Decline of

The Mughal Empire

Aurangzeb

Nadir Shah

Mughal Court
By-
Rishabhdev 8B
Starting of the Decline
The empire started decaying during Aurangzeb's
reign , after his death in 1707 the empire declined
rapidly. New Mughal such as Bahadur Shah, Jahandar
Shah & Farrukhsiyar were called Later Mughals.

Nadir Shah & Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded India

from which the Empire could never recover.

Many challenged the Mughal Authority and declared

themselves Independent, many Regional Kingdoms
emerged. Aurangzeb
Causes of the Decline
There were many factors that led to the
downfall of the empire.
Rivalry Amongst the Nobles
The three significant factions Iranis, Turanis &
Hindustanis struggled for power. They acted as
kingmakers deposed and raised princes to the
throne for their interests. This hampered the
smooth functioning of the empire.
Iranis, Turanis &
Hindustanis
 Causes of the Decline
Jagirdari Crisis

Mughals had Introduced the Jagirdari system Farrukhsiyar

‫آپـ کو‬
‫ی نہیں‬
‫کب ھ‬
‫چ‬
‫ھوڑنے‬
in which piece of land was given in lieu of ‫ال‬‫ا‬ ‫و‬

services.
By the end of 17th Century there were very few
jagirs left thus, the crown land had to be
converted to jagir what decreased the ruler’s share
in the revenue which declined his power.
 Causes of the Decline
Mansabdari Crisis

Under this system a Mansabdar was appointed to

maintain a quota of troops, he was assigned a
Jagir taxes from which equalled his salary. By the
later half of the seventeenth century the number
of mansabdars increased and they grew lax in
maintaining the troops this weakened the
military strength of the empire.
Mansabdar
Causes of the Decline
Wars of Succession

The Mughals didn’t follow any clear rules of

succession. The emperor’s death was followed by
a war of succession which led to Financial drain
and loss of men & Equipment. A quick
successions added to the Political Instability of
the Empire.
Wars of Succession
Causes of the Decline
Aurangzeb’s Policies

Aurangzeb’s policies such as ‘The Deccan Campaign’

diverted his focus on the southern territories and constant
wars with the Marathas, Sikhs and other kingdoms left him
no time to administer the empire.

Aurangzeb’s Policies
Causes of the Decline
Kohinoor Diamond

Foreign Invasions

Invasions such that of Nadir Shah & Ahmad Shah

Abdali between 1748 and 1767 devastated the
empire. Nadir Shah looted the Kohinoor Diamond
and the Peacock Throne. Ahmad Shah Abdali
crushed the regional kingdoms.

Ahmad Shah Abdali

Nadir Shah
Causes of the Decline
Weak Successors

Aurangzeb’s successors were not capable, they left

the affairs to the nobles and governors of which
many established themselves independent, forming
Regional Kingdoms. In 1858, The Mughal Empire
came to an end by the British.

Bahadur Shah Zafar

Rise of
The Regional
Kingdoms

Tipu Sultan

Maharaja Ranjit Singh

Rise of the Regional Kingdoms
From the ruins of the Mughal Empire
rose many Regional Kingdoms
Bengal
Murshid Quli Khan was made the governor of
Bengal. Soon, he started ruling independently
made Murshidabad his capital was succeeded by
Shuja-ud-Din & Siraj-ud-Daulah. They
encouraged industries and trade and improved
Murshid Quili Khan
administration under them bengal became very
prosperous.
 Awadh

Saadat Khan was appointed as the governor

of Awadh in 1722. He suppressed rebellions
and reformed the revenue system, held
combine office of Subadar, Faujdar &
Diwan. He was succeeded by Safdar Jung.
Lucknow, the capital was a centre of
culture.

Saadat Khan
 Hyderabad

Chin Qilich Khan was a powerful noble and was

awarded Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah. He was made the
governor of Hyderabad in 1724. He appointed mansabdars
and granted them jagirs without seeking the permission
of Muhammad Shah and made Hyderabad independent.
The successors of Nizam-ul-Mulk were known as
Nizams.

Chin Qilich Khan

Rohilkhand

Rohillas was an afghan tribe concentrated in

Moradabad-Bareilly region. Taking advantage of the
position of Mughals due to Nadir Shah, Ali
Muhammad Khan established control over this region
which later becam Rohilkhand, They would often
clash with each Jats and the Marathas.
The Rajputs
Rajputs were allied to the Mughals during Akbar’s
reign however revolted against Aurangzeb. Thy
made themselves independent. The most renowned
Rajput ruler was Sawai Raja Jai Singh, he
encouraged science and founded the city of Jaipur
And made it a capital.

Raja Jai Singh

 Mysore
Mysore became powerful under Hyder Ali in 1761. He
controlled rebellious zamindars and improved the condition
of farmers, established a modern arsenal with the help of
French technology and fought the first Anglo-Mysore war.
He was succeeded by Tipu Sultan who continued fighting the
British, he was deeply influenced by the ideas of French
Revolution, tried modernizing the industries of his kingdom.

Tipu Sultan
From Traders to Rulers

Lord Dalhousie Lord Cornwallis