CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 2
 Internal Indian reasons for the decline of
the Mughal Empire:
• the impact of Aurangzeb’s policies on the stability of the Mughal
Empire
• the effectiveness of his successors as rulers

QUESTIONS TO ADDRESS • How far was Aurangzeb responsible for

• Who was Aurangzeb Alamgir?
• What was Suttee?
• Describe Aurangzeb Alamgir’s
reforms.
• Describe the impact of Aurangzeb’s
reforms.
• What was Jizya?
• Why is Aurangzeb Alamgir
considered responsible for the
decline of Mughal empire?
the decline of the Mughal Empire?
“Aurangzeb is loved by millions
and hated by millions. Some
historians project him as a villain
and some as a hero.”
• Why are historians divided on
Aurangzeb Alamgir’s personality?
DISCUSSION
QUESTION
AURANGZEB’S REFORMS
REFORMS • SIKHS AND BECAME MORE OPPOSED TO HIM
• RE-INTRODUCED JIZYA
• BANNED SUTTEE
• ENFORCED ISLAMIC LAW AND HINDUS
AND SIKHS WERE EXPECTED TO LIVE
ACCORDING TO THAT
• ABOLISHED MANY LOCAL TAXES
• BANNED MUSIC AND DANCING IN THE
COURTS
• BANNED THE CONSUMPTION OF
ALCOHAL
• FIXED THE LIMIT OF BEARD
IMPACT OF HIS
DUE TO JIZYA TAX
• ENFORCEMENT OF ISLAMIC LAW MADE
HINDUS AND SIKHS ANGRY AND THUS
RESSIST MUGHAL RULE… this is why
Marathas began to fight with more vigor and
Aurangzeb consumed more than 20 years in
fighting them without any result. This vain
adventure could not defeat Marathas rather
Mughal treasury was over-run in these
fightings
• ABOLITION OF LOCAL TAXES MADE HIM
POPULAR WITH LOCAL TRADERS
• MANY MUSLIMS BELIEVED THAT FIXING A
LIMIT TO BEARD WAS AN INTERFERENCE IN
THE PRIVACY
• HIS OWN COURTIERS WHO WERE USED TO
 SOME BASIC INFORMATION

Mughal empire founded by:

Babar Akbar introduced Deen I Illahi

Jizya tax on Non-Muslims jizya tax reintroduced by

removed/abolished by Akbar Aurangzeb Alamgir

Bahadur Shah Zafar the last

Mughal emperor
 Impact of Aurangzeb’s policies/reforms
Describe any three religious policies of Aurangzeb and their impact
on Mughal empire.
How did Aurangzeb’s religious policies cause the decline of Mughal
empire? Discuss any three reasons.

• He banned Suttee which angered Hindus. This way Marathas increased their
opposition to Mughal empire which caused their decline.
• His policy was to extend the empire for which he fought 25 years with Marathas. In
these long battle he emptied the Mughal treasury and caused its decline.
• He reintroduced Jizya tax on non-Muslims which angered other communities. Sikhs
and Marathas began to fight against him causing empire to decline.
• He banned dancing and singing in the courts. This way Mughal courtiers also began
to oppose him. This internal disunity among Mughals also caused empire’s decline.
 HOMEWORK

REFORMS/POLICIES IMPACT

Banned Suttee

Jizya Tax on Non-Muslims

Banned dancing and singing in the

courts

Banned the consumption of alcohol

Fixed the maximum limit of beard

 Discuss how Aurangzeb’s
policies/reforms caused the decline of
Mughal empire? 7 Marks
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………
 PROBLEMS OF CONTROLLING EMPIRE
• The empire was being governed
• Vastness of empire
• The empire grew to a large of
India. It became so huge that
events taking place in one part
of empire were known to the
rulers weeks later and taking
action was even more delayed
through a system called
Mansabdaari system. The
mansabdaars collected taxes
for Mughal empire and this
institution was not that
efficient at tax collection which
undeeemined empire.
10 years after the death of
Aurangzeb, 12 different
people claimed to be
emperors EFFECTIVENESS OF AURANGZEB’S
SUCCESSRS
How did Aurangzeb’s successors cause the
decline of Mughal Empire?

Ans.
1. Aurangzeb’s successors fought for
power which militarily weakened the
empire. The focus of rival Mughals
was on each others and there was
no focus on Marathas. This situation
was exploited by Marathas and Sikhs
causing decline of Mughal empire.
2. The internal succession disputes
by Aurangzeb’s successors also
caused foreign invasions from
Persians and Afghans which was
another reason for Mughal empire’s
decline.
3. The internal disputes and rivalries
sent a message to the outside world
that Mughals were no longer
powerful. This invited British in India
and caused Mughal decline as British
challenged Mughals and defeated
them through wars.
 Rise of Marathas and Sikhs
How did the rise of Marathas and Sikhs cause
the decline of Mughal Empire?

Ans.
1. Marathas were a big challenge for
Mughals. They fought with Mughals
and drained their resources in
fighting causing Mughal decline.
2. Marathas and Sikhs weakened
Mughals and had established control
in South India. This also sent a
message to the outside powers that
Mughals were no longer powerful. It
was for this that British came to
India and expanded their influence
in India and finally controlled whole
India throwing Mughals out of power.
 Degradation of Islamic values
Mughal emperors had become pleasure-loving. Dancing and singing had
become common. Extravagance defined Mughals as we can see in the
making of Taj Mahal by Shah Jahan for his wife and making of Pearl
mosque for Aurangzeb’s personal worships. In addition, one friend of
Akbar used to order 100 dishes on the table.
This degradation of Islamic values caused the decline of Mughal empire.
Degradation of Islamic values EXAMPLES OF
Dancing and singing in the court EXTRAVAGANCE
Extravagance TAJ MAHAL
Consumption of alcohal OEARL MOSQUE FOR
PERSONAL WORSHIP
Points to remember AKBAR’S FRIEND USED TO
ORDER 100 DISHES
 • QUESTIONS

• Who was Aurangzeb Alamgir?

• What was Suttee?
• Describe Aurangzeb Alamgir’s
reforms.
• Describe the impact of Aurangzeb’s
reforms.
• What was Jizya?
• Why is Aurangzeb Alamgir
considered responsible for the
decline of Mughal empire? 7
• How far was Aurangzeb responsible for
the decline of the Mughal Empire?
“Aurangzeb is loved by millions
and hated by millions. Some
historians project him as a villain
and some as a hero.”
• Why are historians divided on
Aurangzeb Alamgir’s personality?
DISCUSSION QUESTION
Ineffective/ • THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HIS
inefficient rulers
after Aurangzeb SUCCESSORS AS RULERS
In 10 years’
period after
Aurangzeb 12
rulers changed

Lack of
sympathy for
each other
rather fighting
against each
other

Even
Aurangzeb’s own
sons began
fighting each
other
 EXTERNAL FACTORS

East India Company’s

foreign invasions from Persia
involvement in the sub-
and Afghanistan
continent
Foreign invasion (Ahmed Shah Abdali and Nadir
Shah)
 Why did EIC seek to come to India?
or
Discuss why EIC seek to involve in
the subcontinent.
EIC became most
important reason for EIC came to India to trade as India
the decline of Empire was known as golden sparrow to the
outside world and EIC/British
thought that trade will be profitable
for them
To get raw material
like silk, spices Failure to get To spread their Came under a
Economic foothold in culture and plan to make Political
England first country Indonesia as religion conditions
to see Industrial Portuguese and suitable for
revolution Dutch did not Missionaries the British
share space also with control in
Industries needed raw
with EIC British in India future
material
Eco/Pol Social
 QUESTIONS TO ADDRESS
1. What was EIC?
2. How did EIC expand in India

• A British trading company

• Set up after permission from British Crown
• Came to India for trade
• First came in India in 1612 with permission from Jahangir
• It set up its first factory in Surat, Bengal
• Its trade was fairy success tale …the trade gave huge
benefits. These benefits increased the urge for expansion
• Gradually interfered in the affairs of India
Why did British seek to come to India?

• To buy raw material as British industries needed it to run these

industries and India was the known for several types of raw materials
like silk, cotton, spices
• To sell products in a large market with no local competitors who could
sell industrially-manufactured goods
• It came as part of a British plan to send EIC before officially coming to
India (India at that time was powerful)
• To check Russian influence/To reduce Russian influence in this region
who was a big competitor to England
• To spread Christianity/missionary work
 1. (EIC) arrived in 2. trade became 3. Success in trade 3. Success in trade
India in 1608 highly successful created an urge to created an urge to
expand trade expand trade

5. Trading posts 6. Trading posts 8. EIC wanted to

required soldiers to increased and so 7. Around 1750, EIC replace nawab of
protect them did Soldier refused to pay taxes Bengal with a
recruitment puppet who did not
9. Nawab of
demand taxes
16. Mir Qasim got
Bengal Siraj ud the help of the
10. EIC refused to
Daula asked EIC Nawab of Bengal; the
accept these
THREE THINGS: 12. British won the war Nawab of Awadh; and
demands
the Mughal Emperor
1. Stop Reasons
11. Siraj u Daulla Shah Alam II to fight
fortification sent an army to 1.British military was powerful than Indian British
2. pay taxes fight British army and British army was more disciplined
3. stop
2. Treachery of Mir Jaffar (military general of
interfering in British sent an
Nawab.. British told him that he will be
government affairs army under
made nawab)
General Robert
13. EIC in control of 3. Rain factor
Clive
Bengal
14. Mir Jaffar also
17. But the
Plundered wealth demanded taxes 15. Mir Qasim also
combined forces
demanded taxes
Mir Jaffar made the were defeated by
new nawab EIC’s army led by
British replaced hectre Monroe
him with his son British removed Mir
Mir Qasim Qasim
 BRITISH EXPANSION IN INDIA
By: Zubair Ahmed Chandio
A timeline worksheet

1. (EIC) arrived in India in 3. Success in trade

1608 created an urge to
expand trade

2. trade became highly 4. trading posts/forts

successful increased

6. Trading posts 5. Trading posts required

increased and so did soldiers to protect them
Soldier recruitment
9. Nawab of Bengal
Siraj ud Daula asked
10. EIC refused to accept EIC THREE THINGS: 7. Around 1750, EIC
these demands refused to pay taxes
1. Stop fortification
2. pay taxes
8. EIC wanted to replace
3. stop interfering in
government affairs nawab of Bengal with a
11. Siraj-ud- Daullah
puppet who did not
sent an army to fight
demand taxes
British

British sent an army

under General Robert 12. British won the war
Clive
Reasons

1. British military was powerful than Indian army and British army was more
13. EIC in control of
disciplined
Bengal
2. Treachery of Mir Jaffar (military general of Nawab.. British told him that he will
Plundered wealth be made nawab)
3. Rain factor
Mir Jaffar made the
new nawab

14. Mir Jaffar also
demanded taxes
British replaced him
with his son Mir Qasim
Reasons
15. Mir Qasim also 16. Mir Qasim got the
demanded taxes help of the Nawab of
Bengal; the Nawab of But the combined
British removed Mir Awadh; and forces were defeated
Qasim the Mughal by EIC’s army led by
Emperor Shah Alam II Hectre Monroe
to fight British
 REMEMBER THAT FOLLOWING
QUESTIONS DIFFERENT FROM EACH
OTHER

Why did EIC seek to trade in India…why

did EIC come to India?

Why did EIC seek to expand its influence

in India
 Why did EIC expand its
influence/control in Sub-continent?

• Trade was profitable and this created lust for more wealth from India

• Declining Mughal power induced British to expand elsewhere in India

for earning (power Vaccuum)

• To get an alternative market after the loss of American colony in

1776
QUESTIONS TO DEAL WITH
Describe battle of Plassey.

Describe the battle of Buxar.

Why did Battle of Plassey take Plassey?
Why was EIC able to win Battle of Plassey? Or Why did Indian lose
the battle of Plassey?
Why were British or why was EIC able to expand its
influence/control in India?

How did EIC/Britain expand its influence in India between 17th and
19th century?

Why did the British Government pass an act of parliament in

1773?

How was British system in India organized in 1784?

The Battle of plassey - YouTube.MKV
 14 MARKS QUESTIONS
• How far was Aurangzeb responsible for the decline of the Mughal Empire?
• How far did Mughal weaknesses from 1707 make decline inevitable?
• What role did the East India Company play in the decline of the Empire?
• How successful was British expansion in the sub-continent to 1857?
• Do you think that coming of EIC/British was the most important reason for the
decline of Mughal empire? Give reasons for your answer.
• Do you think that Aurangzeb’s religious reforms/policies were the most important
factor for the decline of Mughal empire? Give reasons for your answer.
• you think that the rise of Marathas and Sikhs were the most important factor for
the decline of Mughal empire? Give reasons for your answer.
 Who was Robert
Clive?
• Commander of EIC
• A battle fought between
• Fought the battle of
Plassey in which he
defeated Nawab of
• Fought because the Nawab
Bengal
• Later made the Governor
of Bengal
• Was a capable military
• It was EIC’s first battle on
man
• Plundered Bengal
What was the Battle of Buxar?
• A battle fought between EIC
and the combined armies of
Mir Qasim, Nawab of Oudh
and Mughal emperor Shah
Alam II
• EIC was led by Hectre Monroe
• British defeated the
combined armies
• British arms prevailed in the
war
Why were the British
Describe the Battle of able to win the Battle of
Plassey. Plassey?
1.EIC was more powerful than
British EIC and the Nawab of
Indian army in terms of
Bengal Siraj ud Daulla
arms poseession
had asked the company to 2. Treachery of Mir Jaffar
pay taxes and stop buying (military general of Nawab..
more lands in Bengal British told him that he will
be made nawab)
Indian soil
3. Rain factor
Describe the importance of Battle of Plassey for the
British.
• It was EIC’s first major battle in India
• Victory in the Plassey gave British confidence that they
can more win more battles
• The battle gave EIC control on the vast
wealth/resources of Bengal which were used to
modernize EIC’s troops even further
 BRITISH EXPANSION EXPLAINED

Mysore wars (3 battles), Sindh (Charles Napier), Punjab (Sikhs were a source of trouble
for the British), NWFP (the remaining post of India)

British-Sikh wars (Battle of Ailwal)

British declared NWFP a natural and scientific Border of British India.

What does that mean?
 Wars and events in sub-
continent: The British
expands

Battle Battle
Mysore Maratha Annexatio Annexatio Annexatio
of of n of n of
Plassey wars n wars n of Sindh
Buxar Punjab NWFP

Discusse Discusse
d d Between British
Between British
and Hindus
and Tipu Sultan
(Marathas)

First battle won by Tipu Sultan

Second ceasefire

Third won by British

 Annexation of Sindh
Why did the British annex Sindh?

Sindh
Charles
bordered
Napier’s
Punjab and
Sindh personal dislike
through Sindh
economically of Amirs of
British could be
rich Sindh based on
able to expand
his Christian
its control
ideal
towards Punjab
 SOME QUESTIONS FROM THIS CHAPTER

Q. Why did British annex Sindh?

Ans. British annexed Sindh due to three main reasons. First, Sindh was annexed because it
was economically rich. Annexation of Sindh could give British access to one more rich
province. Its resources could significantly benefit British.
Second, British annexed Sindh because Sindh bordered Punjab and through Sindh British
could be able to expand its influence in Punjab. Sikhs were a source of trouble for British
therefore they wanted to control Punjab to avoid difficulties posed by Sikhs.
Third, Charles Napier’s personal dislike of Amirs of Sindh was an important factor in
annexing Sindh. General Napier who was an ardent Christian believed that Sindh was ruled
by the enemies of God who should be removed from power.
 Why did British government annex NWFP?

British annexed NWFP due to two important reasons/factors. First, British wanted to gain full
control of Sub-continent and NWFP was the last post to capture.
Second, British feared that people from tribal areas could undermine/harm British control on
India by attacking British forces. They captured NWFP so that those tribes of agencies could
not reach to the other parts of India.
Third, British annexed NWFP due to its strategic importance. Through NWFP, the British
could defend India from external attacks which had taken place from Khyber pass. In
addition, the British would also be able to extend its influence in Afghanistan through NWFP.
 Doctrine of lapse
by Dalhousie, the British viceroy in India

Under this act, the lands of those rulers/Indians will go to British who did
not have a direct natural heir.

ISSUE OF JHANSI Nawab of Oudh/Audh’s issue

Jhansi ki rani did not have Had a direct and natural heir
natural heir as she had an (son) but his land yet taken
adopted son over
WHY WAS BRITISH EXPANSION SUCCESSFUL IN THE
YEARS BETWEEN 1756-1856? 7

HOW SUCCESSFU; WAS THE BRITISH EXPANSION IN

INDIA IN THE PERIOD 1756-1856? EXPLAIN YOUR
ANSWER.
British expanded in India with great speed. In 1756, British East Company confronted the rulers of Bengal.
Through support from Nawab’s own military general Siraj ud Daullah, the British EIC successfully dismantled the
army of Nawab and took over Bengal.
A few years later, British attacked Buxar. This time the British faced tough enemies as British had the combined
armies of Mir Qasim, Nawab of Oudh and of Mughal emperor Shah Alam II against them. The British also
successfully defeated the combined army and continued their expansion in India,
As the British expansion continued, they also had very tough times. Ruler of Mysore Tipu Sultan proved a great
challenge for the British. Supported with French artillery, Tipu Sultan’s army defeated British EIC in the first
battle of Mysore. British frustrations also continued in two more Mysore wars. However, British finally defeated
Tipu Sultan in fourth battle of Mysore. Besides, Sikhs and the Marathas were also defeated later although Ranjit
Singh’s army was posed a great threat to the British troops. While Ranjeet Singh died, the later rulers could not
sustain British attacks and British continued with expansion.
British expansion continued without any pause as they later also captured Sindh, Punjab and NWFP. NWFP was
important for British to protect India from outside invasions and thus British did not stop until conquering it.
Therefore, it can be concluded that British expansion was greatly successful as the resistance was short and put to
an end by British one way or other.
 British expansion from the 1750s to the 1850s
in the subcontinent: The impact on Indians

• The East India Company made huge profits

• Received personal gifts
• While EIC gained, Indians died in the famine
EIC’s ROBERT CLIVE ADMITTED:
Such a scene of anarchy, confusion, Bribery and corruption was
never seen or heard of in any country but Bengal
 EIC’s ECONOMIC POLICIES IN INDIA

• Did not allow production of raw Cotton, once allowed were

supposed to supply it to EIC’s factories
• British took raw material from India and converted it into finished
goods and sent it back to India for sale.
• The British goods affected local manufacturers as industrial goods
were cheap
• Indian goods were allowed to enter Britain only after taxes/duties
were imposed on them……. This made Indian goods costly and
thus unattractive
BRITISH GOVERNMENT INTERVENES

INDIA ACT 1773

&
PITT’S INDIA ACT 1784

The purpose was to minimize Indian sufferings

and
To take India under direct British control
 Purpose of British intervention:
• Good governance in India
• Reduce some of the powers of EIC
• Allow increasing role for British government in
India
British Control begins this way: the
proposals under India Act of 1773
and 1784
 MODERNIZATION OF INDIA

KEY INDICATORS/AREAS OF
MODERNIZATION

KEY INDICATORS/AREAS OF MODERNIZATION

• Building of railways
• Telegram
• Roads
• Railways-road pattern: moving together
 WHY DID BRITISH MODERNIZE
INDIA?

WHY DID INDIANS OPPOSE

MODERNIZATION?

WHY DID BRITISH BUILD RAILWAYS

IN INDIA?
WHY DID BRITISH MODERNIZE
INDIA?
• To create an impression that British rule was
creating benefits for Indian
• to reduce anti-British sentiments
• To facilitate British control through quick
communication and movement
 WHY DID BRITISH BUILD RAILWAYS IN
INDIA?
• To change conservative India into modern one so
that travel could become easy and quick
• For quick mobilization of troops from one trouble
spot to another
• To transport raw material from distant places to
EIC’s industries
 WHY DID INDIANS OPPOSE
MODERNIZATION?
• Indians believed that British was imposing
Western values and culture in the name of
modernization
• Modernization was a means to control India in an
efficient way: quick troops mobilization helped
British to govern India in a better way
• Modernization was considered a tool of
exploitation: Railways were a means of
transporting British goods from India to Britain
Only these questions need to be addressed in copy. Some questions may be written in point forms and
some in details for the sake of practice. If you do not understand how to address a question both
technically and in terms of content, do contact your teacher.

4 marks question
• Who was Robert Clive?
• Who was Charles Napier?
• Who was Tipu Sultan?
• Describe Battle of Plassey.
• Describe the importance of Battle of Plassey for the British.
• What was Battle of Buxar?
• Who was Ahmed Shah Durrani?
• Describe the role of Aurangzeb’s successors in the decline of Mughal empire.
• What was Jizya?
• Who was Siraj ud Daullah?
• What was doctrine of lapse?
• Who was Welleseley?
7 marks questions
• Why did EIC arrive in India?
• Discuss the internal reasons for the decline of Mughal empire.
• Discuss the external reasons for the decline of Mughal empire.
• Discuss reasons for British expansion in India.
• Why did Britain modernize India?
• Why was railway system introduced in India?
• Why were Indians concerned on modernization?
10 marks questions:
How successful were Indian efforts/attempts against British expansion? Give reasons for your response.