Akbar is called great because of the great social and religious reforms he introduced in the medieval times although he faced great resistance to many of them
Explanation:
In the year 1562, emperor Akbar prohibited the custom of enslaving prisoners of war and selling their wives and children to highest bidders in open bazaars. Although this practice still continued for a few more centuries(as bonded labour it still exists in many parts of asia even in 21st century) but still many prisoners and their family benefited and were set free by their owners after Akbar’s new law came into existence.The second reform he introduced was to remove jaziya tax and pilgrimage tax. The pilgrimage tax was imposed on all citizens of empire(except mughals) who went to places of worship. This was abolished by Akbar in 1563 and all citizens could travel freely across the empire to visit places of worship. The second tax jaziya was introduced in 11th century muslim rulers on majority hindu’s to go to any place of worship. This was done to force them to convert to Islam. But Akbar abolished this tax too in the year 1564. This tax was being collected arbitrarily and based on how rich and how many people wanted to travel from one place to another. So all people irrespective of their religion could travel freely without paying any extra tax to visit their place of worship. There is a story that Akbar came to know of these taxes while hunting in mathura forest.Akbar was the first ruler to appoint Hindus in high positions in court in large numbers. Out of this 9 Navrathna’s(9 Jewels) Raja Birbal, Raja Man Singh, Raja Todramal were from the majority Hindu community. Many officers in state level were also hindu’s. Abdul Rahim Khan e Khanan another Navratna’s mother was from Lord Krishna’s family. So many hindus got an opportunity to participate in decision making and given high ranks.
