Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century and After
The Mughal imperial structure is frequently dated to 1600, to Akbar’s reign, which lasted until 1720, shortly after the death of the empire’s last significant monarch, Aurangzeb, during whose reign the empire also reached its greatest geographical extent. The empire lost a significant area as a result of the Maratha Empire’s conquests, which were absorbed as a puppet state, and this continued throughout the East India Company’s tenure in India. Following the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the British Raj legally dissolved the empire.
The Mughal Empire’s administrative and military efficiency resulted in immense economic and commercial prosperity. Foreign visitors were astounded by the poverty that coexisted with the most extravagant splendor. In the twentieth year of Jahangir’s reign, the highest-ranking mansabdars were only 445 out of a total of 8,000, and they got 61.5 percent of the empire’s total expected revenue as salary.
Mughal emperors and mansabdars spent a large portion of their revenue on wages and goods. This money went to the artisans and peasants who supplied them with goods and produce. The amount of income left relatively little for investment in the hands of primary producers. The poorest of them lived hand to mouth and could hardly afford to invest in additional resources – tools and supplies – to boost output.
The Mughal aristocracy commanded vast wealth and resources, making them an extremely powerful group of individuals in the late seventeenth century. As the Mughal emperor’s status weakened, his entourage rose to power as provincial power brokers. They founded new kingdoms and ruled over areas like Awadh and Hyderabad. The empire’s provinces had acquired their own political identities by the eighteenth century but continued to recognize the Mughal emperor in Delhi as their sovereign.
Mughal Empire
From the latter half of the 16th century, the Mughals expanded their empire from Agra and Delhi, going on to control all of the subcontinents in the 17th century. Ruling a vast territory as the Indian subcontinent involving such a diverse group of people and cultures, was a very difficult task in medieval times. The Mughal Empire was in one of its best states during the 17th century. Prosperity in commercial and economic activities was evident during this period.
Table of Content
- Who were the Mughals?
- List of Mughal Emperors in India (1526- 1857)
- Mughal Military Campaigns
- Mughal Tradition of Succession
- Mansabdars and Jagirdars
- Akbar’s Policies
- Mughal Empire in the Seventeenth Century and After
- Decline of the Mughal Dynasty
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