section one

• Mughal empire was ruled over a vast area of the subcontinent by Muslims
• Mughal dynasty started with the accession of Babar


  1526
• Aurangzeb was the one who strengthened the Mughal empire and he was also responsible for its decline
• Mughal empire decline slowly and gradually after the death of Aurangzeb
• It took 150 years after the death of Aurangzeb in 1707 for decline of Mughal empire
• Vast Mughal Empire


  • Extended from Afghanistan to Assam and from Kashmir to Mysore
  • Could not manage these areas because they were very large
  • A single ruler could not handle the responsibility because it was an issue to travel to different parts of the empire
• Weak Administration


  • After Aurangzeb's death, his sons were not capable to administer the empire
  • Since the citizens of empire had too many problems it was difficult for single ruler to handle such situation
  • A single ruler could not handle the responsibility because it was an issue to travel to different parts of the empire
• Succession Dispute


  • There was always a succession dispute when a ruler dies because there was no law of succession
  • Only Akbar came to throne without fighting
  • Aurangzeb divided his empire among his sons to before his death to avoid any conflict
  • But after his death, his sons fought for power
  • Due to this conditions worsened, not only causing disunity but also there was a loss of lives, money and army
• Lavish Lifestyle


  • Mughal rulers were always pleasure seeking and they were fond of luxuries
  • They wasted their time and money in luxuries instead of administering the empire
  • Aurangzeb spent an enormous amount of money for the construction of the PEARL MOSQUE in delhi
  • This also set a bad example to the future successors
  • The successors were busy in women drinking and gambling
  • They become neglect of their duties
  • They were moving away from the Islamic teachings
• Aurangzeb Policies


  • Interfered into the religious matters of the non muslims
  • Re-imposed JIZYA TAX on non muslims
  • Imposed jizya on non muslims for them to pay money if they wanted their rights and protection
  • Instead of giving protection to non muslims, he banned their culture and and burnt many temples
  • Non muslims were converted to muslim by force and they were also removed by the top posts
  • Divided the empire into districts
  • Appointed separate mansabdars in each district
  • Mansabdars responsibility was to collect taxes and administer
  • Unfortunately these mansabdars were corrupt and used the taxes for unfair means
• Religious Policies of Aurangzeb

  • Appointed censors of public morals in all important cities to enforce Islamic laws and to put down un islamic practices such as drinking, gambling and prostitution
  • Forbade cultivation of bhang throughout the country
  • In 1664 forbade Suttee
  • In 1668 forbade music at the court with exemption of Royal Band
  • Pensioned off state mushaikhs and singers
  • Demolished many hindu temples, as he wanted Islam to spread far and wide
• No Naval Force


  • There was no navy in the Mughal forces
  • They were over-confident
  • And their over-confident turned into affliction
  • The british were having a very strong and well-managed navy
• Weak Army


  • The army expertise and efficiency was declining over time
  • There was lack of finance in Mughal treasury so modern weaponry could not be afforded
  • There were multiple invasions and other advancements which couldn't be backed off by the army
  • Moreover infighting among the successors makes the efficiency of army weak
• Internal Invasions


  • The marathan forces had become quite powerful, constantly causing difficulty to the Mughal
  • The Marathas were skilful Hindu guerrilla fighters who defeated a Mughal army in 1737 and took control of Delhi and eastwards towards Bengal
  • By 1760 they were the most powerful people in India and nothing could the Mughals do to stop it
  • By 1760s marathas had also spread and turned out to be a big problem for the empire until their advancement towards DELHI
• Foreign Invasions


  • In 1738 Nadir Shah of Persia invaded India and took the KOHINOOR DIAMOND and the ROYAL PEACOCK THRONE
  • After which he plundered the cities and left them burnt
  • The Persians under Nadir Shah captured much of the Empire's wealth and returned home with gold, jewels and the Peacock throne from Delhi
  • In 1761 Ahmed Shah Abdali from Afghanistan invaded India
  • The Afghans under the leadership of Ahmad Shah Abdali defeated the Marathas at Panipat
  • They had been in control of much of the Empire for some time
  • The Afghans however were unable to make the most of their victory and returned to Kabul
  • However they were able to invade the Empire a number of times during the 18th Century
• Arrival of British


  • As Mughal empire was declining, British took advantage and entered into the sub-continent
  • British liked the Mughal treasury so the british played a game
  • First they entered as a trading company
  • British then introduced policies and entered into the politics
  • The british were developed and prepared due to industrial revolution
  • 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
  • British won war of independence of 1857 which marked the end of Mughal rule
• Why Marathas were defeated after the decline of Mughal?


  • The Marathas controlled vast lands that had been part of the Mughal Empire, but they found it difficult to control and administer
  • This led to problems in fighting off threats from other armies confirming that the empire was now too big for them to protect or defend
  • Maratha families began to show more loyalty to local rulers rather than the Maratha leaders in the capital city of Pune
  • As a result, cracks began to show in Maratha unity and control. Their grip on the empire was weakened
  • The invading Afghans defeated the Maratha army at Panipat in 1761, thousands of soldiers and important administrators were killed, ending Maratha control
• War of 1857


  • Also known as the Sepoy Mutiny, the Indian Mutiny, the Great Rebellion, the Revolt of 1857, the Indian Insurrection
  • Mutiny started from Meerut and spread all over the Indian region
  • War was officially ended in August 1858
• Agrarian Policy


  • Introduced by Lord Dalhousie in 1852
  • If the landowner did not have the documents of the land, the land would be confiscated by british
  • The british checked the validity of the land documents
  • If the land documents are invalid, then the land would be confiscated by british
  • Land owners were deprived of their lands as they failed to prove the property documentarily
• Doctrine of Lapse


  • Land annexation policy introduced in 1852
  • If the landlord did not have a male heir to be in charge of the land after he died, the land would be confiscated by british
  • Adopting Son was not allowed as legal male heir was needed
  • Due to this law many states like Jhansi, Satpara, Nagpur and Oudh fell under the british control
• Industrial Revolution


  • The industrial revolution took place in England
  • British officers took raw material from India to England
  • The product was sold in India at a cheaper price
  • These products were cheaper and efficient than local products
  • There was less selling of local products so Industries suffered
  • Due to which the rate of employment decreases
• Language Issue


  • In 1834, English was made an official language replacing native language in India
  • Persian was the official language of muslims and sanskirit was the official language of hindus
  • In 1835, English education act was passed
  • Under this act the English was introduced in education
  • Western curriculam was established with English in Indian schools and colleges
  • English become the language of administration and of the higher law courts
• Religious Issues


  • British thought their culture superior and the Indians were considered as an inferior race
  • Christian missionaries came to India to convert the local population as well as to set up schools
  • In these schools the missionaries taught Christianity and expected local religions to be given up which was resented by Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs alike
  • They were also forced to abandon purdha which had been an Indian custom for centuries
  • In 1795 the killing of baby daughters was declared to be murder, but the British found difficulty in enforcing this as it was again a tradition practised in many parts of India
  • Suttee, the ritual burning of Indian women on the funeral prayers of their husbands was also banned by the British, first in Bengal and then in the rest of the country
  • Widows were allowed to remarry
  • Co-education was started
  • It was also said that the indian people working in the army would be converted to Christians
• Educational Reforms


  • Macauley introduced schools across the country to teach Western ideas using the English language
  • He believed that British ideas were far better than anything that came from India and that it would impose Western values and help the British to govern India more effectively
  • Indians had to send their children to coeducational schools, which was unpopular, since it appeared to impose the British system on the Indians without due regard to their religious and cultural feelings
• Posting of Soldiers too Far

  • British started posting of soldiers to far off places
  • The use of Indian Troops proved it also
  • This indicates Indians that british were trying to send Indians far from country so they can easily took control over India
• Westernization


  • British westernized the india
  • They interfere in road, communication, railways which offended Indians
  • British interfered in social services, hospitals as well as in education
  • This offended Indians and makes Indians angry
• Greased Cartridges


  • New cartridges coated with fats of pigs and cows, which were chewed first to use them
  • Cow is a sacred animal for hindus while pig is prohibited in Islam
  • Created disruption among the soldiers
• Indians had to send their children to coeducational schools, which was unpopular, since it appeared to impose the British system on the Indians without due regard to their religious and cultural feelings
• British started posting of soldiers to far off places
• The use of Indian Troops proved it also
• This indicates Indians that british were trying to send Indians far from country so they can easily took control over India
• British westernized the india
• They interfere in road, communication, railways which offended Indians
• British interfered in social services, hospitals as well as in education
• This offended Indians and makes Indians angry
• Most immediate reason


  1857
• New cartridges coated with fats of pigs and cows, which were chewed first to use them
• Cow is a sacred animal for hindus while pig is prohibited in Islam
• Created disruption among the soldiers
• Many soldiers refused to use them