1. Decline of the Mughal Empire
1.1. Causes: 1. Augrangzeb's war in the Deccan that depleted financial resources. 2. Powerful Mansabdars & subadars that controlled revenue & miltary administration 3. Peasant and Zamindari rebellions against rising taxes 4. Powerful chieftains and governors gaining too much power 4. Plunder by Nadir Shah (1739), Ahmad Shah Abdali (5 invasions 1748-1761) 5. Mughal Emperors puppets in the hands of Iranis & Turanis
1.1.1. Assasination of Farrukh Syar (1713-1719) Alamgir (1754-1759). Blinded - Ahmad Shah (1748-1754), Shah Alam II (1759-1816)
2. New States Emerge
2.1. 1. States that were old Mughal Provinces - Awadh, Bengal, Hyderabad
2.1.1. Hyderabad (Nizam-ul-Mulk-Asaf Jah 1724-1748)
2.1.1.1. - Was a Governor of Awadh in the court of Emperor Farrukh Siyar.
2.1.1.2. Took advantage of turmoil in deccan and gained political & financial control.
2.1.1.3. brought skilled soldiers & administrators from the North
2.1.1.4. Appointed Mansabdars & granted jagirs
2.1.1.5. Struggle with Marathas, Nayakas & East India Company
2.1.2. Awadh (Burhan-ul-Mulk Sa'adat Khan 1722)
2.1.2.1. Subadari (political), Diwani (Financial) & Faujdari (military) of Awadh
2.1.2.2. Controlled the rich alluvial Ganga plains (Awadh)
2.1.2.3. Removed Mughal jagirdars and appointed his own loyal servants to posts
2.1.2.4. Seized Rajput lands
2.1.2.5. Started the loans & banking system that changed revenue system
2.1.2.5.1. revenue farmers (ijaradars) collected taxes on behalf of the State.
2.1.2.5.2. revenue farmers given freedom in assessment & collection
2.1.2.5.3. Gave rise to money lenders & bankers
2.1.3. Bengal (Murshid quli Khan)
2.1.3.1. was Naib of the province & seized revenue admin
2.1.3.2. Transferred Mughal Jagirdars to Orissa
2.1.3.3. Revenue collected in cash from Zamindars - they had to borrow money from money lenders & bankers
2.1.4. 3 Common Features between Hyderabad, Awadh, Bengal
2.1.4.1. Sought Freedom from the Mughals
2.1.4.2. Contracted with Revenue Farmers for collection of taxes (ijaradari)
2.1.4.3. Banking system developed
2.2. Watan Jagirs of Rajputs
2.2.1. who got considerable freedom to run their kingdoms
2.2.2. Started to extend control over adjacent areas & expanding their kingdoms
2.2.3. Raja Ajit Singh (Jodhpur) became Governor of Gujarat & Sawai Raja Jai Singh (Amber) became Governor of Malwa.
2.3. Marathas, Sikhs & Jats
2.3.1. The Sikhs
2.3.1.1. Fought against Mughals & Rajputs under Guru Gobind Singh and formed Khalsa (Grand army)
2.3.1.2. After Guru Gobind Singh's death, fought under Banda Bahadur to get freedom
2.3.1.3. Full sovereignty after issuing coins 1765
2.3.1.4. Sikh territories extended from Indus to Jamuna in 18th century
2.3.2. Marathas
2.3.2.1. Shivaji carved out the Maratha Kingdom & built Maratha army with the support of Deshmukhs (warrior Families) and Kunbis (peasant pastorilists)
2.3.2.2. Peshwas took control after Shivaji's death. Poona became capital
2.3.2.3. Peshwas developed strong military organisation by bypassing fortified areas of the Mughals, raiding cities and disturbing or cutting off supply lines of the Mughal army.
2.3.2.4. Gained authority from Mughals (1720-1761) - right to levy Chauth & sardeshmukhi
2.3.2.5. Raided Delhi in 1737. Expanded to Panjab, rajasthan, Bengal, Orissa, Karnataka, Tamil and Telugu countries.
2.3.2.5.1. Consequences of all these conquests is that the other rulers became hostile towards the Marathas. They did the support the marathas in the 3rd Battle of panipat in 1761.
2.3.3. Jats
2.3.3.1. Consolidated their freedom under Churaman
2.3.3.2. Kingdom of Bharatpur - refuge of nobles during Nadir Shah's invasion
2.3.3.2.1. West of Delhi - between Delhi & Agra
2.3.3.3. Suraj Mal's son, Jawahir Shah gathered troops (20,000 Maratha, 15,000 Sikhs and 30,000 his own) to fight the Mughals
2.3.3.4. Jats also known for the architecture, especially at Dig garden Palace. The architecture of this place is based on Shah jahan's royal palaces.