Invasion of Northern India by Nadir Shah
Explanation
The crisis of the Mughal Empire began to manifest visibly towards the end of the seventeenth century, primarily during the later years of Aurangzeb’s reign. This period was marked by administrative decay, agrarian distress, and military overextension. It is crucial to distinguish between the internal structural causes present in the late 17th century and external shocks that occurred in the 18th century.
Option Analysis:
- Depletion of military and financial resources due to Deccan wars Depletion of military and financial resources due to Deccan wars: Correct factor. Aurangzeb spent the last 25 years of his reign (roughly 1682–1707) in the Deccan fighting the Marathas and the Deccan Sultanates. This prolonged warfare severely drained the imperial treasury and exhausted military resources.
- Breakdown of imperial administration Breakdown of imperial administration: Correct factor. Due to Aurangzeb’s long absence from Northern India to lead campaigns in the Deccan, the administration in the north slackened. The breakdown of the Jagirdari system and the inability to collect revenue effectively contributed to an administrative crisis.
- Invasion of Northern India by Nadir Shah Invasion of Northern India by Nadir Shah: Incorrect factor (for the specified period). Nadir Shah, the ruler of Iran, invaded India and sacked Delhi in 1739 CE. This event occurred in the mid-eighteenth century, long after the end of the seventeenth century. While it dealt a death blow to the already crumbling empire, it was not a contributing factor to the crisis at the end of the 17th century.
- Increasing power and autonomy of mansabdars Increasing power and autonomy of mansabdars: Correct factor. Towards the end of the 17th century, influential nobles and mansabdars began to compete for the best jagirs. As central authority weakened, they started consolidating their own power bases, undermining the emperor's control.
Key Takeaway:
The decline of the Mughal Empire in the late 17th century was driven by internal factors like the Deccan Ulcer, Jagirdari crisis, and administrative failure. External invasions like that of Nadir Shah (1739) and Ahmad Shah Abdali were 18th-century events that accelerated the disintegration but did not cause the initial crisis.