DECLINE OF MUGHAL EMPRIE [14] {topic 1}

Question 1

How did the infighting between Aurangzeb’s successors contribute to the collapse of the Mughal Empire?

Answer 1

• The infighting between Aurangzeb’s successors was a major factor in the empire’s collapse.
• The wars of succession created bitterness, bloodshed, and a loss of money and prestige for the Mughal Empire.
• After each emperor’s death, royal princes competed violently for the throne.
• Aurangzeb himself had fought his brothers Dara Shikoh and Shuja.
• After him, Bahadur Shah came to power by defeating and killing his brothers Azam and Kam Baksh.
• He ruled for only five years until he died in 1712, after which his sons began fighting for power.
• This constant internal conflict greatly weakened the empire’s strength and stability, making it more vulnerable to both internal and external threats.

Question 2

What role did Aurangzeb’s policies play in weakening the Mughal Empire?

Answer 2

Aurangzeb was unpopular due to his strict policies against non-Muslims.

• He reimposed Jiziya, demolished Hindu temples, and adopted a harsh attitude toward Sikhs.
• He banned activities like painting, music, gambling, and dance.
• While he tried to ban practices like Suttee, his heavy taxes to fund military campaigns and luxurious projects drained the treasury.
• These measures made him unpopular and created challenges for his successors.

Question 3

How did the rise of Maratha power contribute to the decline of the Mughal Empire?

Answer 3

• The rise of Maratha power was a serious threat to the Mughal Empire.
• The Marathas, led by Shivaji during Aurangzeb’s reign, used guerrilla warfare to challenge Mughal authority in southern India.
• Aurangzeb’s 25 years campaign in Deccan trying to defeat them, depleted the empire’s resources and lost many top generals.
• By 1737, the Marathas defeated the Mughals near Delhi and expanded their control as far as Bengal.
• By 1760, they had become the most powerful force in India, and the Mughals could do little to stop them. This erosion of central power hastened the empire’s collapse

Question 4

How did the character of later Mughal rulers contribute to the collapse of the empire?

Answer 4

Aurangzeb’s successors led extravagant lifestyles, neglected state affairs, and became morally corrupt.

• They failed to defend or consolidate the empire, becoming complacent due to the empire’s past success.
• Their lack of leadership and administrative skill allowed the empire to decay from within and made it increasingly vulnerable to external threats.

Question 5

How did invasions by the Persians and Afghans weaken the Mughal Empire?

Answer 5

• Aurangzeb’s death left a weakened empire under inefficient rulers.
• Nadir Shah invaded in 1738-39, looting Delhi and taking immense wealth like gold, jewels, and treasures like the Peacock Throne.
• Afghan leader Ahmed Shah Abdali followed, attacking Mughal territories between 1748 and 1767, plundering wealth, and defeating the Marathas in the 3rd battle of panipat.
• These invasions further destabilized the empire.

Question 6

How did British involvement in India lead to the final collapse of the Mughal Empire?

Answer 6

• The rise of British power played a decisive role in the fall of the Mughal Empire.
• Initially coming as traders in 1600, the British took advantage of the declining empire to expand their control.
• Using superior military power, effective administration, and tactics like the Subsidiary Alliance and Doctrine of Lapse, they gradually annexed large parts of India.
• Their army was better trained, better equipped, and supported by a powerful navy and industrial infrastructure from Britain.
• By 1803, they had taken control of Delhi and placed Mughal Emperor Shah Alam under their protection, effectively ending the Mughal Empire’s power.