History · Spectrum Books A Brief History of Modern India
Chapter 4 : India on the Eve of the British Conquest
Table of contents34 sections
- 1.India on the Eve of the British Conquest
- 2.The Mughals
- 3.Key Terms
- 4.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 5.Challenges before the Mughals
- 6.External Challenges
- 7.Why Many Empire-Shaking Battles at Panipat
- 8.Internal Challenge: Weak Rulers after Aurangzeb
- 9.Key Terms
- 10.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 11.Causes of the Decline of the Mughal Empire
- 12.Shifting Allegiance of Zamindars
- 13.Jagirdari Crisis
- 14.Rise of Regional Aspirations
- 15.Economic and Administrative Problems
- 16.Historiographical Perspectives on the Decline
- 17.Causes of the Mughals' Downfall in a Nutshell
- 18.Key Terms
- 19.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 20.Rise of Regional States
- 21.Classification of Regional States
- 22.Survey of Regional Kingdoms
- 23.Nature and Limitations of Regional States
- 24.Key Terms
- 25.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 26.Socio-Economic Conditions
- 27.Agriculture
- 28.Trade and Industry
- 29.Status of Education
- 30.Societal Set-Up
- 31.Developments in Art, Architecture, and Culture
- 32.Key Terms
- 33.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 34.Quick-Recall Box
Chapter preview
India on the Eve of the British Conquest
The Mughals
The first half of the 18th century witnessed the decline of the mighty Mughal Empire.
- Aurangzeb (1658–1707): His reign is generally considered to signify the beginning of the end of Mughal rule in India. His misguided policies weakened state stability, and the decline gained momentum after his death due to wars of succession and weak rulers.
- Muhammad Shah (1719–48): Ruled for a long spell of 29 years but was an incompetent ruler. A revival of imperial fortunes did not take place.
- Emergence of Regional Powers: During Muhammad Shah’s reign, independent states of Hyderabad, Bengal, Awadh, and Punjab were established. Local chiefs asserted independence, and the Marathas began their bid to inherit the imperial mantle.
Key Terms
| Concept | Definition |
|---|---|
| Mughal Empire | The dominant imperial power in India whose decline began in the early 18th century following the death of Aurangzeb in 1707. |
📌 Exam Tidbits
- Aurangzeb (1658–1707) → His death marks the beginning of the Mughal decline.
- Muhammad Shah (1719–48) → His 29-year reign saw the fragmentation of the empire into independent states like Hyderabad, Bengal, Awadh, and Punjab.
Challenges before the Mughals
External Challenges
The later Mughals neglected the north-western borders, leaving the empire vulnerable to invasions.
-
Nadir Shah (Persian emperor):
-
Attacked India in 1738–39.
-
Conquered Lahore.
-
Defeated the Mughal army at Karnal on February 13, 1739.
-
Captured Muhammad Shah; looted and devastated Delhi.
-
Booty: The Peacock Throne, the Kohinoor diamond, and seventy crore rupees collected from the official treasury and rich nobles' safes.
-
Territorial Gain: Gained strategically important Mughal territory to the west of the Indus, including Kabul.
-
"Nader Shah was Mughal emperor for only fifty-seven days, in 1739, but those days created aftershocks that transformed India's politics... Those fifty-seven days laid the ground which allowed the East India Company to conquer territory in India for the first time." — Jon Wilson, India Conquered
-
Ahmad Shah Abdali (or Ahmad Shah Durrani):
-
Elected successor of Nadir Shah after the…
This chapter is part of the History plan
Subscribe to read every chapter on any device. Free chapters remain readable for everyone.
View plans