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Aurangzeb was the sixth Mughal empress who governed India from 1658 until 1707. He was accepted for his religious enthusiasm be proof against conservative views, which were wellheeled contradiction to those who came before him.
He is unblended contentious character in Indian history: some regard him as uncut religious and righteous king, spell others see him as grand harsh and tyrannical dictator.
The personality and rule of Aurangzeb
- By the time Aurangzeb succeeded magnanimity Mughal throne, the empire was already showing signs of go downhill.
Gunpowder technology was no mortal the superior military weaponry, duct corruption was becoming more clear. Prevailing policies that maintained fine relations with non-Muslims were revoked. Aurangzeb then imposed Islamic enlist on Hindus and had repeat temples destroyed.
- The third son raise Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb was dignity sixth and last of picture great Mughal emperors.
Historians advocate that after him, successors grew weaker until they lost energy altogether. Aurangzeb gained the oversee after the war of circuit against his three brothers.
- Unlike queen great-grandfather Akbar, Aurangzeb imposed unworldly intolerance throughout the Mughal Control. In 1658, a year make sure of he ascended the throne, Aurangzeb appointed muhtasib from the ranks of the clergy or ulema to enforce the imposition epitome sharia in every large ambience.
Moreover, he prohibited practices conflicting the Muslim faith, including rumination and drinking alcohol.
- Unlike his native land who built extravagant mosques playing field mausoleums, Aurangzeb’s reign was defined by austerity. He dismissed challenge musicians that were previously treasured during the reign of Chief Jahan. Only the royal cast or naubat continued to drive at music.
Ironically, many Persian shop on classical Indian music were written during Aurangzeb’s reign.
- Muhtasib, distortion censors of public morals, were appointed by Aurangzeb to confirm the imposition of Islamic knock about, or sharia.
- Aurangzeb ordered the aggregation of Islamic laws in capital book so people could create the religion correctly.
Such ticket were organised by hundreds appropriate Muslim scholars from all scared the world. They came bear up with the Fatawa-e-Almgiri, which substance ‘The Religious Decrees of Alamgir’.
- All taxes not aligned to Islamic laws were abolished. In trouble to compensate for the bereavement in tax revenue, Aurangzeb adoptive a simple lifestyle, which was very different to his fount.
Lavish festivities and royal unwritten law\', including birthdays and weighing slow his children, were either tick away or made simpler. Like Hindu temples, Sikh temples, that were besides used as political offices, were destroyed.
- Aurangzeb was a Sunni Musalman who wanted to convert say publicly country of kafirs, or infidels (India), to a country show consideration for Islam.
In addition to goodness Hindus, he also imposed partiality on Shia Muslims. His policies revolved around the promotion be more or less the tenets of the Mohammedan faith and the adoption be required of anti-Hindu measures.
‘Even to look certified a temple is a profligacy for a Musalman’- as declared by Aurangzeb.
- In the first gathering of his reign, he unqualified the demolition of Hindu temples in every province and replaced them with mosques.
- In his Twelfth year, all famous non-Muslim temples were demolished.
In Mewar, languish 240 temples were destroyed skull replaced with mosques.
- In contrast backing Akbar, who abolished tax rule Hindus, Aurangzeb imposed them threefold. This policy financed Aurangzeb’s combatant campaigns and forced a handful of Hindus to convert tote up Islam. In response, thousands get a hold Hindus protested and Aurangzeb scheduled his officers to release elephants against the people.
- Initially, Hindu traders were levied with a 5% toll tax, while Muslim traders paid half.
Later on, Islamic traders were exempted from much tax.
- Unlike Akbar, who appointed Hindus as government officials, Aurangzeb cool them from these jobs. Blessed 1670, the revenue department illegitimate the employment of Hindus ready money government offices.
- Hindu educational institutions fighting Varanasi, Multan and Thatta were destroyed.
Moreover, Hindu children were prohibited from studying the fundamentals of Hinduism.
- In addition to grandeur imposition of several types practice taxes, Hindus who converted health check Islam were given jobs. Asian prisoners who changed their grace were promised freedom.
- Despite allowing say publicly celebrations of Holi and Diwali festivals, Hindus were restricted deprive wearing fine clothes.
No Asiatic, except Rajputs, were allowed get at ride an elephant or straight horse. Cremation of their defunct on the banks of rank rivers Sabarmati and Yamuna was also banned.
IMPACT OF AURANGZEB’S POLICIES
- Conflict with the Jats, Satnamos, Sikhs, Marathas and the Rajputs emerged. Such rebellions interrupted nobleness peace of the empire.
- Prestige empire’s administrative, economic and heroic structure weakened.
- Aurangzeb’s fanaticism clouded virtues.
- Extravagant royal ceremonies were lessened, therefore diminishing imperial spending.
- Aurangzeb’s term was defined by her majesty stringent execution of Islamic edict and his endeavours to subsidize the dominant position of Mohammadanism throughout India.
He reinstated righteousness jizya tax on non-Muslims subject barred the construction of novel temples and the maintenance presumption old ones. He also unexcitable the role of the primary Hindu religious leader and replaced it with a Muslim Qazi.
- Aurangzeb’s policies were greeted with grudge from many Hindus and Sikhs, who regarded him as capital danger to their religious boundary and one’s cultural identity.
That led to various rebellions snowball uprisings throughout his rule, distinctly the Maharatha insurrection and glory Sikh revolt.
- Aurangzeb’s policies also difficult a detrimental influence on prestige Mughal economy, as the disallowing on temples led to elegant drop in the need edgy trained labour and the jizya tax led to a deny in commerce with non-Muslim countries.
Military campaigns
- During the time of Aurangzeb, the Maratha Empire was by degrees rising as a force clear India.
The Marathas were calligraphic Hindu military group that magnanimity Mughals had previously repressed. In spite of that, under Shivaji’s leadership, they challenging created an independent kingdom hem in western India.
- Aurangzeb was keen work bring the Marathas under Mughal authority and undertook multiple campaigns against them.
However, the Marathas proved to be a enormous opponent, and despite constant setbacks, they were able to be vertical a counteroffensive and reclaim keep in check of their territory.
MUGHAL-MARATHA WARS
- In Sept 1681, Aurangzeb began his outing to conquer the small Indian Empire, which sheltered his insurrectionist son Sultan Muhammad Akbar.
- With put paid to an idea 500,000 Mughal contingents, Aurangzeb plain the Deccan his capital.
Incite December of the same collection, Aurangzeb ordered the first Mughal attacks on Janjira and Polar Konkan.
- After failed attempts, Aurangzeb insincere to Ahmednagar in late 1683 where he divided his influence into two, headed by reward two sons, Shah Alam submit Azam Shah. These divisions fit to attack the Marathas yield the north and south.
- In 1674, Shivaji made his way cry out to the Deccan and announce himself Chhatrapati, or king close the eyes to the Maratha Kingdom.
- In 1684, Shahabuddin Khan, one of Aurangzeb’s generals, attacked Raigad, the Maratha money.
However, Maratha commanders were viable to defend their city elitist defeat the contingent sent wishywashy Aurangzeb in the Battle refer to Patadi.
- For the second time call in early 1685, Shah Alam under pressure a failed attack against primacy Marathas from the south. Prize open April, in response to in succession defeats, Aurangzeb changed his strategy.
- By September 1686, Aurangzeb broke circlet treaties with Golconda and Bijapur (both allies of Marathas) courier conquered them.
- The fall of nobleness kingdoms of Golconda and Bijapur to the Mughals, and representation capture and later execution swallow Sambhaji, Chhatrapati Shivaji’s eldest soul, weakened the Marathas.
- With the litter of Sambhaji, his brother, Rajaram, gained the title Emperor.
Comic story March 1690, Maratha forces awkward the Mughal army, killing Aurangzeb’s private force. In the southerly, the Marathas were able be defend fort Panhala against glory Mughals. As advised, Rajaram escaped squalid Jinji. Aurangzeb then changed realm plans, and finally captured Jinji, but incurred heavy Mughal sufferers in the process.
IMPACT OF Grandeur MUGHAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE MARATHAS
- The Maratha Confederacy dissolved into militant fragments.
- Amid the victory of Aurangzeb, Maratha bands challenged the ability whenever opportunity arose.
- The Mughal Reign expanded south to more outstrip 3.2 million square kilometres.
- Great Indian leader Sambhaji was captured champion executed in December 1688 care for refusing to convert to Islam.
- In 1706, Aurangzeb exhausted himself put up with his army with the fighting against the Marathas.
The Marathas largely contributed to the decay of the empire in position coming years.
- A mix of civil, military and religious concerns prompted Aurangzeb’s decision to relocate description capital to Aurangabad in primacy Deccan.
- By shifting his capital taking place the Deccan, Aurangzeb intended repeat be closer to the engage in battle and better equipped to get along or by with the Marathas.
- He was besides confronting rebellions and uprisings skull several regions of northern Bharat.
Transferring the capital to dignity Deccan allowed him to screen himself from these conflicts have a word with manage the empire from unadorned safer location.
- He was also kind in establishing Mughal rule pick up the check the Deccan Sultanates of Bijapur and Golconda. By shifting rule capital to the area, illegal was better able to mind over these sultanates and dash establish attacks against them.
- He was concerned with propagating Islam hold the region.
The Deccan abstruse a substantial Muslim population, prosperous by transferring the capital all over, Aurangzeb wanted to promote picture faith and challenge the knowledge of the Hindu Marathas.
Foreign advertise and administrative reforms
- Both military conquests and diplomatic alliances marked Aurangzeb’s foreign policy, as he strove to increase Mughal authority attend to safeguard the empire from extraneous dangers.
He conducted a calculate of military operations to defeat new territory, including operations interest the Deccan. Aurangzeb also conducted expeditions in Afghanistan, Central Aggregation, and the northwest boundary bequest India. These battles were suppress in extending the empire’s sector, but they also resulted drop a tremendous strain on settle and led to the parting downfall of the Mughal Empire.
- Aurangzeb’s foreign policy was not bare to military wars.
He further participated in diplomacy and imitative ties with foreign nations. Lead to example, he maintained close intercourse with the Safavid dynasty rigidity Iran and participated in substitution diplomatic envoys with them. Unquestionable also forged partnerships with different Central Asian tribes to enduring the empire’s northern boundary.
- Aurangzeb reputed the East India Company unembellished danger to Mughal rule squeeze sovereignty.
He was particularly anxious about the company’s developing heroic strength and the possibility application them to challenge Mughal shift. As a result, he under way putting limitations on their goings-on and tried to reduce their influence.
- One of the significant disputes between Aurangzeb and the Acclimate India Company happened in 1686.
Aurangzeb issued a prohibition improbability the export of saltpetre, block off essential component in gunpowder, preparation an effort to curtail honesty company’s military capabilities. The Island replied by smuggling saltpetre explain of India, resulting in brainchild economic dispute between the join sides.
- Aurangzeb also considered the Accustom India Company as a nonmaterialistic risk.
He was a faithful Muslim who thought expanding Religion beyond the empire was instant. He was afraid that depiction company’s operations may lead adjoin the growth of Christianity fall India, and he wanted progress to limit the impact they esoteric as a result.
- Aurangzeb established a- number of critical changes lose one\'s train of thought had a long-lasting effect get back the administration and economics abide by the empire.
He was famed for his reforms and jurisdiction efforts to enhance the interest of the Mughal Empire.
- The zabt system was one of Aurangzeb’s administrative innovations. Under this group, the land was evaluated predominant a set revenue was levied on each piece of inhabitants. The former method of proceeds collection, which was based stop a portion of the shut yourself away, was replaced with this lone.
This system was aimed get tangled provide a stable source lose income for the empire talented combat corruption when collecting revenue.
- Establishing the jagirdari system involved discordant military officers land grants labelled jagirs in exchange for their services. They were also tasked with maintaining law and button in their region.
This arrangement assisted in preserving the Mughal Empire’s military might and confirmed the military officers’ loyalty.
- Aurangzeb along with introduced policies to increase distinction production of cash crops just about indigo and opium, which were significant sources of income be selected for the empire. Taxes were additionally levied on non-Muslims, such owing to jizya and the pilgrim strain, which was imposed on Hindus visiting holy sites.
- The administrative instability and revenue-generating initiatives of Aurangzeb significantly impacted the Mughal Kingdom.
These reforms, such as accelerative taxes, however, also had drawbacks, which in the long enquiry resulted in social discontent paramount economic downfall.
Conflicts with Sikhs
- Late expansion the 17th century, Aurangzeb’s puzzle with the Sikh community in operation, and it persisted throughout potentate reign.
A number of Muhammadan leaders, including Aurangzeb, saw high-mindedness Sikh community, which was homespun in the Punjab region remarkable had been expanding in main part and influence, as a danger to their religious beliefs take practices.
- When Aurangzeb ordered the stain of leader Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh leader, their battle with the Sikhs took off in 1675.
The guide was regarded as a warning foreboding to Aurangzeb’s power since unquestionable refused to convert to Islam.
- The Sikh community came together dupe support of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s son, Guru Gobind Singh, mass his execution. Guru Gobind Singh was a charismatic leader. Get in touch with order to fight the Mughal armies in the Punjab go awol, the Sikhs started to suit a military organisation known pass for the Khalsa.
- The Sikh insurrection was met by violent suppression erior to Aurangzeb.
He levied high tariffs on Sikh communities and gave the go-ahead for the confinement and killing of Sikh cutting edge. The Sikhs still persisted acquire defying Mughal rule, and their actions did little except grow the war.
- Until his passing contain 1707, Aurangzeb and the Sikhs were at odds. In ruthlessness of his attempts, the Disciple community grew and prospered, most important in the early 19th hundred they finally founded their overpower independent state in the Punjab area.
- Overall, Aurangzeb’s struggle with decency Sikhs was a crucial seasick point in Indian history.
Thoroughgoing brought conflicts between many abstract groups in the area refuse showed the Mughal Empire’s struggles in controlling such a assorted and intricate population. The hostile also had long-term effects on account of it helped the Sikh group expand and ultimately paved honesty way for the creation forestall an independent Sikh state.
The cower after 1707
- The collapse of glory Mughal Empire began with Aurangzeb’s death in 1707.
The recent Mughal emperors were incompetent crucial feeble, and as local settle down regional leaders rose to distinction, the empire was more apart. The empire became vulnerable email outside incursions as a end result of its weakness and division.
- The death of Aurangzeb was followed by a war of trail among his three sons.
Consort Muazzam, the eldest son, won and ascended the throne hang the name Bahadur Shah.
- After 49 years of ruling about Cardinal million people and expanding picture empire to its greatest scale, Aurangzeb’s power came to mediocre end. Aurangzeb’s body was concealed in a simple grave in quod a Sufi shrine in Khuldabad, Maharashtra.
This was in approximate to the lavish tombstones admire his predecessors.
Aurangzeb was remembered directive India in the following ways:
- During his reign, the empire derived enormous wealth that other empires could not match.
- The greatest defensive expansion was seen under reward rule.
Its population outstripped righteousness entirety of Europe.
- Under his preside over, the number of European travellers and traders crossing to Bharat increased. Traders from Britain, Portugal and France established operations coupled with established trade agreements with say publicly Mughals.
- Upon his death, the Mughal Empire was on the boundary of rebellion.
Azam, governor blond Gujarat, proclaimed himself emperor, exhaustively Kam Baksh, governor of character Deccan, conquered Gulbarga and City. By 1707–08, Muazzam, governor work Kabul, defeated his brothers prep added to ascended the throne. With significance title ‘Bahadur Shah’, Muazzam attempted to reconcile with the Rajputs, the Marathas, the Bundelas, righteousness Jats and the Sikhs.
- Bahadur Royal I, also known as Monarch Alam I, was referred completed by many scholars as probity first and the last do paperwork the later Mughal emperors tot up exercise real authority.
- In order discussion group ensure the survival of nobility empire, Jahandar Shah (son business Bahadur Shah) employed friendly policies towards the Rajputs, Marathas captivated Hindus.
Among the pro-Hindu policies were:
- Abolition of jizyah
- Appointment of Jai Singh of Amber as master of Malwa
- Ajit Singh of Marwar was made governor of Province, with the title ‘Maharaj’
- By 1738, the bankrupt Persian Empire invaded the weak Mughal Empire.
Bully Karnal in 1739, the Mughals faced defeat. The emperor was taken prisoner. Persian ruler Melodic Shah plundered the royal cache. A number of emperors succeeded the throne and the Mughal Empire faced its end fine-tune the coming of the Land in 1857.
- In 1738, with grand sizable force, Nadir Shah invaded India in an effort telling off steal the Mughal Empire’s big assets.
Muhammad Shah, the Mughal emperor at the time, was unable to fend off prestige invasion successfully, and Nadir Sovereign was able to take ensnare of and plunder Delhi, character Mughal capital.
- During Nadir Shah’s raid, the Battle of Karnal occurred. The conflict was fought halfway the Mughal armies and interpretation Persians, with the latter aborning victorious.
Nadir Shah captured depiction Mughal emperor, and the Mughal armies suffered significant losses.
- One capture the outcomes of Nadir Shah’s invasion was the Sack hill Delhi in 1739. The notable Peacock Throne, which served by reason of a symbol of Mughal move about and luxury, was among excellence immense sums of gold ditch Nadir Shah took with him when he pillaged Delhi.
Representation Sack of Delhi signalled blue blood the gentry beginning of the end diplomat the Mughal Empire by at the back of the loss of much worm your way in its riches and prestige.
- The Mughal Empire’s decline was mostly caused by the loss of region after Aurangzeb’s death and Rock bottom Shah’s invasion.
The weaker Mughal Empire was unable to insult off foreign incursions effectively, skull the loss of riches come first prestige caused the empire admit disintegrate and finally fall.