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Questions and Answers
The decline of the Mughal Empire was hastened by the death of ______.
The decline of the Mughal Empire was hastened by the death of ______.
Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb's policies of religious intolerance made him enemies among regional groups like the ______.
Aurangzeb's policies of religious intolerance made him enemies among regional groups like the ______.
Rajputs
The Mughal Empire was weakened due to wars that emptied the ______.
The Mughal Empire was weakened due to wars that emptied the ______.
treasury
The rulers who succeeded Aurangzeb were often described as ______ and lazy.
The rulers who succeeded Aurangzeb were often described as ______ and lazy.
After Aurangzeb's death, a war of ______ broke out among his sons.
After Aurangzeb's death, a war of ______ broke out among his sons.
Bahadur Shah, who won the war of succession, became emperor but was already ______ years old.
Bahadur Shah, who won the war of succession, became emperor but was already ______ years old.
The military strength of the Mughal Empire relied on the ______ and mansabdari systems.
The military strength of the Mughal Empire relied on the ______ and mansabdari systems.
The Mughal court became dominated by ______ in the absence of strong rulers.
The Mughal court became dominated by ______ in the absence of strong rulers.
Chikka Krishna Raj created the independent kingdom of ______ in the beginning of the 18th century.
Chikka Krishna Raj created the independent kingdom of ______ in the beginning of the 18th century.
Hyder Ali established a powerful and modern ______.
Hyder Ali established a powerful and modern ______.
Tipu Sultan succeeded Hyder Ali in ______.
Tipu Sultan succeeded Hyder Ali in ______.
The Maratha kingdom was the strongest of the new kingdoms that grew out of the decline of the ______ Empire.
The Maratha kingdom was the strongest of the new kingdoms that grew out of the decline of the ______ Empire.
Chhatrapati ______ Maharaj was inspired by his spiritual guide, Guru Randas.
Chhatrapati ______ Maharaj was inspired by his spiritual guide, Guru Randas.
Shivaji began his conquests from the age of ______.
Shivaji began his conquests from the age of ______.
Under the second peshwa, ______ Rao I, the Marathas became very powerful.
Under the second peshwa, ______ Rao I, the Marathas became very powerful.
The Marathas signed a treaty with the Mughal emperor in ______ during the reign of Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao.
The Marathas signed a treaty with the Mughal emperor in ______ during the reign of Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao.
The Third Battle of ______ was a significant defeat for the Marathas in 1761.
The Third Battle of ______ was a significant defeat for the Marathas in 1761.
Shivaji and his son escaped from prison in ______ with a clever plan involving baskets of sweets.
Shivaji and his son escaped from prison in ______ with a clever plan involving baskets of sweets.
The Mughal Empire began to collapse under the negligence of the later ______.
The Mughal Empire began to collapse under the negligence of the later ______.
Nadir Shah, the ruler of ______, invaded India in 1739.
Nadir Shah, the ruler of ______, invaded India in 1739.
Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded India several times and dealt a deathblow to the already crumbling Mughal ______.
Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded India several times and dealt a deathblow to the already crumbling Mughal ______.
The jagirdari and mansabdari systems were military systems designed by ______.
The jagirdari and mansabdari systems were military systems designed by ______.
A holder of a jagir was known as a ______.
A holder of a jagir was known as a ______.
Muhammad Shah appointed Chin Qilich Khan as the governor of ______ in 1722.
Muhammad Shah appointed Chin Qilich Khan as the governor of ______ in 1722.
Saadat Khan established a semi-independent province in ______.
Saadat Khan established a semi-independent province in ______.
Murshid Quli Khan was the governor of ______ who added Bihar and Orissa to his territory.
Murshid Quli Khan was the governor of ______ who added Bihar and Orissa to his territory.
The Sikhs began fighting against the Mughals under the guidance of their tenth guru, ______.
The Sikhs began fighting against the Mughals under the guidance of their tenth guru, ______.
Raja Sawai Jai Singh founded the city of ______.
Raja Sawai Jai Singh founded the city of ______.
The Rohillas carved the kingdom of ______ out of Moradabad, Bijnor, and Bareilly.
The Rohillas carved the kingdom of ______ out of Moradabad, Bijnor, and Bareilly.
Maharaja Sawai Singh built astronomical observatories known as ______ Mantar.
Maharaja Sawai Singh built astronomical observatories known as ______ Mantar.
The British defeated Sirajuddaulah in the Battle of ______ in 1757.
The British defeated Sirajuddaulah in the Battle of ______ in 1757.
Aurangzeb appointed Zulfikar Ali as the nawab of the ______.
Aurangzeb appointed Zulfikar Ali as the nawab of the ______.
Ali Khan Wallajah became independent of the Mughals in ______.
Ali Khan Wallajah became independent of the Mughals in ______.
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Study Notes
Decline of the Mughal Empire
- The Mughal Empire weakened significantly post-Aurangzeb's death in 1707.
- Aurangzeb's lack of political skill and reversal of religious tolerance alienated regional powers like the Rajputs, Marathas, and Sikhs.
- Continuous military campaigns drained the treasury, leading to army demoralization due to delayed payments.
- Successors to Aurangzeb exhibited incompetence, squandering wealth and exacerbating court conflicts over succession.
- Key rulers included Aurangzeb, Bahadur Shah, Jahandar Shah, Farrukhsiyar, Muhammad Shah, and Bahadur Shah Zafar (last Mughal emperor).
Military and External Challenges
- The jagirdari and mansabdari systems, developed by Akbar, faltered under neglect.
- Mughal military was inferior compared to foreign invaders, resulting in vulnerability.
- Nadir Shah of Persia invaded in 1739, causing significant loss and weaken the empire's grip on India.
- The Third Battle of Panipat in 1761 saw Ahmad Shah Abdali defeat the Marathas, further destabilizing the Mughals.
- European powers exploited internal disarray in India to establish control.
Emergence of Independent Regional States
- Fragmentation led to the rise of regional kingdoms, including Hyderabad, Awadh, Bengal, Punjab, and various Rajput states.
Regional Kingdom Highlights
- Hyderabad: Established by Nizam-ul-Mulk in 1724, known for art and culture while remaining nominally loyal to the Mughals.
- Awadh: Governed by Saadat Khan; notable for Urdu poetry and music; fell to British control post-Battle of Buxar in 1764.
- Bengal: Under Murshid Quli Khan's leadership, saw prosperity and was first targeted by British forces after the Battle of Plassey in 1757.
- Punjab: Sikhs, initially opposed to Mughal rule, established a powerful Sikh empire under Ranjit Singh in the 18th century.
Notable Figures and Events
- Shivaji Maharaj: Maratha leader born in 1627, emphasized swaraj (freedom); expanded territory significantly before his death in 1680.
- Peshwas: Balaji Vishwanath and his successors became dominant figures in Maratha governance, especially under Baji Rao I.
- Third Battle of Panipat (1761): Decisive defeat for the Marathas against Ahmad Shah Abdali, leading to British ascendancy in India.
Cultural Contributions
- Maharaja Sawai Singh: Promoted science through Jantar Mantar observatories; significant contributions to astronomy and geometry remain influential today.
- Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan: Established the Mysore Kingdom, expanding military power and defense against British forces.
Conclusion
- The 18th century in India marked a transition from Mughal dominance to regional powers establishing semi-independent states, paving the way for eventual British colonial rule.
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