📌 Topic 04 of 6 · Chapter 10 · Mughal Empire
Aurangzeb — Policies & Decline of Mughal Empire
Aurangzeb’s religious policies, Jizya reimposition, Deccan campaigns, Maratha resistance, causes of Mughal decline.
👑 Aurangzeb (1658–1707)
Aurangzeb (Alamgir) was the last great Mughal emperor. He ruled for 49 years — the longest reign of any Mughal emperor. He expanded the empire to its greatest territorial extent but his policies sowed the seeds of Mughal decline.
🕌 Religious Policies
- Reimposed Jizya (tax on non-Muslims) in 1679 CE — reversing Akbar’s policy
- Banned music, dance, and painting at court
- Destroyed some Hindu temples — Kashi Vishwanath (Varanasi), Mathura Keshav Dev
- Built mosques on temple sites
- Enforced Islamic law (Sharia) more strictly
- Compiled Fatawa-i-Alamgiri — comprehensive Islamic legal code
⚔️ Deccan Campaigns (1681–1707)
- Aurangzeb spent the last 27 years of his reign in the Deccan
- Conquered Bijapur (1686) and Golconda (1687) — ended Deccan Sultanates
- Faced constant Maratha guerrilla warfare
- Captured Shivaji’s son Sambhaji (1689) and executed him
- Despite military successes, could not crush Maratha resistance
- Deccan campaigns drained the treasury and exhausted the army
⚔️ Maratha Resistance
- Shivaji (1627–1680) — founded Maratha Empire; constant thorn in Aurangzeb’s side
- Shivaji escaped from Aurangzeb’s captivity in Agra (1666) in a basket of sweets
- Crowned Chhatrapati (sovereign) in 1674 CE
- After Shivaji’s death, Maratha confederacy continued resistance
- Marathas used guerrilla warfare — impossible to defeat in open battle
⭐ Aurangzeb’s Dilemma: Aurangzeb’s religious policies alienated Hindus (who were 80% of the population), Rajputs (who were the backbone of the Mughal army), and Sikhs. His Deccan campaigns exhausted the empire. After his death in 1707 CE, the Mughal Empire rapidly fragmented into successor states.
📉 Causes of Mughal Decline
- Aurangzeb’s religious policies: Alienated Hindus, Rajputs, Sikhs, Marathas
- Deccan campaigns: 27 years; drained treasury; exhausted army
- Weak successors: After Aurangzeb, 12 emperors in 50 years
- Nadir Shah’s invasion (1739): Looted Delhi; took Peacock Throne and Koh-i-Noor
- Ahmad Shah Abdali’s invasions: Third Battle of Panipat (1761) — Marathas defeated
- Rise of regional powers: Marathas, Sikhs, Hyderabad, Awadh, Bengal
- British expansion: Battle of Plassey (1757) — British became dominant
📝 Exam Tip:
• Aurangzeb reimposed Jizya = 1679 CE
• Fatawa-i-Alamgiri = Islamic legal code compiled by Aurangzeb
• Shivaji escaped from Agra = 1666 CE = basket of sweets
• Shivaji crowned Chhatrapati = 1674 CE
• Nadir Shah’s invasion = 1739 CE = Peacock Throne + Koh-i-Noor looted
• Aurangzeb reimposed Jizya = 1679 CE
• Fatawa-i-Alamgiri = Islamic legal code compiled by Aurangzeb
• Shivaji escaped from Agra = 1666 CE = basket of sweets
• Shivaji crowned Chhatrapati = 1674 CE
• Nadir Shah’s invasion = 1739 CE = Peacock Throne + Koh-i-Noor looted