Decline of the Empire

British control of India in the mid-nineteenth century

Extended over vast tracts of the Mughal Empire and other principalities through treaties and alliances.

Bahadur Shah II

The last Mughal Emperor, found guilty of treason and banished to Burma.

Empress of India

Queen Victoria was declared Empress of India, marking Britain's direct control over its Indian possessions.

Justifications for British control

The British argued that Indians were unable to govern themselves properly.

Corrupt Indian princes

The British regularly removed princes they deemed corrupt as part of their annexation policy.

India as the jewel of the Empire

India was regarded as a valuable asset in the British Empire.

Consequences of heavy taxation

Heavy taxation imposed by the British bled wealth from India, causing local discontent.

Economic development under Mughals

Mughals initially encouraged economic growth by establishing a strong banking and credit system.

Decline of the Afghan Lodi Sultans

The Afghan Lodi Sultans lost power due to indulgence and failure to learn from previous mistakes.

Mughals and global advancements

The Mughals failed to keep pace with global advancements, especially in weapon technology.