SECTION A:

CHAPTER 2: DECLINE OF THE

MUGHAL EMPIRE
 Brief Overview of the Mughals.
Aurangzeb Alamgirs reign and failures.
Weaknesses of the Mughal era after 1707.
Reasons of the decline of Mughal Empire.
The arrival of the British in the subcontinent.
The British gained power during 1750 and 1850
Sample Answers.
Past Paper Questions.

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 The Mughal period lasted from 1526-1857. The
Empire started from the time of Zaheer-ud-din
Muhammad Babar and ended with Bahadur Shah
Zafar II.
The Mughals were awesome empire builders. They
strengthened the foundation of the empire with
massive army. They brought strong taxation policy
which gave them endless treasury. They built many
cities and harbours to promote trade. Despite of a
number of strengths, some weaknesses aroused the
Empire particularly after 1707.
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 Aurangzeb Alamgir: 1618-1707
One of the last Mughal emperors who spent a great
part of his life in fighting against the Hindu
chieftains, Rajputs and Marathas.
He was the youngest son of Shah Jehan and came to
throne in 1657 when Shah Jehan fell ill and the jostle
of power started. Shah Jehan recovered health in
1659 but remained imprisoned at Agra Fort until his
death in 1666.
Auangzeb became Emperor in July 1658.

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 Aurangzeb Alamgir:
He was an industrious, self-disciplined and deeply
religious man. He was ambitious for power. His
clothes were plain. He was a staunch Muslim and a
learned man of Quran. He was determined to restore
power and fought against the Marathas for 25 years.
He was courageous and strong at battles.

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Aurangzebs grave at Aurangabad, India.
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 Reasons for Aurangzebs failure:
Imposition of Jizya Tax on Hindus was the biggest
blow which weakened his power and the Hindus
denied to pay taxes.
Continuous rebelling of the Rajputs and Marathas
disturbed the Empire and declined army strength.
Aurangzeb fought for 25 years against Shivaji.
Aurangzeb demolished many Hindu temples, stopped
worshipping in temples, drinking alcohol was
banned. His policies were generally disliked by the
majority of the Empire.
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 Reasons for Aurangzebs failures:
Aurangzebs rule of 49 years (1658-1707) remained
under administrative problems as the governors
(nawabs) and local zamindars had gained power and
had started denying to pay revenues to the Emperor.
The European nations (Dutch, Portuguese, French
and English) had rooted in the subcontinent and were
good friends to royal family since 1608. The
Mughals were unable to control their growing force
on the Empire.
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 Aurangzeb Alamgir died on 3rd March 1707 at the
age of 89. After that, no sound leader could retain the
glory and power of the Mughals.
The next 20 years were more disturbing for the
Empire as many governors claimed themselves as the
next successor and there were battles for power.
The arrival of the Europeans and the anti groups of
Sikhs in Punjab and Marathas in the Deccan resulted
the most fatal to the dying empire which finally came
to an end in 1857.
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 The decline of the Mughal Empire can be classified
into three groups:
1. Rebellions
2. Invasions
3. Problems within the Mughal Empire.

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 Rebellions:
After the death of Aurangzeb, the local leaders,
zamindars showed unwillingness to accept the rule of
any new emperor and to pay taxes to the government
of Delhi. They had gained strength during the 18th
Century when the Mughals were in trouble.
Mughals were largely supported by the princes
however, some local princes rebelled against the new
emperors as they had denied for any support. The
later Mughals found it difficult to reach far off areas
as the princes paid no loyalty to them.
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 Rebellions:
The provincial governors (nawabs) also declared
independence in many areas making the empire
further split up. During the 1720s, the Nawab of
Awadh and Bengal simply broke away from the
imperial control and stopped sending revenues to the
government in Delhi.
The Marathas in the Deccan had rebelled against the
Mughals and Aurangzeb had to spent 25 years in
controlling them. They were known for their guerilla
wars and were very skilled fighters.
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 Rebellions:
In 1737, the Marathas had defeated the Mughal army
outside Delhi and captured it in 1760. However, the
Afghan leader, Ahmed Shah Durrani defeated the
Marathas at the Battle of Panipat in January 1761 and
they were forced to go back to Deccan.

Ahmed Shah Durrani

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 Invasions:
Between 1747 and 1769, about ten invasions were
led by Afghan leader Ahmed Shah Durrani who was
a military genius. He fought against the Marathas and
other groups however, he went home after a short-
lived victory.
Persian leader Nadir Shah led an invasion during
1738-9 and plundered Sindh, Multan and Punjab. He
took away jewelery, gold, Shah Jehans Peacock
Throne and the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond.
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 Problems within the Mughal Empire:
After Aurangzeb Alamgir, only Shah Alam II (1759-
1806) and Akber II (1806-1836) sustained the power
however, between the death of Bahadur Shah in 1712
and the accession of Mohammad Shah in 1719, there
were five emperors who were unable to exert any
authority. They fought with each other for the throne.
The problem had already started in 1657 when Shah
Jehan fell ill and his four sons fought for authority.

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 Problems within the Mughal Empire:
The Pleasure Seeking nature of the Mughals badly
affected the empire. They were more concerned
retaining their power rather than working
collectively.
Shah Jehan had built his private mosque for his
prayers. Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jehan for 60
lakh rupees. Aurangzeb had also built a mosque for
himself. They lost huge sums of money in their
lifestyle and extravagant palaces and forts.
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 Problems within the Mughal Empire:
Due to continuous battles and warfare, not only the
huge wealth was lost but also the expert fighters and
Mughal infantry was killed. Aurangzebs 25 year
battle against the Marathas resulted in bankruptcy
and loss of wealth and skilled soldiers. It made it
easy for the other invaders and nations to invade the
subcontinent as the Mughal armys expertise had
badly declined. Robert Clives Battle of Plassey
(1757)and Battle of Buxar (1764) are its examples.
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 During the Fifteenth Century, European nations
(Dutch, Portuguese, French and English) travelled far
east to trade for tea, silk, spices etc.
31st December 1600, Queen Elizabeth I granted
permission to the British East India Company and
asked merchants to bring trade for England. They
came to India in 1608 and then signed a treaty with
Nuruddin Jehangir in 1612 with their first permanent
landing at Surat.
Later the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jehan allowed the
British to trade from Indian ports.
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 The British made the other European nations to
withdraw from India except the French who
remained a threat to them till 18th Century.
The British used to bring alcohol, jewels and pearls
as gifts to the Mughals and nawabs as they had
realized India with great wealth and no real emperors
to resist them in future. Gradually they signed peace
treaties with many small princely states and founded
three Presidencies at Bombay, Calcutta and Madras.
Bombay was controlled by the British in 1671.

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 The British Industrial and Administrative Power:
The introduction of Cotton textile in India was
considered of great loss as Indians were self
sufficient in cotton production as they were spinning
cotton on handlooms. Now the textile was imported
from England which became too expensive. It also
made the Indians employed as many did not get jobs.
It also added more wealth to the British trade as raw
material was used from India but East India
Company had got monopoly to trade all over the
world.
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 The British Industrial and Administrative Power:
The development of railway in India was brought by
the British. New railroads were laid and rapid growth
was seen in some areas as trade grew. However, it
gave more strength to the British as they were able
reach far off areas as well as they could send arms
and ammunition to any area.
The British built many roads. They developed
irrigation system and constructed many barrages.
More agriculture meant more revenue for the British.
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 The British Control on Education:
The British introduced English education in India
and English became official language in 1834.
In 1833, Christian Missionaries were allowed to
work anywhere in India to promote English and
Bible teaching. Many new colleges and universities
at Bombay and Calcutta were also started.
Many Indians particularly the Muslims found it
embarrassing to make their children study in English
schools. It was an attack on Indian education.
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 The British Intervention in the religion:
The British imposed new taxes on agriculture and
their Agrarian Policy harmed Indian farmers.
They intervened into the religion and culture of the
Indians. They banned Hindu tradition Suttee in 1829
which was a big blow to Hindus. In 1830, the Hindu
tradition of Thugees was also banned.
In some areas Muslims also faced trouble by the
British when they restricted Muslim women for not
wearing the Purdah.
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 The Black Hole of Calcutta:
The Black Hole of Calcutta was a small prison/dungeon
in Fort William in Calcutta, India where troops of Siraj
ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal, held British prisoners
of war after the Bengali army captured the fort on 20
June 1756.
John Holwell, one of the British prisoners and an
employee of the EIC, said that, after the fall of Fort
William, the British soldiers were imprisoned overnight
in bad conditions that many people died from suffocation
and heat exhaustion, and that 123 of 146 prisoners of war
died.
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 The Black Hole of Calcutta:

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 The Battles:
In 1757, the Nawab of Bengal, Nawab Siraj-ud-
Daulah was encouraged by the French to fight
against Governor General Robert Clive. At the Battle
of Plassey, Nawabs army fought with cannons for
six days. Mir Jafar, the Commander and cousin of
Siraj was bribed by Clive and due to his traitorship,
Siraj lost the was and his dead body was found in the
river. Later, Jafar was made the Nawab of Bengal.

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 Robert Clive 1725-74
Robert Clive bribing Mir Jafar against Siraj-ud-Daulah (aged 49)
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 The Battles:
In 1764, Mir Qasim (the nawab of Bengal after Mir
Jafar), Mir Qasim along with Mughal Emperor, Shah
Alam II and Shuja-ud-Daulah, Nawab of Oudh
fought another battle against Robert Clive at Buxar.
Though Robert Clive remained victorious and not
major casualties were reported but the British were
able to control the territory of Bengal and Oudh and
now was heading towards capturing other areas.

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 Robert Clive was accused of corruption and suffered
from health issues back in England. He committed
suicide at the age of 49.
Warren Hastings became the first Governor General
of Bengal (1772-85). He battles against the Marathas
(1778-82) and Haider Ali of Mysore (1780-84) and
later his son Tipu Sultan. He also took bribes and
forced wealthy princes to pay money to him. He also
was returned and faced charges of corruption by the
government.
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 Pitts India Act-1784:
This Parliamentary act was moved by PM William
Pitt. Under this act, power of East India Company
declined and the power of British Government grew.
It appointed Governor General for Bengal under him,
Bombay and Madras also got governors.
In 1813, The East India Company lost its monopoly
for trade. Other companies started to do free trade.
In 1798, Lord Wellesley persuaded local princes to
sign Subsidiary Alliance (a protection with a little
cost). The states of Hyderabad, Awadh and Maratha
Peshwa signed the alliance.
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 The Annexation of NWFP, Punjab and Sindh:
The British were worried about Russia. They made
an agreement with Sikh leader Ranjit Singh that he
would keep the area of north of River Sutlej. In 1839,
the British invaded Afghanistan and installed their
puppet leader. In 1841, the Afghans rebelled against
their leader.
The British had promised the Amirs of Sindh that
they would not invade their territory. In 1843, Sir
Charles Napier seized Sindh to control Bolan Pass as
it had a way through India.
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 The Annexation of NWFP, Punjab and Sindh:
The Punjab had two important trade routes, the
Khyber Pass and River Indus. The arrival of steam
powered riverboats and Karachi had become a major
sea port. The locals were charges hefty fee for trade
along River Indus.
After the death of Ranjit Singh (1839), there were
two battles with the Sikhs, (1845) and (1848-49) and
the Sikhs were defeated and Punjab also came under
the British control.
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 The Doctrine of Lapse 1852:
Lord Dalhousie stated a rule to annex other states
where the British forces could not win easily. Under
the rule, the state would go into the hands of the
British after the death of the leader who had no male
heir.
Under the rule, Awadh was annexed that brought
unrest in the sepoys. Later many other states, like
Jhansi, Sitara were also annexed. This rule was
considered very unfair by the Indian masses and
sepoys.
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 The Doctrine of Paramountcy:
Lord Hastings was the first Governor General of
India from 1813. Under Lord Hasting a new policy of
"paramountcy" was introduced in India. Under this
policy the Company claimed that its authority was
paramount or supreme, hence its power was greater
than that of Indian states.

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 Why the successors of Aurangzeb failed to prevent the decline of the
Mughal Empire? [7] (2008)

The Mughal Empire which was once the largest in the world, came to a
decline after 1707 and the inability of Aurangzeb had major contribution in
it.
Aurangzebs successors tended to be lazy, weak and corrupt, leaving the
administration to their ministers who often put their own interests rst.
There was no law of succession. Instead there was usually a struggle for
succession which ended in war. Succession often depended upon the ability
of the candidates and the support they could get. Fighting wars was very
expensive and the military was stretched and suffered much inefficiency.
These emperors failed to run the Empire effectively, becoming very
extravagant and so suffered from nancial inefciencies. The vastness of
the Empire made it hard to defend and as such suffered several invasions
from stronger rivals. Eventually the British overran the Empire and were
superior in such areas as military might. 45
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 WHAT WAS DOCTRINE OF LAPSE? [4]
WHO WAS TIPU SULTAN? [4]
WHAT WAS EAST INDIA COMPANY? [4]
WHAT WAS BATTLE OF PLASSEY? [4]
WHAT WAS BATTLE OF BUXAR? [4]
WHO WAS LORD DALHOUSIE? [4]
WHO WAS ROBERT CLIVE? [4]
WHO WAS SIRAJ UD DAULAH? [4]
WHAT WAS THE ANNEXTAION OF PUNJAB? [4]
WHAT WAS THE DOCTRINE OF PARAMOYUNTCY?
[4]

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 WHY WERE AURANGZEBS SUCCESSORS NOT
ABLE TO CONTROL THE EMPIRE? [7]
WHY AURANGZEBS POLICIES BROUGHT THE
MUGHAL EMPIRE TO A DECLINE? [7]
WHY WERE THE BRITISH ABLE TO CONQUER THE
SUBCONTINENT? [7]
WHY DID THE EIC ENTER THE SUBCONTINENT?
[7]
WHY WAS IT SO DIFFICULT TO RUN THE
SUBCONTINENT AFTER THE DEATH OF
AURANGZEB? [7]

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 'AURANGZEBS SUCCESSORS FAILED TO LIVE UP TO
HIS COURAGEOUS AND DETERMINED PERSONALITY.
WAS THIS THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON FOR THE
DECLINE OF THE MUGHAL EMPIRE? GIVE REASONS
FOR YOUR ANSWER. [14]
WERE THE WEAK AND GREEDY CHARATERISTICS OF
AURANGZEBS SUCCESSORS THE MOST IMPORTANT
REASON FOR THE COLLAPSE OF THE MUGHAL
EMPIRE? EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER. [14]
AURANGZEBS POLICIES CONTRIBUTED THE MOST IN
BRINGING THE MUGHAL EMPIRE TO A DECLINE. DO
YOU AGREE? GIVE REASONS FOR YOUR ANSWER. [14]

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 AURANGZEBS SUCCESSORS SOWED THE SEEDS OF
THE DECLINE OF MUGHAL EMPIRE THAN ANY OTHER
REASON. DO YOU AGREE? GVE REASONS FOR YOUR
ANSWER. [14]

THE ARRIVAL OF THE BRITISH WAS THE MOST

IMPORTANT REASON THAT BROUGHT THE DECLINE
OF THE MUGHALS. DO YOU AGREE? GIVE REASONS
FOR YOUR ANSWER. [14]

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