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From empire to inequality: Lessons from the Mughal collapse for today’s social divides

Socio Politica : Jurnal Ilmiah Jurusan Sosiologi · Vol. 15 No. 2 (2025) · pp. 267–280

DOI
10.15575/socio-politica.v15i2.48575
ISSN
2654-7694, 2302-1888
Published
2025-08-06
Publisher
Prodi Magister Sosiologi UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung
Language
eng
License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

Abstract

This study aims to analyze in depth the process of the decline and collapse of the Mughal Dynasty (1526–1857), an important event in the history of South Asia that was influenced by a variety of complex factors, both internal and external. Using historical research methods that include heuristic stages, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography, the study relies on primary sources such as Ain-i-Akbari, Akbarnama, and Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri, as well as secondary literature from relevant modern historians. The results of the study show that the collapse of the Mughal Dynasty was not caused by a single factor, but was an accumulation of various structural problems and geopolitical dynamics. Significant internal factors include the weakening of the jagirdari system, repeated succession crises, corrupt bureaucracy, and weak leadership after Aurangzeb's reign. Meanwhile, external factors included invasions from Persia and Afghanistan, the rise of regional powers such as the Maratha and the Sikhs, and the aggressive expansion of the British East India Company, which gradually eroded Mughal sovereignty. This study concludes that the collapse of empires is the result of adaptive failures in dealing with structural challenges and changes in the regional political-economic landscape. The implications of this study broaden our understanding of the dynamics of imperial power disintegration and the transition to colonialism in India. This paper lies in a holistic and systematic approach that links the collapse of the Mughals with the theory of the fall of empires from the perspective of global historiography. Contribution: By linking the collapse of the Mughal Empire to broader theories on imperial decline and the transition to colonialism, this research broadens the understanding of imperial disintegration and enriches global historiographical perspectives on empire fall.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

33 authors · 76 co-authorship links · 9 across different organisations

Hover or tap a name to highlight its co-authors. Double-click to open the author's page.

  • Sunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung
  • Padjadjaran University
  • Indonesia University of Education
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Different organisations
  • Same organisation
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Thicker line = more joint articles · bigger circle = more articles
Show as table
Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
Wawan HernawanSunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung2
Dadang KuswanaSunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung2
Usman SupendiSunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung2
Asep Achmad HidayatSunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung2
Gelar Taufiq KusumawardhanaSunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung2
Chye Retty IsnendesIndonesia University of Education2
Izzah Faizah Siti Rusydati KhaeraniSunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung1
Sherly DevaniSunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung1
Husnul QodimSunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung1
Ahmad SugandaSunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung1
Abdul Hamid SaputraSunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung1
Tolib RahmatillahSunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung1
Abdul Fatah MiftahudinSunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung1
Nina Herlina LubisPadjadjaran University1
Nurwadjah Ahmad EQSunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung1
Mumuh Muhsin Z.Padjadjaran University1
Wawan SupriatnaAffiliation unknown1
Muhamad Hilmi PauzianSunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung1
Ading KusdianaSunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung1
Salman NajmudinAffiliation unknown1
Muhamad Zaky AvicenaSunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung1
Mulyanudin MulyanudinAffiliation unknown1
Yan NurcahyaSunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung1
Teddiansyah Nata NegaraSunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung1
Yusandi YusandiSunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung1
Ali MasrurSunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung1
Cucu SetiawanSunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung1
Ayi RahmanSunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://journal.uinsgd.ac.id/index.php/socio-politica/oai, first harvested 7 Nov 2026, last seen 8 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en-US">From empire to inequality: Lessons from the Mughal collapse for today’s social divides</dc:title>
	<dc:creator>Utari, Muhammad</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Hawari, Ilham Faisal</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Badruzzaman, Puad</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Hernawan, Wawan</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Kusdiana, Ading</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">colonialism</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">empire</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">history of India</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Mughal dynasty</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en-US">This study aims to analyze in depth the process of the decline and collapse of the Mughal Dynasty (1526–1857), an important event in the history of South Asia that was influenced by a variety of complex factors, both internal and external. Using historical research methods that include heuristic stages, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography, the study relies on primary sources such as Ain-i-Akbari, Akbarnama, and Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri, as well as secondary literature from relevant modern historians. The results of the study show that the collapse of the Mughal Dynasty was not caused by a single factor, but was an accumulation of various structural problems and geopolitical dynamics. Significant internal factors include the weakening of the jagirdari system, repeated succession crises, corrupt bureaucracy, and weak leadership after Aurangzeb's reign. Meanwhile, external factors included invasions from Persia and Afghanistan, the rise of regional powers such as the Maratha and the Sikhs, and the aggressive expansion of the British East India Company, which gradually eroded Mughal sovereignty. This study concludes that the collapse of empires is the result of adaptive failures in dealing with structural challenges and changes in the regional political-economic landscape. The implications of this study broaden our understanding of the dynamics of imperial power disintegration and the transition to colonialism in India. This paper lies in a holistic and systematic approach that links the collapse of the Mughals with the theory of the fall of empires from the perspective of global historiography.
Contribution: By linking the collapse of the Mughal Empire to broader theories on imperial decline and the transition to colonialism, this research broadens the understanding of imperial disintegration and enriches global historiographical perspectives on empire fall.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en-US">Prodi Magister Sosiologi UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2025-08-06</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:type xml:lang="en-US">Peer-reviewed Article</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://journal.uinsgd.ac.id/index.php/socio-politica/article/view/48575</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.15575/socio-politica.v15i2.48575</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en-US">Socio Politica : Jurnal Ilmiah Jurusan Sosiologi; Vol. 15 No. 2 (2025): Jurnal Socio-Politica; 267-280</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2654-7694</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2302-1888</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.uinsgd.ac.id/index.php/socio-politica/article/view/48575/14989</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en-US">Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Utari, Ilham Faisal Hawari, Fuad Badruzzaman, Wawan Hernawan, Ading Kusdiana</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en-US">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0</dc:rights>
</oai_dc:dc>