The Decline of the Mughal Empire

Besides the British, the Mughal Dynasty was one of the most powerful rulings that took over India during the period of 1600. The Mughal Empire was an empire that was founded by Babur in 1526. They had dynamic political views and military strategies that were designed to take over different places in India. Mughal emperors and their achievements have paved the way for a revolution and exploration in South Asia. The empire lost its territory to Maratha Empires, and the dynasty declined as British Raj. 

Mughal Dynasty 

For almost three centuries, a large part of India was under the control of the Mughal Empire, but the drastic collapse of the power came about in the first half of the 18th century. The death of Aurangzeb in 1707 marked the end of Mughal Rule in Indian History. The empire disintegrated even though it was the largest dynasty in India. Not only did the political boundaries decline, but the administrative structure built by Akbar and Shahjahan collapsed. These processes led to regional and independent politics, which pointed to Aurangzeb as the arch culprit for the decline. He was a religious fanatic, and his orthodoxy turned his policies into bitter foes. His policies toward nobles and officials on the basis of religion damaged the stability of the Mughal Empire.

Rise of Marathas

Marathas were the most dynamic and efficient clan in India who set up a solid alliance in the Deccan areas. After the passing of Aurangzeb, they consolidated their positions in Western India and made a better plan for a Maharashtra empire. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was the one who established the complete troop for fighting against the invading Mughals and built an autonomous Maratha country in 1674. Peshwa Bajirao pursued the policy of conquering back the territories in the north. Marathas had a framework of blending both Hindu and Muslim establishments and territories. But the intolerance and vicious administration of Mughals made Shivaji Maharaj attack and recuperate various domains of Mughals.

After the death of Aurangzeb, the Mughal dynasty was under the control of weak successors who had poor military abilities. They were victims of intrigues and conspiracies, which led to their inefficiency in the ruling. They were incapable of suppressing wars which resulted in the depletion of the treasury and drainage of resources. The revolts against the imperial forces of Marathas, which continued after Shivaji’s death, were unsuccessful due to the absence of a strong ruler and capable army that shook the stability of the Mughal Empire.

British Raj 

Initially, the Europeans were interested in trade and commerce with the Mughal Empire. But as the Portuguese entered India through Kerala, they started establishing industries and factories for their trade purposes along the coast which led to the decline of the Mughal empires. In1600, the British became involved in these processes. For trading within the Indian Ocean region, they established the British East India Company. At the battle of Plassey in 1757, during the decline of the Mughal dynasty, the British took advantage of influencing the Mughal rulers by defeating the Nawab of Bengal in collaboration with French forces.

With these mindful tactics, the British began defeating and conquering all of the parts which were once under Mughal power. The Mughal emperors held onto the thrones but were actually under the control of the British government. Finally, the British exiled the last emperor of the Mughal Dynasty in the year 1857 in the Indian Rebellion. This resulted in the British government establishing the British Raj over India and creating a British- Indian Army for fighting around the globe in different wars.

Conclusion

The revolts of Marathas and the influence of the British Government’s overpowering led to the social, political, religious, and commercial decline of the Mughal Empire. The Maratha alliance made a strong foundation to take over the Deccan districts from the Mughal’s power, but sadly, the inheritance of Maratha clans got destroyed before British colonialism. 

After establishing the East India Company, the British Government started ruling India just by positioning the Mughal rulers as puppets. In the Indian Rebellion, the British colonial office exiled the last emperor of Mughal, Bahadur Shah II, and this led to the complete conquering of the Indian subcontinent.