What were the causes of the Decline of Mughal Empire ?
// O levels History //
ANS: There are many reasons why the Mughal Empire declined. Some Historians blame Aurangzeb for showing the seeds of decline, but the empire continued for 150 years after his death. Perhaps the real answer to this question is that a number of factors combined to bring about the fall of one of Asia's most famous dynasties.
The nature of empire :
Administration :
Huge Empire was difficult to administer
Emperors could not know. what exactly was happening in every part of the empire.
So Aurangzeb used mansabdar's but the problem remained
When rebellions broke out it was often many months before the emperors could take decisive action to end them.
Military Costs :
Mughal emperor was a huge array of different people and different religions
They were continually fighting rebellions
The cost of putting down rebellions and fighting wars against invaders, such as Nadir Shah from Persia was enormous.
Successions:
Huge sums were wasted when the emperor died and there was a succession dispute.
To avoid wars Aurangzeb decided to divide the empire between his three sons, but the problem remained the same and was not successful
Succession disputes continued to erode the empire.
Rebels :
Mughal empire was facing rebellions from different rulers like Marathas, Sikhs, and also the British. Thus his army started weakening day by day which and they were not enough stable to make the army restand
due to which they had to face the decline.