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1539
Death of Guru Narak
Guru Narak, the founder of Sikhism and teacher of many dies. Sikhism was a syncretic religion formed during a time of strife between Islam and Hinduism that emphasized equality and the oneness of different religions. -
1558
Start of the Reign of Akbar the Great
Akbar the Great was a ruler of the Moghul empire who emphasized religious toleration and tried to unify his diverse empire. -
1564
Akbar Ends the Jizya
The Jizya was a tax that all non-Muslims had to pay in Islamic empires. It was abolished during the rule of Akbar the Great. -
1570
Fatepur Sikri is Built
Fatepur SIkri was the capital of the Moghul Empire during the reign of Akbar the Great. It was constructed on his orders and eventually abandoned due to a lack of water sources. -
1581
Din-I-Ilahi Created by Akbar the Great
Din-I-Ilahi was a new religion created by Akbar the Great that was meant to meld aspects of all the religions at the time into a single faith. It didn't catch on among the masses. -
Death of Akbar the Great
Akbar the Great died, ending the period of dramatic reforms that happened during his life. -
Beginning of the Reign of Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb was a highly orthodox Muslim emperor who would repeal many of the earlier religious reforms and increase persecution of minority religious groups. -
Hindu Temples Destroyed
Aurangzeb ordered the destruction of Hindu temples, reigniting old religious conflicts. -
Aurangzeb Forcibly Converts Citizens
At this time, Aurangzeb adopted a policy of forced conversion. Many Hindus and Sikhs were forced to convert to Islam. -
Jizya Reinstated
The Jizya, a special tax on non Muslims, was reinstated by Aurangzeb as part of his orthodox Islamic reforms. -
Sikhs Become Militant
Sikhism, a once peaceful religion, was transformed into a militant organization by the persecution of Aurangzeb.