Question

1. Were the weak and greedy characteristics of Aurangzeb's successors the most important reason for the collapse of the Mughal Empire? Explain your answer. (14) (PEE)

2. From what we have covered in History, paste a relevant picture/painting/map as a picture source and formulate a 5 mark question for it.

Answer 1

The collapse of the Mughal Empire was due to multiple factors, including Aurangzeb's successors' weaknesses, religious intolerance, costly building projects and campaigns, administrative issues, and European colonial strategies that exploited these vulnerabilities.

Step-by-step explanation:

The weak and greedy characteristics of Aurangzeb's successors were among the reasons for the collapse of the Mughal Empire, but not the sole cause. The decline was exacerbated by a combination of factors, including religious intolerance under Aurangzeb's rule, which alienated the Hindu majority and led to widespread dissatisfaction and revolts. Additionally, the lavish expenditure on projects like the Taj Mahal, unsuccessful military campaigns, and erosion of Akbar's tax reforms further strained the empire's resources.

The arrival of European traders and subsequent invaders weakened the Mughal hold on India. The Portuguese, Dutch, French, and especially the British East India Company exploited the empire's internal divisions and established dominance through superior military technology and strategic political alliances with local rulers. As Mughal power declined, so too did its ability to unify the diverse population, making it vulnerable to external and internal pressures that eventually led to its downfall.

In sum, while the shortcomings of Aurangzeb's successors played a role, the empire's collapse was the result of a complex interplay of administrative failures, cultural and religious policies, imperial overreach, and the strategic incursions of European powers.

Answer 2

yes the weak and greedy characteristics of Aurangzeb's successors the most important reason for the collapse of the Mughal Empire as The successors of Aurangzeb were very weak. They could not check the disintegration of the empire.The absence of the law of primogeniture was another cause for the downfall of the empire. After the death of each Mughal emperor, there was a war of succession among his sons and it paved the way for their own downfall.