Mughals and Summary
Overview
Statewide Dual Credit Modern World History: Unit 10, Lesson 4
A discussion of the decline of the Mughal Empire and the rise of the British Raj in India highlights the challenges of creating an efficient and industrialized state.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Mughal Empire confronted a series of challenges. The cost of ruling such a large empire had drained the treasury, and the Mughals no longer had the military power to defend all their territory. The rise of new groups, including the Sikhs, Rajput and the Maratha Confederacy, posed new challenges to the Mughal state. By mid-century, the Mughals had lost important territories to the Sikhs, Rajputs, and Marathas. They also suffered invasions, including Nadir Shah's in 1739, the British victory in Bengal at the Battle of Plassey (1757), and increasing French encroachment in the Southeast.
After the Battle of Plassey, the British used their technological and military superiority to increase their presence in and control over India. The Mughals were a declining force, and in 1857, they were defeated by the British. Bahadur Shah Zafar (r. 1837-1857) would be the last leader of the Mughal Empire, which had been established in 1526. The Government of India Act of 1858 transferred all East India Company land directly to the British Crown, establishing what is known as the British Raj. In 1876, Queen Victoria (1819-1901) assumed the title as the Empress of India.
Although the British attempted reforms in India, most ordinary Indians saw little benefit from British rule. British attempts at reform engendered oppressive taxes and under-investment. Colonialism and colonial rule sought to benefit the colonizer, and while colonial people could benefit, the aim was to strengthen the British Empire, most often to the detriment of colonized people. This inspired many Indians to join the movement for Indian independence, which developed in the late 19th century and gained increased momentum after the First World War.
Spotlight On | KOH-I-NOOR DIAMOND
From the Persian meaning “Mountain of Light,” the Koh-I-Noor diamond is virtually unmatched in its beauty and size. A part of the British Crown Jewels, Queen Victoria acquired the diamond after the British conquered the Punjab during the Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848-1849). Displayed at the Great Exhibition, a massive international exhibition held in England in 1851, some felt that although the size of the diamond was undoubtedly impressive, its appearance, especially its shape, was a disappointment. The following year, Prince Albert decided to have the diamond recut. The cutting took over a month, shaving some 80 carats off the diamond, reducing its size to 105.6 carats. After the upheaval and violence of 1857-1858, Queen Victoria (r. 1837-1901), became increasingly uncomfortable with Britain’s role in India and the diamond itself. Despite these concerns, Victoria continued to wear the diamond. In 1902, the diamond was added to the crown of Queen Consort Alexandria (1844-1925). The complicated chain of ownership, and how the British acquired it, means that many nations, including India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, have claimed ownership over the diamond, and asked it to be returned.
SUMMARY
This chapter has identified the challenges of creating an efficient and industrialized state. It demonstrated how various nations had to confront both external and internal challenges. While some nations responded to these threats and successfully modernized, others did not. Modernization along Western lines was a difficult and risky undertaking as it threatened to fundamentally alter a state, undermining both traditional social relations and the ruling elite.