Author: Satish Chandra
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Year: 2002
Language: English
Pages: 382
ISBN/UPC (if available): 978-0-19-565444-8
Description
In this classic work, Professor Chandra revisits the political history of this period by using for the first time valuable records, letters and a number of monographs hitherto unavailable to other researchers.
This important book provides a new perspective on the decline of the Mughal Empire, departing from the existing appraisement of Aurangzeb, the functioning of the Mughal nobility and the crisis of the ‘jagirdari’ system. It re-examines the first half of the eighteenth century, which was a period of growing anarchy and cultural stagnation. The post-Aurangzeb period has been presented as one in which struggle for liberal and orthodox policies was linked with the struggle to make the ‘wazir’ a key player.
The author studies the role of the nobility in the downfall of the Mughal empire—a subject of unresolved conflict—with special reference to the position of various ethnic and religious groups in the nobility after the death of Aurangzeb, the basis of the rise and struggle of parties at the court and its impact, the rise of the Marathas, Jats and other indigenous elements, and development in the field of administration. In a new preface to this edition, he contends that the core of the crisis of the Mughal Empire is linked to the collapse of the ‘jagirdari’ system with a deepening social crisis and increased factionalism in the ruling classes leading to a breakup of a central polity.
In this classic work, Professor Chandra revisit the political history of this period by using for the firs time valuable records, letters and a number of monographs hitherto unavailable to the researchers.
First published in 1959, the present edition will continue to be an invaluable resource for historians and students of medieval and late-medieval India.
Contents
Preface to the Fourth Edition
Preface to the Third Edition
Preface to the Second Edition
Preface to the First Edition
Abbreviations
INTRODUCTION
Beginning of the Party Struggle at the Court
Conciliation or Coercion?
Zu'lfiqar Khan Struggles for Wizarat
The Saiyid Brothers Struggle for 'New' Wizarat (i)
The Saiyid Brothers Struggle for 'New Wizarat' (ii)
The Saiyid 'New' Wizarat
Nizam-ul-Mulk and the End of the Struggle for Wizarat
The Maratha Advance Towards North India (1725-31)
Conquest of Malwa and Bundelkhand (1732-42)
Mughal Politics and Nadir Shah
Concluding Remarks
Appendix A: Was there an Imperial Campaign in the Year 1735-6?
Appendix B: Documents to Illustrate the Early Relations of the Suicides and the Rajputs
Appendix C: Documents concerning the Early Relations of the Rajputs and the Marathas
Select Bibliography
Chronology
Index