Aurangzeb and the Decline of the Mughal Empire

Regional Powers & the Decline of the Mughal Empire – Marathas, Sikhs, Jats and Afghan Resistance against Aurangzeb

The late Mughal period witnessed growing resistance against Aurangzeb, ultimately leading to the erosion of centralized Mughal authority and the dawn of powerful regional states. The early phase of dissent began with the rise of the Marathas under Shivaji, whose guerrilla warfare shook Mughal control in the Deccan. Tensions escalated with the Treaty of Purandar (1665) and Shivaji’s daring escape from Agra, symbolizing the limits of Mughal power. Shivaji’s coronation in 1674 marked the formal emergence of the Maratha Swarajya, supported by a decentralized yet efficient administrative framework. Meanwhile, the Mughal Empire faced simultaneous uprisings in North India, including the Jat rebellion near Agra and Delhi, fueled by agrarian exploitation. Alongside internal revolts, Mughal control weakened across the northwest frontier, marked by prolonged Mughal–Afghan frontier conflicts. The most decisive ideological challenge arose with the Sikh resistance under Guru Tegh Bahadur and the Khalsa, transforming the struggle into a socio-religious movement. Ultimately, the combined impact of Maratha expansion, Sikh militarization, Jat rebellions, and frontier wars culminated in widespread discontent and multiple regional uprisings, accelerating the decline of the Mughal Empire.

• Rise of the Marathas – Shivaji, Afzal Khan & Shaista Khan
• Treaty of Purandar & Shivaji’s Escape from Agra (1665–1666)
• Coronation of Shivaji & Maratha Administration (1670–1680)
• Jat Uprisings – Agrarian Resistance around Agra & Delhi
• Mughal–Afghan Frontier Conflicts under Aurangzeb
• Sikh–Mughal Conflicts – Guru Tegh Bahadur & Birth of the Khalsa
• Regional Uprisings under Aurangzeb & Decline of the Mughal Empire