Why it rose:
Military superiority: Babur's artillery and tactics defeated armies many times larger — this gave the Mughals initial control
Akbar's religious tolerance: By marrying Rajput nobles into the court and abolishing jizya, Akbar made 80% of the population (Hindus) willing supporters rather than resentful subjects
Efficient taxation (zabt system): Todar Mal's land measurement system raised revenue fairly and consistently, funding the army and court
Mansabdari system: Meritocratic administration tied loyalty to imperial rank rather than birth, reducing regional rebellions
= Stable, wealthy, legitimate empire lasting nearly 180 years at its peak
Why it declined:
Aurangzeb's intolerance: Reimposing jizya and destroying temples alienated the Hindu majority and Sikhs — creating active resistance rather than cooperation
Maratha War overextension: 26 years of expensive Deccan campaigning drained the treasury and exhausted the army without achieving conquest
Weak successors: After 1707, nine emperors ruled in twelve years — no stable leadership to manage the vast empire
Growing regional powers: Marathas, Sikhs, and later the British East India Company exploited Mughal weakness to expand their own power
= Fragmentation and eventual British conquest by 1858
This causation covers Why Did the Mughal Empire Rise and Fall? within The Mughal Empire, 1526-1707 for GCSE History. Revise The Mughal Empire, 1526-1707 in Component Group 4 — Period Studies for GCSE History with 14 exam-style questions and 17 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 6 of 14 in this topic. Use this causation to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for The Mughal Empire, 1526-1707
Describe two features of how Babur founded the Mughal Empire in 1526.
Describe two features of Akbar's policy of religious tolerance.
Quick recall flashcards
What happened to Humayun and why does it matter?
Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun at Kannauj (1540), forcing 15 years of exile at the Safavid Persian court. Humayun reconquered Delhi in 1555 but died in 1556. His Persian exile brought important artistic and cultural influences into the Mughal court.
What was Akbar's Rajput policy?
Akbar married Rajput Hindu princesses (including Jodha Bai of Amer) and appointed Rajput nobles as senior military commanders and court officials. This turned potential enemies into loyal allies, giving the Muslim Mughal emperor a strong Hindu power base.