Mughal authority and the East India Company
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can evaluate when Mughal authority in India collapsed.
Key learning points
- Mughal authority grew weaker during the late-17th and 18th centuries.
- The Mughals were challenged by rebellions, leadership struggles, the rise of successor states and foreign invasions.
- The British East India Company's power grew significantly during the 18th century.
- Most historians agree that Mughal authority collapsed at some point during the 18th century.
- Historians evaluating Mughal collapse often focus on the emperor's level of political control and military power.
Keywords
Successor state - a successor state is a smaller country which is formed after a larger country begins to breakdown
Assassinated - when an important person is killed for political reasons, it is said that they have been assassinated
Authority - authority refers to the ability to keep others under your control
Common misconception
Mughal authority collapsed in the 17th century.
Mughal rule faced challenges, but the emperors still had enough military power and political control to maintain their authority during the 17th century.
Teacher tip
During learning cycle three, pupils could be tasked with completing a time-power axis graph charting the level of Mughal authority at different points (i.e. 1669, 1688, 1719, 1724, 1739, 1764, 1765). Doing this can support pupils conceptualise the idea of declining and collapsing Mughal authority.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What was the name of the British East India Company's French rival?
Q2.What type of force did Robert Clive command on behalf of the EIC at the Battle of Plassey (1757)?
Q3.What was the outcome of the Battle of Buxar (1764)?
Q4.Write the missing word. The changes in India between 1757 and 1765 have been described as part of the Revolution.
Q5.What area did the Treaty of Allahabad (1765) grant the EIC control over?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chornological order.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Write the missing keyword. In 1719, powerful nobles Emperor Farrukhsiyar.
Q2.After 1724, who did officials in Hyderabad swear loyalty to?
Q3.What was the outcome of the Jat rebellions (1669 and 1685-88)?
Q4.Which of the following was agreed to as part of the Treaty of Allahabad (1765)?
Q5.Which example best demonstrates Mughal military weakness?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chornological order.
To help you plan your 8 history lesson on: Mughal authority and the East India Company, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 history lesson on: Mughal authority and the East India Company, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the The East India Company: when did Mughal authority collapse? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.