Final answer:
Aurangzeb reversed the Mughal Empire's policies of religious tolerance by re-imposing the jizya tax on non-Muslims, destroying resistant Hindu temples, and promoting Muslims in administrative roles over Hindus. This contrasted with Akbar's inclusive policies, which aimed to unify the empire through religious tolerance and creating a hybrid culture. Aurangzeb's actions contributed to religious intolerance and decline in the previous culturally syncretic atmosphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
Religious Policies of Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb, the Mughal Emperor, is known for reversing the policies of religious tolerance that were a hallmark of his predecessors, particularly Akbar. Unlike Akbar, who abolished the jizya and encouraged religious debates and a syncretic culture, Aurangzeb re-imposed the jizya, a tax on non-Muslims, and destroyed temples of Hindus who resisted his rule. Aurangzeb also showed favoritism towards Muslim administrators and immigrants over Indian-born Hindus, affecting their positions and compensation within the administration.
In contrast, Akbar's reign was marked by substantial efforts to unify the empire through a policy of religious tolerance, enshrined in the abolishment of the jizya and the establishment of a hybrid Indo-Islamic culture. Akbar's attempts included marrying Hindu women, inviting scholars of various faiths for debates, and forming a new religion, Din-i Ilahi, which blended elements from different faiths. On the other hand, Aurangzeb's policies, such as the imposition of the jizya, destruction of non-conformist temples, and discouragement of non-Islamic practices, exacerbated tensions between different religious groups within the empire and contributed to the decline in the syncretic culture previously fostered.
As a result, Aurangzeb's reign is often characterized by increased religious intolerance and a departure from the inclusivity that had prevailed during the time of Akbar, leading to significant historical consequences for the Mughal empire.