Aurangzeb's ascent to power was marked by fratricide and the imprisonment of his father, Shah Jahan. His reign, spanning from 1658 to 1707, was characterized by prolonged military campaigns, notably the 27-year-long Deccan War, which drained the Mughal treasury and strained administrative resources. These conflicts led to the empire's overextension and internal fragmentation.

Religiously, Aurangzeb's policies diverged from his predecessors. He reinstated the jizya tax on non-Muslims, demolished several Hindu temples, and executed Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur in 1675 for refusing to convert to Islam. These actions alienated significant sections of the population and fueled resistance movements.

Economically, his heavy taxation to fund continuous warfare burdened peasants and merchants, leading to widespread discontent. The empire's nobility, once a cohesive force, became divided, and after Aurangzeb's death, the Mughal Empire rapidly declined.