Political Dynamics of the Mughal Empire: Evaluating the Roots of Decline and the Emergence of European Power in India (1526–1666 CE)

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigates the political evolution of the Mughal Empire from 1526 to 1666 CE to identify the key political and structural factors contributing to its gradual decline. It further examines how internal vulnerabilities created openings that facilitated the early rise of European influence in India.

Method: A qualitative research design was employed, relying exclusively on secondary sources, including historical texts, scholarly analyses, and archival materials. These sources were examined through thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns related to imperial governance, succession, administrative capacity, and external commercial pressures.

Results: The findings show that the Mughal Empire’s weakening stemmed from declining central authority, persistent succession disputes, administrative overextension, and increasing fiscal strain. These internal challenges reduced political cohesion and administrative effectiveness. At the same time, European trading companies, particularly the Portuguese and the English East India Company, expanded their influence by leveraging maritime advantages, diplomatic access, and strategic trade privileges. Their interventions coincided with and intensified Mughal vulnerabilities, contributing to shifting regional power dynamics.

Practical Implications: The study provides insight into how internal imperial fragility and external commercial expansion interacted to reshape South Asia’s political landscape. This integrated perspective helps explain the historical transition from Mughal dominance to the early stages of European political footholds and offers a framework applicable to analyzing similar cases of imperial decline.

Originality/Novelty: This research offers a synthesized analysis connecting Mughal internal structural weaknesses with the earliest phases of European expansion, clarifying how interconnected political and commercial processes set the foundations for later colonial consolidation. Its focused chronological scope provides a distinct contribution to understanding the initial geopolitical transformations of the subcontinent.