1.5 The Mughal Empire

What was the Mughal Empire?

A Muslim dynasty that ruled over a majority Hindu population in India from 1526-1858. It was one of the wealthiest and most peaceful empires at its height

Why had the control held by the Mughals in the South Asian subcontinent started changing in the 18th century?

• Growing internal divisions led to rivals challenging the central government of the already declining empire

• European merchants and govts started seeing if they could get some of its wealth

What was the state of the Mughal empire in 1750?

Although technically it was still an empire until 1858, the two reasons their control started changing in the 18th century created a major crisis for the rulers by 1750.

At that time, mostly governed loosely by separate powerful princely states.

Religious tolerance

Muslims were already living in India when the Mughals first arrived, but during Mughal rule, they averaged only about 15% of the population. However, Mughal rule was generally tolerant of all of the religions of the region.

Network for trade

• India was at the center of a global market for goods that Muslims dominated

• Mughal India had a thriving manufacturing industry - trade in cotton + silk brought great wealth to India

• India didn’t grow many spices, but it was the world’s trans-shipment center for them

How was the Mughal state established?

• Established by the Sultan Babur with his victory over the Lodhi Sultan in 1526. Babur died two years later, so his grandson’s leadership sustained the dynasty.

• The grandson expanded territories and made a very efficient government

Why was the Mughal empire so wealthy?

It was one of the richest empires by early 17th century because of trade, textile production, and the wide-spread efficient govt it established

What were mansabdars?

Officers of the state that were awarded land grants by emperors. They collected taxes on behalf of the empire and got land, pay, and status. (could be Hindu or Muslim)

What were some reasons for the fall of the Mughal empire?

• Running out of land for mansabdars

• Emperor Aurangzeb was violent and caused devastation

• Foreign pressures such as the EIC

Situation with the mansabdars

During the first 150 years of Mughal rule, mansabdars got richer and richer and increasingly powerful, but the Mughal state reached the limits of territorial growth at around 1700. They were unable to award mansabdars with land anymore and battles over the throne created political instability

Emperor Aurangzeb

he took power in 1658 and spent his 49 years of rule conquering territories and being brutally violent. Millions died in that time and there was a lot of devastation.

in addition, his conquests was unfortunate timing because there was also beginning to be foreign pressure.

External pressure

Many Europeans were seeking land from South Asia in the 18th century, including Dutch, French, and Portuguese. But it was the British who were dominant, represented by EIC

how did the EIC eventually take over?

• Initially, EIC was fine acting like a mansabdar

• through treaties, EIC got right to collect taxes on lands they won

• EIC began to expand more and more, allying with powers that disliked Mughals and Europeans

• They beat out European rivals

• EIC ends up conquering the entire Indian subcontinent (early 19th), by letting the same people stay in power after conquering but make them workers of the EIC

What happened in 1857?

The Indian Rebellion of 1857, where soldiers rebelled against the EIC. The British eventually won, but the british crown abolished the EIC’s rule and marked the end of the Mughal empire.