our understanding
of the actual event at stake, and of the nature of history
itself
Contemporary Historiography
• Historiography literally means the art of writing history. It is the history of

history, or the history of historical writings. Historiography tells the story of the
successive stages of the evolution or development of historical writings. It has
come to include the evolution of the ideas and techniques associated with the
writing of history, and the changing attitudes towards the nature of history
itself. Ultimately it comprises the study of the development of man’s sense for
the past.
• HISTORY WRITTEN THIS OWN TIMES

LITERARY SOURCES FOR THE STUDY
OF MUGHAL HISTORY
• Abul Fazl
• Badauni
• Abdul Hamid Lahori
• Bernier.
Abul Fazl
• The greatest among the histories sponsored by king and financed by the state are Abul Fazl’s twin
works, the AKBAR-NAMAH and the AIN-I-AKABARI.
• The Ain-i-Akbari or the “Constitution of Akbar” is a 16th century , detailed document recording the
administration of the emperor Akbar’s empire, written by Abul-Fazl –ibnMubarak. Ain –i- akbari is
the third volume of Akbarnama containing information regarding Akbar’s reign in the form of what
would be called modern times, administration report, statistical compilation, gazetteers.
• ABUL FAZL- (1551 - 1602) - Shaikh Abul Fazl belonged to the Hijazi Arab family which migrated to
Sindh and then permanently settled at Nagor, near Ajmen. He was well educated by his father
Shaikh Mubarak and soon earned reputation as a deep and critical scholar. At the age of 20 he
became a teacher. He was introduced to the' Royal Court in 1573 and soon won the trust of his
master Akbar by extraordinary intellect, assiduous devotion and loyalty, and ultimately rose to the
position of his Prime Minister
• Abul Fazl apart from being a great statesman, diplomat, and a military
general also distinguished himself as a writer. His chief contribution to
medieval lndian historiography were his two works Akbarnamah and
Ain-t-Akbari, which are an important source for the history of the reign
of Akbar.
• Akbarnamh was written by Abul Fazl at the command of Akbar and
contains a detailed history of his reign. He collected the martial for this
work from the records and narratives of the contemporaries and by
interrogating the servants of the state and old members of the
illustrious families. Abul Fazl devoted almost seven years to complete
this work in 1596.
• Akbarnamah consists of three volumes. The first volume traces the
history of House of Fimur till the death of Humayun. The second
volume deals with the reign of Akbar from 1556 to 1604. The third
volume popularly known as Ain - l- Akbari, gives lot a gazetter
information about the then prevailing social and economic conditions
of the Empire. Making an assessment of the historical value of
Akbarnamah.
• Prof. V. A. Smith says.' "The historical matter in Abul Fazl's book is
buried in a mass of tedious rhetoric, and the author, and unblushing
flatterer of his hero (Akbar) sometimes conceals, or even deliberately
perverts, the truth (e.g. the dating of Akbar's birth with the story of
his naming, and the account of his capitulation of Asingarh). Never
the less, the Akbarnamah, not withstanding its grave and obivious
faults, must be treated as the foundation for a history of Akbar's
reign. lt chronology is more accurate and detailed than that of the
rival books by Nizamuddin and Badauni, and it brings the story to a
later date than they do.”
• Ain-i-Akbari, the other work accredited to Abul Fazl, as mentioned above, is
the third volume Akbarnamah. lt contains a detailed description of the
empire and institutes of Akbar. Prof. Luniya Says : "lt is a mine of
information about the rules, regulations, topography, revenue system,
social habits and customs of the people of lndia and many other things….
Ain-l-Akbari is such a valuable and important book that no historian of the
Mughals can do with out it.” Ain-l-Akbari consists of five books each dealing
with one particular aspect. The various aspects dealt with this book include
an account of Akbar's household and court; the military and civil services
and description of their ranks; the rules and regulations of the judicial and
executive departments; and details about the revenue system etc.
• ln addition of these two outstanding works, Abut Fazl translated the
Hindu scripture Gita and Published Mkhtabat-l-Abul Fazla collection of
official letters

HISTORY OF INDIA c.A.D. 1550-1750

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HISTORY OF INDIA c.A.D. 1550-1750

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HIS-302: HISTORY OF INDIA c.A.D.

• Historiography literally means the art of writing history. It is the history of

• HISTORY WRITTEN THIS OWN TIMES

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