Decline of The Mughals

REASONS FOR THE DECLINE
OF THE MUGHAL EMPIRE

History and Culture of Pakistan (CAIE) 2059/1
Prepared by: Shakeel Ahmad Khan
Reasons
1- Administration
 The size of the empire was too large.
 Decisions from emperor had to be relayed over thousands of miles.
 Emperors could not know exactly what was happening in every part of the
empire.
2- Military Costs
 The Mughal Emperors were continuously fighting rebellions.
 The cost of putting down rebellions and fighting wars was so high.
3- Succession Disputes
 There was no law of succession means who would sit on the throne after an
emperor died.
 In the absence of the law of succession, fighting used to start between the
sons of the emperor to kill many efficient princes, military officers etc.
4- Declining Military Expertise

 High ranked army officers became involved in worldly pleasures and started
avoiding fighting.
 It reduced their military expertise and Mughal army was no longer an
effecting force.
5- Pleasure seeking
 Because of too much wealth Mughal nobility became pleasure loving. They
left Islamic principles.
 Fine buildings were a symbol of power and culture but they were also a
symbol of extravagance.
6- Weak Control
 Because of the wealth and influence the Mughal nobility grew highly
powerful to pressurize the Mughal government.
 The emperor had least control on his nobles who got independent or refused
to pay revenue. The revenue from tax collection declined.
7- The arrival of the British
 The British came to India as traders. British factories were producing cheap
manufacturing goods which were sold around the world.
 This made the British wealthy. They could afford a military strength which the
Mughals could not match.
 Further they took advantage of weak political system in India, they captured
trade and finally got the full control of India.
8- Foreign Invasions
 The Marathas’ continuous attacks, Nadir Shah’s invasion from Persia and
Afghan general Ahmad Shah’s attacks destroyed the Mughal’s pride and
prestige completely.
Cambridge Questions
(a) Who was Ahmad Shah Durrani? [4][M/J2019]
(a) Describe what the Marathas did. [4][M/J2013]
(a) What was suttee? [4][O/N2014]

(b) Explain why the Mughal Empire declined following the death of Aurangzeb.[7]
[O/N2019]
(b) Briefly explain three reasons for the decline of the Mughal Empire. [7][M/J2002]
(b) How did the successors of Aurangzeb contribute to the downfall of the Mughal
Empire? [7][O/N2013]
(b) Explain why the successors of Aurangzeb failed to prevent the decline of the
Mughal Empire. [7][O/N2008]
(b) Explain why the Mughal Empire declined following the reign of Aurangzeb.
[7][M/J2006][M/J2012][M/J2015]
(b) Explain why the Mughal Empire declined following the death of Aurangzeb. [7]
[O/N2010]
(c) Was British expansion in India the most important reason for the decline of the
Mughal Empire? Explain your answer. [14][O/N2018]
(c) Were the weak and greedy characteristics of Aurangzeb’s successors the most
important reasons for the collapse of the Mughal Empire? Explain your answer. [14]
[O/N2005]
(c) Was the in-fighting between Aurangzeb’s successors the most important reason
for the break‑up of the Mughal Empire? Explain your answer. [14][M/J2017]
(c) ‘Aurangzeb’s 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][O/N2003]
(c) Was the in-fighting between Aurangzeb’s successors the most important reason
for the collapse of the Mughal Empire? Explain your answer. [14][O/N2001]
(c) ‘The coming of the British was the main reason for the decline of the Mughal
Empire’. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer. [14][M/J2007]
(c) ‘The spread of Marathan power was the main reason for the decline of the Mughal
Empire.’ Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer. [14][M/J2011]
(c) ‘The policies of Aurangzeb were the main reason for the decline of the Mughal
Empire.’ Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer. [14][O/N2009]
(c) Were the invasions by the Persian and Afghans the main reason for the decline of
the Mughal Empire? Explain your answer. [14][O/N2015]

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REASONS FOR THE DECLINE

OF THE MUGHAL EMPIRE

4- Declining Military Expertise

(a) Describe what the Marathas did. [4][M/J2013]

(a) What was suttee? [4][O/N2014]

(c) ‘Aurangzeb’s successors failed to live up to his courageous and determined

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