TIMURID-MUGHAL EMPIRE (1707) Under him (Aurangzeb) the Timurid-Mughal Empire reached its greatest extent & the largest single state ever known in India from the dawn of history to the rise of the British power was formed."

 

The Timurid-Mughal Empire at Its Peak: Aurangzeb’s Legacy (1707)

The Timurid-Mughal Empire under Aurangzeb (r. 1658–1707) reached an unparalleled level of territorial expansion, becoming the largest single state in Indian history before the rise of British colonial rule. As historian Jadunath Sarkar remarked, "Under him, the Timurid-Mughal Empire reached its greatest extent & the largest single state ever known in India from the dawn of history to the rise of the British power was formed."

Aurangzeb’s Expansionist Policies

Aurangzeb was a ruler of immense ambition, committed to expanding the empire beyond the boundaries established by his predecessors. By 1707, the Mughal Empire spanned nearly the entire Indian subcontinent, stretching from Kashmir in the north to the Deccan in the south and from Bengal in the east to Gujarat in the west. This expansion was achieved through relentless military campaigns, including the annexation of Bijapur and Golconda in the Deccan and continued struggles against the Rajputs, Marathas, and other regional powers.

Conquest of the Deccan

One of Aurangzeb’s most notable military endeavors was his campaign in the Deccan, which lasted for decades. The fall of the Deccan Sultanates of Bijapur (1686) and Golconda (1687) marked the culmination of Mughal dominance in southern India. However, the prolonged Maratha resistance, led by Shivaji and later his successors, drained the empire’s resources and posed a continuous challenge to Mughal supremacy.

Administrative and Religious Policies

Aurangzeb’s reign was also marked by significant administrative and religious policies. He attempted to centralize power, imposing stricter Islamic orthodoxy, which led to growing discontent among various religious and ethnic communities. The reimposition of the jizya tax on non-Muslims and the destruction of certain Hindu temples alienated segments of the population, contributing to increasing revolts.

The Cost of Expansion

While Aurangzeb succeeded in creating the largest empire in Indian history, his policies and military campaigns severely strained the Mughal treasury. The Deccan wars, in particular, proved costly, both in terms of financial expenditure and human resources. Moreover, the empire's vastness made it difficult to govern effectively, leading to administrative inefficiencies and weakening central authority.

Legacy and Decline

Aurangzeb's death in 1707 marked the beginning of the Mughal Empire’s decline. The empire, overextended and burdened by internal rebellions, could no longer maintain its dominance. Successive rulers struggled to hold the vast territory together, and by the mid-18th century, the empire had fragmented, paving the way for British colonial expansion.

Despite the challenges of his rule, Aurangzeb remains one of the most debated figures in Indian history. His conquests and administrative decisions shaped the subcontinent’s political landscape for centuries, leaving behind a legacy of both grandeur and controversy. The Timurid-Mughal Empire, at its zenith in 1707, was a testament to the heights of Mughal power and the complexities of its governance.