Evaluate the religious and cultural developments that took place in the Mughal Empire during the reign of Akbar.

Candidates will make an appraisal of the religious and cultural developments that took place during the reign of Akbar by weighing up the strengths and limitations of each. They may refer to the Mughal Empire prior to Akbar’s rule in 1556 to contextualise the changes during his reign. Candidates may choose to focus on religious developments and cultural developments separately, but these need not be covered equally. Alternatively, they may address the question thematically and refer to aspects such as religious tolerance, taxation practices, appointments to civil and military positions, the abolition of some religious practices, the encouragement of the arts, literature, architecture, and technological change. Both strengths and limitations must be clearly indicated but there does not need to be an equal focus on each. While other, relevant, factors such as political developments, wars and external Persian or Portuguese influences may be referred to, the bulk of the response will remain on the issue raised in the question.