Aurangzeb's policies + more --> decline of empire

Question 1

How did Aurangzeb’s policies contribute to the decline of the Mughal Empire?

Answer 1

• 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 2

How did the lack of a law of succession impact the Mughal Empire?

Answer 2

• Mughal rulers had no fixed law of succession, leading to in-fighting among princes after an emperor’s death.
• Aurangzeb divided the empire among his sons, but fighting ensued.
• Prince Muazzam became emperor but ruled weakly.
• Wars of succession became a tradition, wasting resources and dividing the army, further weakening the empire.

Question 3

What invasions followed Aurangzeb’s death, and how did they affect the Mughal Empire?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

How did the British East India Company contribute to the decline of the Mughal Empire?

Answer 4

• The British arrived in 1600 AD for trade, which initially benefited Indians.
• Over time, they monopolized trade, using profits to develop advanced weapons.
• Benefiting from the Industrial Revolution, they had superior military skills and gradually established armies to control territories previously under Mughal rule.

Question 5

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

Answer 5

• The Maratha Empire, founded by Shivaji in the 1670s, became a dominant power by the 18th century.
• They defeated the Mughals near Delhi in 1737 and filled the power vacuum created by the declining empire.
• Aurangzeb’s 25-year campaign in the Deccan to defeat the Marathas drained the treasury, weakening the Mughals further.

Question 6

How did the weak successors of Aurangzeb contribute to the Mughal Empire’s decline?

Answer 6

• 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.
• This neglect left the empire vulnerable to internal and external threats, hastening its decline.

Question 7

Was Aurangzeb solely responsible for the decline of the Mughal Empire?

Answer 7

• To conclude, Aurangzeb’s policies significantly weakened the empire, making it difficult for his successors to recover.
• However, other factors like the absence of a law of succession, invasions, British intervention, the rise of the Marathas, and weak successors also played crucial roles in the empire’s decline.