SOAS Research Online

Abstract

This thesis aims at a critical study of the palace-city of the Emperor Akbar at Fathpur-Sikri. The thesis is divided in two volutes: I. Text; II. Plates. The text contains seven chapters: I. Gives a geographical study of the site: its geographical relations, the local topography and other various factors affecting the life of the people there. II. Outlines the history of the city. The earliest mention of the place, the reasons for the building of the city, the contemporary accounts of the building, the date of the royal occupation, the causes for its desertion, and its later history, have all been arranged chronologically. III. Summarizes the revenue resources of the Mughal Empire under Akbar and deduces the sources of the money by which the building of the city was made possible. IV. Gives an account of the site, and the general dis-position of the remains there. V. Describes the various architectural remains of the city. The major buildings are discussed in detail as well as their decoration and restoration. A critical estimation has in each case been attempted, and the various buildings dated. VI. Catalogues the architectural monuments known only through literary references. VII. Conclusion. Volume II. contains 2 maps, 137 photographs, and 67 drawings.