HISTORY AND CULTURE OF PAKISTAN
CHAPTER-2
WHAT WERE THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF
THE DECLINE OF MUGHAL EMPIRE?
Babur
The Mughal Empire was founded by Babur.
He was born on 14 feb 1483.
He founded the Mughal Empire other his victories of the Battle of
Panipat (1526) and the Battle of Konva.
He defeated the Delhi Sultnatate and established the Mughal
Empire.
He gained control of the whole northern India.
He died at the age of 47 in 1530.
Hamayun
He was born on 17 March 1508.
He succeeded his father in 1531 as ruler of territory in India.
In 1940 Sher Shah of Bengal defeated him and took over the
Mughal Empire.
He concored the Punjab, Delhi and Agra and reoccupied the throne
on Delhi after an interval of 15 years.
He died on 20 Jan 1556.
Akbar
He was born on 14 Oct 1542.
Mughal Emperor from the 1556 at the age of 14.He was the
greatest ruler of the Mughal Dynasty in the india
In 1581 he announced his Din –e-Illahi.But this religion did not
take root after his death.
He ruled almost 1500 years.
He died 1605.
Jahangir
He was born in 30 august 1569.
He was forth Mughal Emperor.
In 1615 he signed a commercial treaty with British.
He made a famous Mahal in memory of his favourite wife which
is known as Taj Mahal (Mumtaaz Mahal).
He tried to extend the Empire in campaigns against the Persians
and in modern day Uzbekistan, but his wars were costly and
ineffective.
He also defeated the Portuguese.
Decline of the Mughals:
Reasons:
Aurangzeb’s religious reforms
Reinstituted Jizya Tax on non Muslims.
Destroyed Hindu Temple
Enforced Islamic Laws
Banned Suttee (Hindu Tradition) All of which led to Hindu’s (who
formed a large part of India) agitation.
Aurangzeb’s wars
Fought a war against the Rajputs
Attempted to expand North (in a campaign against NWFP
pathans.)
Numerous Rebellions (Sikhs, Satnamis, Jatts)
The Maratha War, which was the costliest
All these wars resulted in heavy taxes, and emptied the Mughal
treasury. Leaving The Mughal Empire in economic misery.
Aurangzeb’s love for luxury
Built palaces, spend huge sums on him.
Pearl Mosque for his own private prayers in Dehli made him
unpopular.
Furthered economic decline.
Indefinite law of succession
The dead Mughal emperor’s sons would fight for power.
He tried preventing this by dividing the empire between his 4 sons.
Didn’t work.
Muezzin was first emperor. Died. His sons fought. In 10 years, 12
claimed the throne .
These wars cost a lot. Weakening the economy. Many capable
soldiers, nobles died. Left the empire divided and weak.
Lazy as successors.
Successors were lazy, incompetent. Unable to control government.
Handed the government over to the mansabdars (Nobles put in
charge, system started by Akbar. These were often corrupt,
disloyal and sought their own gains) .
These often corrupt nobles grew in power. Some princes and rulers
were assassinated by courtiers. Such as Farukhsiyar and Alamgir
Thus, there was an imbalance of power. Any emperor who would
take control could not rule.
Military Inefficiency
Mughals used to be powerful, disciplined armies. Used to fight
with clever tactics. With strong commanders.
They became complacent with time. Didn’t feel the need for an
army.
Army became weak. Less disciplined. No modern advancements in
warfare.
Army was also made of different groups: Persian. Afghani etc.
The Mughals lacked a naval fleet as well, despite having numerous
ports
Vast Empire
Over 1000’s of miles. Communication and transport was difficult.
Months before news e.g: Rebellions reached the emperor, and he
couldn’t react in time.
The Mansabdary system was weak and corrupt, no longer
countered this.
Bihar, Deccan, Bengal managed to declare independence at points.
Invaders
Nadir Shah, Persian leader invaded. Defeated Muhammad Shah at
Karnal 1734 .He sacked Delhi. Left after 2 months with many
jewels, good and the peacock throne.
Ahmed Shah, an Afghan came in 1747.Attacked Kabul, Peshawar
and Lahore. Had control over Punjab by 1749. Kashmir, Multan by
1756.
British
Finally took control and effectively ended Mughal Rule were
military better equipped.
Also employed local sepoys. Had military experience from their
combat against the French, Portuguese.
Won decisive Battles: Plassey, Buxar. Mir Jafar betrayed Indians,
helped British.
Exploited captured lands for a lot of profit.
British Rule. Why the British took control over the EIC.
The Volume of trade and profit to the British was extremely
significant. The crown did not feel that a thing of such importance
should remain in the hands of a private company. They thus took
control of the EIC.
The British needed to shape their foreign policy, since the Russians
seemed to be trying to expand. This couldn’t be done under the
EIC.
British Prestige was at stake. The needed expansion to regain the
image they had lost in their disgraceful loss at Kabul by the
Afghans.
Why European nations became involved in the
subcontinent.
India had certain raw materials that the rest of the world did not
have and they desired, including spices, cotton, sugar, silk, jute
e.t.c .
The British had a great regard for the raw materials, since they had
recently undergone the industrial revolution and wished to expand
their industries.
The Middle Eastern countries had a tax on Europeans, and the
Byzantine Empire was now under the ottomans who sought
cheaper trade routes.
They avoided land routes in the middle East, since trading via sea
was cheaper, more effective and gave economy of scale.
British went to India since other lands (e.g: Africa) were already
under Portuguese control. They also fought against the French
here.
Taking control of India:
Successes (Of Indians in resisting)
In 1666, EIC grew proud, refused taxes and issued coins.
Aurangzeb sent a force against them, defeated them. EIC paid a
fine, apologized, reduced activities.
In 1756, Nawab of Bengal, Siraj ud Daulah defeated EIC and
managed to drive them away from and they captured Calcutta.
Tipu Sultan had French support, and used his strong army against
the EIC at several times. Defeating them.
Failures:
The very next year in 1757, The British, under Robert Clive
defeated Siraj ud Daulah’s forces with the help of Mir Jafar’s
betrayal. Siraj died, and the Mir Jafar was placed as a puppet ruler
by the British
In The Battle of Buxar of 1764, the British defeated the Mir Jafar’s
son, Mir Qasim and Shah Alam II and the Nawabs of Oudh. This
extended their influence, gave them Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
They collected Revenue from here, managed to get a bigger army.
Ended true Muslim Rule.
In 1782, first GG, Warren Hastings signed a treaty with the
Marathas they could now focus on other places, and Maratha take
over was prevented.
In 1799, GG Wellesley invaded Mysore and killed Tipu Sultan.
They thus killed a strong enemy and took control of his lands in
Mysore.
In 1803, The British entered Delhi, forced Shah Alam II to accept
rule under “British Protection” … which basically meant that The
Emperor no longer had any real power. British were true rulers by
this point.
They provoked the Sindh Amirs into war despite a treaty signed
between the two parties in an attempt to make up for their disgrace
in Afghanistan.
British managed this partly because of the Industrial Revolution,
which made them technologically superior, giving them an edge
over the Indians with their weapons, techniques.
British Reforms/Rule.
India was very wealthy, but this wealth was heavily exploited by
the british, with all this wealth going over to the British in 1829,
they banned Suttee (A common hindu tradition)
Replaced Persian with English as the government language …
Indians could no longer get government jobs.
Indians had to send their children to co-ed schools with
westernized Educations. They disliked this as it went against their
culture and religion.
Christian Missionaries came and set up schools, and seemed to try
and convert the local populace to Christianity. This was resented
by the Indians.
British brought in the railway system, which is also annoyed the
Indians as they felt that the British were trying to intervene in India
too much.
British sold cotton in India (thanks to Industrial Revolution) and
collapsed the Indian Textile Industry, leaving millions jobless and
poor.
