© Museum Fünf Kontinente, Marietta Weidner
“There is but one sun, one God and one king”: Emperor Akbar and the early Mughal Empire
The Mughal emperor Akbar (who reigned from 1556-1605) was one of the most important Islamic rulers in India. Besides extending the territory of the Mughal Empire, he also effected a series of significant administrative measures. He is best known for the ideological focus of his empire, which centered very heavily on the person of the ruler. Key aspects include a form of sun worship and the integration of elements of different religions.
Akbar’s critical engagement with Indian traditions is also discernible in the prominent role played by translations from Sanskrit to Persian. During the Mughal era, Persian was the predominant administrative language, but was also of central importance in science and culture.
Tonight’s lecture will explore various aspects of Akbar’s rule, in particular discussing the ideological focus of the Mughal Empire. Continuity with Akbar’s predecessor Humayun will also be highlighted.
The lecture will be presented by Professor Eva Orthmann (University of Göttingen) as part of the series Basics of Islam: Personalities organized by the Münchner Mittelost-Mittelmeer-Mittelasien-Zentrum (4MZ, Munich Middle East Mediterranean Central Asia Center).
The event will be held in German. You can find more information on the website of the Institute for Near and Middle Eastern Studies.