The Mughal Empire began declining after Aurangzeb's death in 1707 due to weak successors, poor political policies, the rise of regional powers, ineffective military strategies, foreign invasions, and the arrival of European trading companies. This led to the loss of Mughal prestige, wealth, trade, and military strength. By 1857, the Mughal Empire had fractured with many former territories becoming independent as the British emerged as the dominant power.
The Mughal Empire began declining after Aurangzeb's death in 1707 due to weak successors, poor political policies, the rise of regional powers, ineffective military strategies, foreign invasions, and the arrival of European trading companies. This led to the loss of Mughal prestige, wealth, trade, and military strength. By 1857, the Mughal Empire had fractured with many former territories becoming independent as the British emerged as the dominant power.
The Mughal Empire began declining after Aurangzeb's death in 1707 due to weak successors, poor political policies, the rise of regional powers, ineffective military strategies, foreign invasions, and the arrival of European trading companies. This led to the loss of Mughal prestige, wealth, trade, and military strength. By 1857, the Mughal Empire had fractured with many former territories becoming independent as the British emerged as the dominant power.
The Mughal Empire began declining after Aurangzeb's death in 1707 due to weak successors, poor political policies, the rise of regional powers, ineffective military strategies, foreign invasions, and the arrival of European trading companies. This led to the loss of Mughal prestige, wealth, trade, and military strength. By 1857, the Mughal Empire had fractured with many former territories becoming independent as the British emerged as the dominant power.
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The Decline of the
Mughal Empire 1707-1857 Introduction The Rise of the Mughal Empire The Mughal reign was the vast Islamic empire with its rich architecture, culture, and literature.
The Early Mughals
● Babur (1526-1530 AD)
● Humayun (1530-1556 AD) ● Akbar (1556- 1605 AD) ● Jahangir (1605- 1627 AD) ● Shah Jahan (1627-1658 AD) ● Aurangzeb (1658- 1707 AD) LATER MUGHALS (1707-1857) The Fall Of the Mughal Empire ● Bahadur Shah I (1707-1712 AD)
● Jahandar Shah (1712-1713 AD)
● Farrukh siyar (1713-1719 AD)
● Muhammad Shah (1719-1748 AD) ● Ahmed Shah (1748- 1754 AD) ● Alamgir II (1754-1759 AD) ● Shah Jahan III (1759-1760 AD) ● Shah Alam II (1759-1806 AD ) ● Akbar Shah II (1806-1837 AD) ● Bahadur Shah II (1837-1857 AD Weak successors After the death, of Aurangzeb his three sons: ● Muazzam (Governor of Kabul) ● Mohammad Azam (Governor of Gujarat) ● Mohammad Kambaksh (Governor of Bijapur) fought for the throne of the Mughal Empire in Delhi. ● Even though Aurangzeb had advised his sons to divide the empire peacefully, but a bitter struggle for power rose among the brothers. ● This competition for power led to the death of Azam and Kambaksh. ● Muazzam took up the titles of Bahadur Shah I (also Shah Alam I). ● When Muazzam died in 1712, a fresh war of succession broke amongst his four sons. Muazzam’s three sons were killed while his remaining son Jahandar Shah became the emperor. BAHADUR SHAH I (LATER MUGHALS) Shah Alam took the title of Bahadur Shah I. A dignified, learned, mild tempered and generous monarch. He pacified the Marathas and the Rajputs by signing a peace treaty and acknowledging their independence. Banda Bahadur, a Sikh leader revolted against Bahadur Shah, but he was defeated by Bahadur Shah His four sons contested the throne after him and Jahandar Shah the most dissolute of his sons took the throne. Sayyid Brothers as Kingmakers ● The main reason of Mughal decline was the role of Sayyid brothers. They used the emperor for their achievements. ● They took the role of kingmakers and brought Farrukhsiyar rule to an end. ● Both controlled the Mughal empire at the back foot after 1707. Hussain Ali Khan was murdered at Fatehpur Sikri in 1720. Syed Hassan Ali Khan Barha was fatally poisoned in 1722. MUHAMMAD SHAH 1719-48 He ruled for next twenty nine years but was a weak, inexperienced and pleasure -loving king.
The Sayyid brothers continued their hold but were opposed by other nobles at court.
Nizam ul Mulk was called to Delhi in 1722 to run the affairs of the state. He was well trained under Aurangzeb and tried to bring order,discipline and simplicity to the Mughal court.
Muhammad Shah and his worthless courtiers resisted the efforts of the Nizam and he had to go back to Deccan.Thus, the Mughal empire weakened and many states became independent.
Awadh, Bengal, Orissa and Hyderabad became independent state under Muslim rulers whereas Marathas occupied BundleKhund, Gujrat and Bengal. Foreign Invasions ● A series of foreign invasions affected the Mughal Empire very severely these invasions were during Muhammad Shah’s reign. ● Attacks by Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali, which were themselves the consequences of the Empire, drained the Empire of its wealth, ruined its trade and industry in the North, and almost destroyed its military power. ● Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded India in 1748. ● In 1761 he launched five attacks into the subcontinent in the final assault, he defeated the Marathas at the third battle of Panipat in 1761, but it again brought to light the weakness of Mughals. Rise Of New Powers ● The Marathas, Sikhs, and Jats made their independent states, and their continuous rebellions weakened the Mughal power. ● Guruship's institute came to an end after Guru Govind Singh's death. ● The Sikh's leadership skills passed to his trusted disciple Banda Singh, who is more widely known as Banda Bahadur. ● Banda rallied together with the Sikh peasants of Punjab and carried on a vigorous but unequal struggle against the Mughal army for eight years. He was captured in 1715 and put to death. Coming of the Europeans ● British came into subcontinent as traders. But soon, their trade activities changed into political activities. Owing to the decline of Mughals, they started to capture territories in the sub-continent. ● The foundation of the British rule, the subcontinent was led after the defeat of Nawab Siraj ud Daula at the battle of Plassey in 1757. ● After the failed War of independence in 1857, the British became the rulers of the subcontinent. Aurangzeb's Deccan Policy ● Aurangzeb's determination to crush the Marathas was also responsible for the Decline of the Mughal. ● The emperor went to annex (conquer) Golconda and Bijapur. ● Constant attacks by Marathas led to a weak economy and low prestige. Aurangzeb’s Political Policies ● Aurangzeb failed to realize that the vast Mughal Empire depended on the willing support of the people. He lost the support of the Rajputs who had contributed greatly to the strength of the Empire. ● They had acted as pillars of support, but Aurangzeb’s policy turned them to bitter foes. The wars with the Sikhs, the Marathas, the Jats and the Rajputs had drained the resources of the Mughal Empire. Causes and Effects of the Decline of the Mughal Empire 1707-1857
Causes Effects 1. Weak successors ● Loss of prestige and power. 2. Aurangzeb's weak political policies ● Destroyed its trade, economy and 3. Rise of new powers destroyed its military power. 4. Weak military strategies ● Drained the empire of its wealth. 5. Foreign invasions ● Empire weakened socially and politically. 6. Coming of the Europeans
