Khan Ahsan Raza. Chieftains in the Mughal Empire During the Reign of Akbar

Indian Institute of Advanced Study, 1977. — 284 p.After overcoming initial problems and consolidating his hold on the throne, Akbar started a policy of extending Mughal territories. Any policy of expansion meant conflict with various political powers spread in different parts of the country. A few of these political powers were well organised, the Rajputs, though spread throughout the country as autonomous chiefs and kings, had major concentration in Rajputana. The Afghans held political control mainly in Gujarat, Bihar and Bengal. In Deccan and South India, the major states were Khandesh, Ahmednagar, Bijapur, Golkonda and other southern kingdoms. In the North-west some tribes held their sway. Kabul and Qandahar, though held by Mughal factions, were opposed to Akbar. Akbar through a systematic policy started the task of expanding his Empire. Akbar's policy of conquests and territorial expansion was accompanied by consolidating the new territories into Mughal administrative structure.