Bankrolling Empire: Family Fortunes and Political Transformation in Mughal India

The Mughal Empire controlled the Indian subcontinent in the 1660s, but two decades later, leaders lost influence to rival warlords and foreign powers. Sudev Sheth proposes a new point of departure, focusing on the Jhaveri family of Gujarat, who financed Mughal elites and their successors, offering a fresh take on the dissolution of the empire and the birth of princely successor states.

Format: Hardback
Length: 379 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The Mughal Empire, a formidable force in the Indian subcontinent, captivated the world with its immense strength and wealth in the 1660s. However, a mere two decades later, a dramatic shift occurred as Mughal kings and governors lost their influence to rival warlords and foreign powers. How could the leaders of one of the most dominant early modern polities lose their grip over their vast empire? In his groundbreaking work, Sudev Sheth offers a fresh perspective by delving into diverse local and previously unexplored evidence regarding a prominent financier family, the Jhaveris, who played a crucial role in bankrolling Mughal elites and their successors. Through meticulous analysis of the Jhaveri family's financing of politics over four generations, Sheth presents a novel interpretation of the dissolution of the Mughal empire, the emergence of princely successor states, and the intricacies of economic life in the days preceding India's colonial domination.

The Mughal Empire, a dominant force in the Indian subcontinent, reached its peak in the 1660s, captivating the world with its immense strength and wealth. However, a mere two decades later, a significant shift occurred as Mughal kings and governors lost their influence to rival warlords and foreign powers. How could the leaders of one of the most powerful early modern polities lose their grip over their vast empire? In his groundbreaking work, Sudev Sheth offers a fresh perspective by delving into diverse local and previously unexplored evidence regarding a prominent financier family, the Jhaveris, who played a crucial role in bankrolling Mughal elites and their successors. Through meticulous analysis of the Jhaveri family's financing of politics over four generations, Sheth presents a novel interpretation of the dissolution of the Mughal empire, the emergence of princely successor states, and the intricacies of economic life in the days preceding India's colonial domination.

The Mughal Empire, a formidable force in the Indian subcontinent, reached its peak in the 1660s, captivating the world with its immense strength and wealth. However, a mere two decades later, a significant shift occurred as Mughal kings and governors lost their influence to rival warlords and foreign powers. How could the leaders of one of the most powerful early modern polities lose their grip over their vast empire? In his groundbreaking work, Sudev Sheth offers a fresh perspective by delving into diverse local and previously unexplored evidence regarding a prominent financier family, the Jhaveris, who played a crucial role in bankrolling Mughal elites and their successors. Through meticulous analysis of the Jhaveri family's financing of politics over four generations, Sheth presents a novel interpretation of the dissolution of the Mughal empire, the emergence of princely successor states, and the intricacies of economic life in the days preceding India's colonial domination.

ISBN-13: 9781009330268