The death of Aurangzeb in 1707 triggered a rapid unraveling of the mighty Mughal state.
A succession of weak rulers could not prevent regional governors from declaring independence, nor could they repel devastating foreign invasions, notably by Nader Shah of Persia and Ahmad Shah Durrani of Afghanistan.
Historical Significance
The power vacuum left by the shrinking Mughal authority paved the way for the rise of the Sikh Empire in the Punjab and the gradual conquest of the subcontinent by the British East India Company.
Major Events
- 1739: Sack of Delhi by Nader Shah
- Rise of regional powers (Marathas, Sikhs, Bengal, Awadh)
- 1857: The War of Independence and the formal end of the Mughal Empire
Key Places
DelhiPunjabBengal
Key Figures
Bahadur Shah ZafarNader ShahAhmad Shah Durrani
Historical Media
