This copy of the Hamzanameh was made for Akbar early in his reign as part of the popularisation of Islamic culture in Mughal India. It apparently took fifty artists and fourteen years to complete, comprisined fourteen volumes containing approximately 1400 paintings and, being so large, was arguably the greatest manuscript of its time, as its enthusiastic patron intended. The illustrations were supervised by the former Safavid painters, Mir Sayyid 'Ali and 'Abd al-Samad who had come to India in the reign of Akbar's father, Humayun. It comprises the earliest known Mughal paintings and its creation was instrumental in forming the classic Mughal style.