Language and Literature
- Persian language became widespread in the Mughal Empire by the time of Akbar’s reign.
- Many historical works were written during this period.
- They include Ain-i-Akbari and Akabar Nama authored by Abul Fazl.
- The leading poet of that period was his brother Abul Faizi.
- The translation of Mahabharata into the Persian language was done under his supervision.
- Utbi and Naziri were the two other leading Persian poets
- Jahangir’s autobiography, Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri was famous for its style
- He also patronized many scholars like Ghiyas Beg, Naqib Khan and Niamatullah
- Shah Jahan also patronized many writers and historians like Abdul Hamid Lahori, author of Padshah
- Nama and Inayat Khan who wrote Shah Jahan Nama.
- His son Dara Shikoh translated the Bhagavat Gita and Upanishads into the Persian language
- Regional languages such as Bengali, Oriya, Rajasthani and Guajarati had also developed during this period.
- Many devotional works including the Ramayana and Mahabharata were translated into regional languages.
- The most influential Hindi poet was Tulsidas, who wrote the Hindi version of the Ramayana, the Ramcharitmanas.