How far were the successors of aurangzeb responible for the decline of the empire.give two reasons. ASAP. very urgent
Answers
Aurangzeb was ambitious to be the ruler of entire India. He built up a massive army and launched several military campaigns to expand his empire. He went north-west into Afghanistan, and drove southwards to conquer Bijapur and Golconda states. Though he succeeded in expanding the empire, but it was at enormous cost in lives and treasury.
Instead of political solution through negotiation, he always tried to suppress the rebellions by using military force. A number of revolts rose against him throughout the empire - Rajputs, Jats, Sikhs, Satnamis, Marathas and Pathan tribes. These far-flung campaigns were extremely costly and almost drained the Mughal treasury.
To sustain long costly wars, Aurangzeb obviously needed money for his armies and so he levied heavy taxes on the people including the Jizya tax on non-Muslims. This caused immense displeasure in the people and resulted in political instability in the empire.
According to some historians, his religious policies were intolerant towards non-Muslims. A number of temples were destroyed and construction of new ones was forbidden, and he tried to impose Islamic laws on non-Muslims which caused an angry reaction in them.
However, the kingdom survived for 150 years after Aurangzeb's death. There were a number of other reasons that lead to the disintegration of the empire including weak successors, foreign invasions, vastness of the empire, fratricidal wars and final blow from the British. So Aurangzeb solely cannot be held responsible for the collapse of the Mughal Empire.