Lesson: ’s Debate

Desired Results Enduring Understanding: Students will understand that religion has had a profound impact on India.

Essential Questions: Why is it difficult to find religious truths when multiple religions are combined?

Learning Targets: Students will be able to... • Trace the Mughal conquest of India. • Explain the basic tenets of Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Islam, , and . • Explain Akbar's vision of a universal religion. Students will know... • Jainism, Sikhism, Mughals, Emperor Akbar,

Core Standards: Standard 2, Objective 1

Materials: • Story of India dvd

Instructional Input Anticipatory Set: Using new weaponry, the Mughals swept into India and easily defeated the ailing Delhi Sultanate. Through efficient organization and military tactics, the Mughals established an empire that reached all but the southern tip of India. As the Mughals solidified their political hold on the subcontinent, they greatly expanded their economy through trade with the Europeans who had recently joined the Indian Ocean trade network. Akbar proved to be the most acclaimed Mughal emperor, both for his military successes and spiritual leadership. He understood that religious and cultural differences between the peoples of India would undermine the stability he hoped to maintain. He pursued policies of religious tolerance and became a student of all religions. His attempt to fuse the basic tenets of the major Indian belief systems into a new religion never gained popularity and disappeared soon after his death.

Learning Experiences: Video Clip: The Story of India (20 minutes) Watch clip about Fatehpur Sikri and Emperor Akbar. Episode 5 (The Meeting of Two Oceans), chapters 4 and 5 (23:33 - 40:19). Discussion: Din-i-llah (20 minutes) • Discuss Akbar’s goals and his idea of Din-i-llah. • Discuss the basic beliefs of each of the major religions that would have participated in Akbar’s discussions (review Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity and teach about Jainism and Sikhism) • Din–i–Ilahi or "divine faith," describes the religious teachings developed by the third emperor of the , Akbar the Great, in the late–16th century. Akbar's teachings had their foundations in regular discussions at the Ibadat Khana, "The House of Worship," in Fatehpur Sikri, where he hosted religious leaders and theologians of various faiths, including , Muslims, Christians and Jains. Seeking a common ground among religions, his teachings synthesize ideas from multiple faiths, do not have a sacred scripture and include a form of sun–worship that reflects Hindu and Zoroastrian influences. Virtues of celibacy, kindness and piety are encouraged, and vices of lust and pride are condemned. Despite transcendent aims, Din–i–Ilahi centered primarily on Akbar as a divine personage and did not attract many followers outside the realm of Akbar's court.

Activity: Dialogue (20 minutes) At their tables students will compose a conversation between representatives of Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and Jainism in Fatehpur Sikri that covers topics that could be used to find common ground between the religions, including salvation, kindness, piety, and proper behavior. Include Akbar as the moderator who leads the discussion.

Assess Knowledge: • What are the basic beliefs of Sikhism? • What are the basic beliefs of Jainism? • What was Emperor Akbar’s vision of a universal religion?