Internal Causes of Decline
- Weak Successors
- After Aurangzeb’s death (1707), a series of weak emperors (e.g., Bahadur Shah I, Farrukhsiyar) failed to maintain central control.
- Succession Conflicts
- Frequent wars of succession among princes drained the treasury and destabilized administration.
- Corruption and Decentralization
- The mansabdari system decayed. Officials kept revenue for themselves, weakening imperial authority.
- Religious and Regional Revolts
- Aurangzeb’s intolerance caused lasting resentment among Rajputs, Marathas, Sikhs, and Jats.
- Economic Mismanagement
- Over-taxation, declining productivity, and loss of trade revenue weakened the economy.
Definition
Mansabdari System
- Administrative and military ranking system defining officers’ pay and responsibilities.
Case study
The Marathas and Internal Rebellion
Causes
- The Marathas, led by Shivaji and later his successors, fought to end Mughal dominance in western India.
- Heavy taxation and religious discrimination under Aurangzeb fueled resentment.
- Guerrilla warfare in the Deccan exhausted Mughal armies.
- The empire’s failure to adapt to new military tactics weakened its control.
- Rebellion became a symbol of regional and cultural independence.
Consequences
- Deccan wars drained Mughal finances and manpower.
- Mughal control over southern provinces collapsed.
- Encouraged other regional leaders (e.g., Nizam of Hyderabad, Nawab of Bengal) to assert independence.
- Accelerated fragmentation of the empire into autonomous states.
- Marked the transition from empire to regional kingdoms.
External Pressures and Invasions
- Foreign Invasions
- Attacks by Nadir Shah (1739) and Ahmad Shah Durrani (1748–1761) devastated Delhi and northern India.
- Looting and Destruction
- Nadir Shah’s sack of Delhi stripped the empire of immense wealth, including the Peacock Throne.
- European Expansion
- Arrival of British, French, and Dutch trading companies exploited Mughal weakness for territorial control.
- Battle of Plassey (1757)
- The British East India Company defeated the Nawab of Bengal, beginning direct European domination.
- Loss of Global Influence
- Mughal India shifted from being a world economic power to a colony under British control.
Definition
Nadir Shah
- Persian ruler who invaded India in 1739, marking the symbolic collapse of Mughal prestige.
Definition
Plassey (1757)
- Battle marking the beginning of British colonial rule in India.
Case study
Nadir Shah’s Invasion of 1739
The Invasion
- Nadir Shah of Persia invaded India after disputes over frontier territories.
- Easily defeated the Mughal army at the Battle of Karnal (1739).
- Captured and plundered Delhi, massacring thousands and seizing immense treasures.
- Took the Peacock Throne and Koh-i-Noor diamond, symbolizing Mughal humiliation.
- Exposed the empire’s inability to defend itself.
Consequences
- Severely damaged Mughal finances and prestige.
- Weakened central authority and military morale.
- Encouraged provincial autonomy and rebellion.
- Exposed India to further foreign exploitation by Afghan and European powers.
- Became a major turning point marking the end of Mughal dominance in Asia.
Long-Term Effects and Consequences
- Political Fragmentation
- Mughal power survived only in name; regional rulers became de facto independent.
- Economic Decline
- Wars, invasions, and European competition disrupted agriculture and trade.
- Cultural Shifts
- Mughal patronage of the arts declined, leading to a regional revival (e.g., Awadh, Hyderabad).
- Rise of British Power
- The British filled the power vacuum left by the Mughals, establishing colonial dominance.
- Symbolic Fall
- By the 1857 Rebellion, the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah II was a mere figurehead, ending centuries of imperial rule.
Common Mistake
- Blaming only Aurangzeb: Decline was caused by combined internal decay and external aggression, not one ruler alone.
- Ignoring Economic Causes: Trade loss and corruption were just as damaging as war.
- Overlooking European Role: Students often forget how foreign trade companies exploited internal weaknesses.
Exam technique
- Divide Causes Clearly: Internal (political, religious, economic) vs. External (invasions, Europeans).
- Use Evidence: Mention Nadir Shah (1739) and Plassey (1757) as key turning points.
- Show Continuity: Explain how internal instability made foreign conquest possible.
Self review
- Assess the relative importance of internal and external factors in the decline of the Mughal Empire.
- To what extent did foreign invasions contribute to the fall of Mughal authority in India?
- Examine how internal corruption and rebellion weakened the Mughal state before European expansion.
