Later Mughals & Decline of Mughals Empire: Rise of Regional Powers

Decline of Mughals: Rise of Marathas & India’s Changing Landscape

During the early 18th century, the Decline of Mughals Empire’s dominance began to diminish. Aurangzeb’s policies destabilised the empire, and after his death, internal disputes worsened the situation. Simultaneously, local leaders grew in power, with the Marathas emerging as potential successors to the Mughal prominence in India.

Decline of Mughals: 18th Century Turmoil and the Emergence of Regional States

• In the 18th century, the decline of Mughals became evident after the death of Aurangzeb, faced multiple challenges which made them weaker and eventually fell apart. This created a power gap which set the stage for later colonial rule in the 18th century.
• External Challenges: In the 18th century, Mughals lacked the internal strength to resist external invasions. The north-western borders were largely ignored by the later Mughals, leading to weak defences.
  • Nadir Shah’s Invasion: Conquests, Looting, and Territorial Shifts
    • Background: Persian Emperor Nadir Shah invaded India in 1738–39.
    • Conquests: Captured Lahore and defeated the Mughal army at Karnal on February 13, 1739.
    • Looting of Delhi: Delhi was ransacked, with the Peacock Throne, Kohinoor diamond, and an estimated seventy crore rupees taken.
    • Territorial Gains: Acquired Mughal territories to the west of the Indus, including Kabul, making India more susceptible to future attacks from the northwest.
  • Ahmad Shah Abdali’s Invasions: Invasions, Alliances, and the Battle of Panipat
    • Rise to Power: Became the successor to Nadir Shah after his death in 1747.
    • Invasions: Attacked India multiple times between 1748 and 1767.
    • Deals with Mughals: The Mughals, attempting to ensure peace, conceded Punjab to Abdali in 1751–52.
    • Capture of Delhi: In 1757, Abdali took control of Delhi, positioning an Afghan caretaker to oversee the Mughal emperor.
    • Alliances and Battles: Recognized Alamgir II as the Mughal emperor and appointed Rohilla chief, Najib-ud-Daula, as Mir Bakhshi of the empire in his service.
    • Maratha chief, Raghunath Rao, expelled Najib-ud-Daula from Delhi in 1758 and took over Punjab.
    • Abdali returned in 1759 to confront the Marathas and defeated them in the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761.
• Internal Challenges cause Decline of Mughals: The successors after Aurangzeb were weak and became victims of the intrigues and conspiracies of the faction-ridden nobles. 
  • Role of Mughal Nobility: The Mughal nobility was divided between various factions such as Turani, Irani, Indian Muslims, Rajputs etc.
  • Under weak successors, these nobles started fighting among themselves for the greed of power and placing their favourite candidate on the thorne.
  • Example: Role played by Sayyid Brother in placing Farrukhsiyar, Muhammad Shah Rangeela on throne.
• Challenge from Regional Powers: The weak rulers were incapable of controlling too large an empire from Delhi which caused the ultimate decline of Mughals . As a result, the distant provinces became independent. 
  • The rise of independent states led to the disintegration of the Mughal Empire.
• Regional State: The states that emerged as a result of the Decline of Mughals Empire can be classified into the following three broad categories:
  • Successor States: Former Mughal provinces turned into states. With its establishment of almost independent and hereditary authority by governors. Examples: Awadh, Bengal, Hyderabad.
  • Independent Kingdoms: Emerged due to weakened Mughal control over provinces. Examples: Mysore, Rajput states.
  • The New States: Established by rebels opposing the Mughal Empire. Examples: Maratha, Sikh, and Jat states.

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Decline of Mughals: Economic Struggles, Trade Shifts & Social Dynamics

• Agriculture: It was primarily based on outdated techniques. 
  • Financial Burden: Peasants faced high financial burdens due to payments to the state, zamindars, jagirdars, and revenue farmers.
    • The situation deteriorated further under British rule in the 18th century.
• Trade and Industry: India was recognized for its abundance of precious metals.
  • Imports: Pearls, Coffee, gold, medicinal products, honey, woolen textiles, ivory and medicinal products etc. 
• Exports: Cotton textiles, raw silk, silk fabrics, hardware, indigo, saltpeter, opium, rice, wheat, sugar, pepper, spices, gemstones, medicinal products.
• Status of Education: Elementary schools for Hindus were known as pathshalas, while for Muslims, they were termed maktabs. 
• Prominent Hubs: Sanskrit studies included Kasi (Varanasi), Tirhut (Mithila), Nadia, and Utkala.
• Societal Set-up: The family structure was predominantly male-dominated, with caste playing a pivotal role in Hindu social interactions.
• Position of Women in Society: Largely patriarchal system, with women possessing limited individuality.
• Menace of Slavery: European travelers reported widespread slavery in the 17th century.
• Economic distress, famines, natural calamities, and extreme poverty were the reasons behind the prevalence of slavery.

Decline of Mughals: Cultural Renaissance & Regional Resurgence

• Migration for Patronage: Talented individuals sought patronage from new state courts such as Hyderabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Murshidabad, Patna, and Kashmir.
• Architectural Developments: Important architectural development include: 
  • Lucknow: Bara Imambara was constructed by Asaf-ud-Daula in 1784.
  • Jaipur: Sawai Jai Singh established the “Pink City” and created five astronomical observatories in cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Benares, Mathura, and Ujjain.
  • Kerala: Padmanabhapuram Palace, known for architecture and mural paintings.
• Astronomy: Sawai Jai Singh introduced the Jij Muhammad-shahi timetables to facilitate the study of astronomy.
• Artistic Advancements: Birth of new painting schools.
  • Rajputana and Kangra schools of painting emerged as prominent styles.

Conclusion:

• India on the eve of British conquest, in the late 18th century, was a land of diverse cultures, kingdoms, and economic systems. 
  • The Decline of Mughals, leading to a fragmented political landscape with regional powers.
  • The British East India Company, initially involved in trade, exploited this fractured situation, using diplomacy and military might to establish control over key regions.

Also Read: Anglo Mysore Wars: Resilience and Conflict

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