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The Mughal Empire is a fascinating mosaic in the history of India. Its power, wealth, territoriality, exquisite and surreal character, and even more so its 'decline', have engaged historians for several decades in a complex, contentious debate. These writings by prominent scholars focus on the various paradigms and assumptions that have shaped the interpretations of this decline.

Was the downfall of this once vast and seemingly stable empire a mere deterioration of power over the final few decades, or did the decentralizing tendencies of the empire merely become more apparent and aggressive during these years? The Decline of the Mughal Empire seeks answers to these questions by analysing the various factors that have influenced the collapse. These include areas such as the Mughal administrative structure, the nature of the jagirdari system and the agrarian crisis, the imperial crisis in the Deccan, and the rise of Shivaji and the Marathas.

Taking into consideration a wide range of research and new interpretations, the volume also shows how despite the decline of the imperial power at the centre, the economy and polity of the subcontinent as a whole showed resilience and.