Reasons for the Decline of the Mughal Empire - 14 Marks Question

Were the policies of Aurangzeb the main reason for the decline of the Mughal Empire? Explain your answer.

Historically, Aurangzeb can rightly be blamed for initiating the decline of the Mughal Empire. He often showed intolerance to non-Muslims. He introduced a tax on non-Muslims, called the Jizya. He destroyed Hindu temples and tried to ban Hindu practices reducing his popularity and causing some insurgencies during his reign. Higher taxation was needed to pay for the cost of military campaigns, such as the Deccan Wars, increasing his unpopularity, which enabled opposition to his rule and the Mughal Empire to grow. He also spent highly on luxurious palaces, e.g. the Pearl Mosque. The expense of fighting the Deccan Wars meant there was little money for the upkeep of the Empire.

However there were other reasons for the decline. After Aurangzeb’s death, Mughal Emperors were renowned for living an extravagant lifestyle and spending money without regard to the effect on the economy of the Empire. Similarly, the absence of a definite line of succession led to a significant amount of in-fighting amongst Aurangzeb’s successors which contributed to instability and the downfall of the Empire. These led to inefficiencies and a lack of interest in the running of the Empire.

The size of the Empire meant that it was very difficult to defend from multiple invasions. The Empire’s armies became exhausted in trying to repel them. The military lacked investment, which meant they were reliant on outdated weaponry and were easily overpowered. Financial inefficiencies meant that money that could have been used to support the Empire had been wasted.

As the Mughal Empire started to decline, it became at risk from invasion. The Marathas were skillful Hindu fighters who defeated a Mughal army in 1737. The Marathas took control of Delhi and the land eastwards towards Bengal. By 1760, they were the most powerful people in India and the Mughals were unable to limit their expansion.

The Afghans under the leadership of Ahmad Shah Abdali defeated the Marathas at Panipat in 1761. The Afghans had been in control of much of the Empire for some time but were unable to make the most of their victory and returned to Kabul. However, they did invade the Empire a number of times during the 18th century. The Persians under Nadir Shah captured much of the Empire’s wealth and returned home with gold, jewels and the Peacock throne from Delhi.

However, it might not be wrong to say that the British expansion was the main reason for the decline of the Mughal Empire. British expansion into the subcontinent was rapid. They were experienced in warfare and had many weapons and other resources, so they were difficult to defeat. On the other hand, the Mughal forces and their equipment struggled and were no match to respond to the rapid expansion of the British and the Empire declined as a result.