Question

How do you think Aurangzeb was responsible for the decline of the Mughal empire?

Answer 1

Instructions:

• The answer to this question needs needs mention of his Deccan conquest and his religious policies that proved detrimental for the empire in the long run.

Solution:
Aurangzeb was responsible for the decline of the Mughal empire to a large extent. Even though, during his time, the empire was vast, he was unable to control every region across the subcontinent.

His protracted war in decan against the Deccan Sultanates and also that against Marathas squeezed away the finances of the empire.
Furthermore, he implemented religious policies that were not in favour of most of his subjects, who feeling alienated from their emperor, in turn rose up in revolts. If one were to notice, maximum revolts took place during Aurangzeb’s reign. In a way, the beginning of the decline of empire had begun right from his reign.