The “Institutes of Akbar,” or Ain-i-Akbari, are an unconventional history of the 16th century reign of Akbar the Great of the Mughal Dynasty. Ain-i-Akbari is actually the third volume of a much larger Persian document, the Akbarnama composed by Abuul Fazl. Ain-i-Akbari itself is a three-volume work, and the material offered in this set represents the first volume of that three-volume work. Included in this collection are the Persian text of the original, along with the English translation of Heinrich Blochmann. The contents of this important historical work consist of administrative documents, statistical records, and even gazetteers. Long recognized for its role in understanding the history of India, this combination of Blochmann’s English translation and the Persian source fit particularly well in the Gorgias Historical Texts series. Comprising five separate volumes, this set contains a wealth of information for the student of Persian and of the history of India.

Heinrich Blochmann (1838-1878) was a German Orientalist who accomplished much in his short life. Moving to English to enlist in the military for a chance to travel to India, once he arrived and finished his tour of duty he began an active academic life. Eventually he became principal of the Calcutta Madrasa and he wrote prolifically on Persian studies.