(The) Formation of the Mughal empire / by Douglas E. Streusand

Includes bibliography and index.

INTRODUCTION: Themes and historiography -- Sources -- Terminology and technicalities -- IN THE BEGINNING: Islamic precedents -- Indian precedents -- Hindustan before the Akbari transformation -- Conclusions -- THE PROCESS OF EXPANSION: Mughal military superiority and its significance -- What victories meant -- The course of expansion in Hindustan -- Recapitulation -- FIRST INITIATIVES: Bayram Khan's regency -- The beginning of administrative reform -- The Chishti connection -- The revolt of Mirza Sharaf Al-Din Husayn Ahrari -- Akbar, Delhi, Agra and Fathepur Sikri -- The Uzbeg revolt -- The Mirzas and the Atgah Khayl -- Summary -- THE DEFINITIVE REFORMS: The Mansabdari system and provincial administration -- Constitutional developments -- THE AKBARI CONSTITUTION: Court rituals -- Abu Al-Fazl's doctrine of sovereignty and society -- Sulh-I Kull as sovereign cults -- Emperor and officers -- Akbar as spiritual guide -- Summary -- CRISIS AND COMPROMISE: The great revolt -- Khwajah Shah Mansur Shirazi -- The Akbari compromise -- CONCLUSIONS: The status of Mansabdar -- The mechanism of formation -- The nature of the Mughal polity