Final answer:
Akbar the Great's commitment to religious tolerance and synthesis of Indo-Islamic culture facilitated inclusive governance and fostered peaceful coexistence among diverse religious communities in the Mughal Empire. He abolished the jizya tax and invited participation from different faiths in religious debates, unlike his successor Aurangzeb, who enforced stricter Islamic practices. The answer is C. His newfound commitment to religious tolerance allowed him to govern religiously diverse territories without imposing a state religion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Akbar the Great's changes in religious policy significantly affected Mughal governance. One pivotal aspect was his commitment to religious tolerance, which allowed him to govern a religiously diverse territory without imposing a state religion. Akbar abolished the jizya tax, allowed the construction of new Hindu temples, and created a Hindu law code to govern Hindus, while Sharia applied only to Muslims. His approach was inclusive as he welcomed both Hindus and Muslims into his administration and military.
Akbar's interest in creating a hybrid Indo-Islamic culture led to the establishment of the Din-i Ilahi, a synthesis of various religious beliefs, with Akbar himself at its core. This initiative was part of a larger policy that encouraged religious dialogue and debates, inviting not just Islamic scholars but representatives of other faiths, including Christian missionaries, to participate. Akbar's governance was characterized by a move away from religious orthodoxy, as he prioritized merit and service to the empire among his mansabdars over religious affiliation.
Thus, Akbar's religious policies allowed for more effective governance over a culturally and religiously diverse empire by rejecting the imposition of Islamic law on non-Muslim subjects and fostering an environment of coexistence and cooperation among different religious communities. His policies contrasted sharply with those of Aurangzeb, who later sought to enforce Islamic practices and favored Muslims in his administration. The answer is C. His newfound commitment to religious tolerance allowed him to govern religiously diverse territories without imposing a state religion.