Page 40 - SST Class 07

north India. Even so, the territory that he occupied the throne of Delhi for not more than
bequeathed to his son, Humayun, included five years, but his reign proved to be a landmark
Afghanistan, the Punjab, the fertile Ganges plain, in the subcontinent. As a king, he had several
and a rim of forts along central India. achievements in his credit. He established an

HUMAYUN (130-1540 AND 1555-1556) efficient public administration. He set up a
revenue collection system based on the measure-
Babur’s control is still superficial when he dies in
ment of land. Justice was provided to the com-
1530, after just three years in India. His son
mon man. Numerous civil works were carried out
Humayun keeps a tentative hold on the family’s
during his short reign; planting of trees, wells and
new possessions. But, in 1543, he is driven west
into Afghanistan by a forceful Muslim rebel, Sher building of Sarai (inns) for travellers was done.
Shah Suri. Roads were laid; it was
Twelve years later, under his rule that the
renewed civil war within Grand Trunk road from
India gives Humayun a Delhi to Kabul was built.
chance to slip back almost The currency was also
unopposed. One victory, changed to finely minted
silver coins called Dam.
at Sirhind in 1555, is
However, Sher Shah did
enough to recover him his
not survive long after his
throne. But, six months
accession on the throne
later Humayun is killed in
and died in 1545 after a
an accidental fall down a Sher Shah Suri
stone staircase. His 13- short reign of five years.
Humayun
year-old son Akbar,
inheriting in 1556, would seem to have little Sher Shah built the Grand Trunk Raod from the river
chance of holding on to India. Yet it is he who Indus in the West to Sonangaon in Bengal. He built
establishes the mighty Moghul Empire. sarais at a distance of about two kos (about 8km), for
the convenience of the traders and travellers at the
road side.

AKABAR (1556-1605)
Emperor Akbar ascended
the Mughal throne at the
age of 14. During his
reign, he enlarged his
kingdom of Northern
India, Afghanistan and
Persia. Although, he was
Humayun Tomb
a Muslim, he had Hindus
SHER SHAH SURI (1540-155) in his government.

Sher Shah Suri (1540-1545) was an Afghan Akbar had three hundred
leader who took over the Mughal Empire after wives including some who
defeating Humayun in 1540. Sher Shah were Hindus. He was Akbar

Social Science-7 40