Humayun's son Akbar, who succeeded him as emperor, proved to be a skilled conqueror and administrator. During his reign, he extended the Mughal empire in all directions, into Afghanistan in the west, Bengal in the east, Kashmir in the north, and Khandesh in the south. He cemented alliances with the native rulers by marrying into the Rajput royal family and appointing his brothers-in-law officers in the palace guard. Although the Rajputs maintained loyalty to their separate clans, they became part of the emperor’s court through ties of kinship.

Akbar attempted in practical and spiritual ways to unify the Hindu and Muslim elements of his empire. He established a central bureaucracy and assigned administrative duties to both Hindus and Muslims. Intensely interested in all religions himself, he organized debates among the Christians, Buddhists, and Zoroastrians, as well as Hindus and Muslims of his court. Although it is believed that Akbar could not read, he was read to every day and his memory was phenomenal.

Akbar built an extensive library of books on many subjects, and his energies also were directed toward the arts. His capital city at Fatehpur Sikri still stands as a monumental example of Mughal architecture. As Akbar acquired new territories, cities, and provinces, he brought their most gifted artisans to his own court where he established workshops and ateliers, or schools, for the instruction of native Indian artisans.

Although carpets were woven provincially in India before the time of Akbar, he is credited with officially founding imperial workshops for carpet production. His friend and chief minister Abul Fazl wrote that Akbar:

". . . has caused carpets to be made in wonderful varieties and charming textures; he has appointed experienced workmen, who have produced many masterpieces. The carpets of Iran and Turan (Turkestan) are no longer thought of . . . All kinds of carpet-weavers have settled here, and drive a flourishing trade."

Carpets during the reign of Akbar: