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.
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.
