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What was the nature of the Mughal state in the 18th century?
The rise of Marathas in the 18th century was due to military weaknesses.
False
The British introduced the Dual system in Bengal after settling with _____ Alam II.
Shah
Who founded the Mughal dynasty in India?
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Under which Mughal ruler did the empire reach its territorial climax?
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Aurangzeb's policies weakened the Mughal Empire.
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The failure of Aurangzeb to respect the susceptibilities of his non-Muslim subjects led to discontent and ________.
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What major event marked the start of the decline of the Mughal Empire?
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What was the nature of the Mughal government?
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Who gave a death blow to the stumbling Mughal Empire in 1739?
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The European company profited from the confused times in the Mughal Empire.
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Match the following regions with their rise to independence:
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Some Mughal Emperors shared the money charged as Peshkash from people desiring a post or transfer. This practice was known as ________.
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What were the two major causes of factionalism during the Mughal Rule?
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The Marathas became the strongest power in Northern India in the 17th century.
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What was one of the principal factors in the disintegration of the Mughal Empire?
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The Mughal Army's over-reliance on artillery and armoured cavalry rendered them vulnerable to the swift and elusive _______ cavalry of the Marathas.
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Who founded the autonomous kingdom of Hyderabad in 1724?
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During which period did Nizam Ali Khan settle border disputes with neighboring regions?
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The Sikh religion spread primarily among the upper castes of the Punjab.
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After the death of Guru Gobind Singh, ______________ rallied together the peasants and lower castes of Punjab.
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Match the following regions with the territories they settled their scores against Hyderabad:
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What were some of the causes for the Maratha defeat in the Third Battle of Panipat?
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Who initiated the Blue Water Policy?
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Which state reached its highest glory under Suraj Mal and supported the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat?
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Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan modernized the Mysore army with French experts.
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What caused the decline of the Portuguese in India?
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The desire for independence among the Rajputs partially arose from the harsh treatments they were granted under ____________.
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The Portuguese brought the printing press to India.
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The Portuguese conquered Goa in _______ from the Sultan of Bijapur.
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Match the missionaries with their contribution:
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When did the old company surrender its charter to Queen Anne?
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The French License for trading with India and the East Indies was first granted by King Louis XIV.
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Who founded Pondicherry in 1673?
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The victory in the Carnatic battle was soured due to differences between Dupleix and ______.
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Match the following terms with their corresponding events:
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Study Notes
India in 18th Century
Decline of the Mughals
- The Mughal Empire, founded by Zahiruddin Babur in 1526, continued to grow in size until it reached its territorial climax under Aurangzeb (1657-1707).
- The empire's decline began during Aurangzeb's reign, despite his territorial gains, due to his socio-religious policies, which were intolerant and fundamentalist.
- After Aurangzeb's death in 1707, the empire kept shrinking in size and weakening, with 12 Mughal emperors occupying the throne over the next 150 years.
- Causes of the downfall of the Mughal Empire include:
- Aurangzeb's responsibility:
- Expansion of the empire beyond the point of effective control.
- Policy of religious bigotry, provoking rebellions and discontent.
- Failure to respect the susceptibilities of non-Muslim subjects.
- Weak successors of Aurangzeb:
- Despotic system of government dependent on the emperor's personality.
- Succession of weak emperors reflected in all fields of administration.
- Other factors:
- Devastating attacks by Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali.
- Rebellion, revolt, and cessation by regional powers.
- Aurangzeb's responsibility:
Rise of Regional Powers
- Bengal:
- Became a powerful regional kingdom.
- Played a significant role in the decline of the Mughal Empire.
- Oudh/Awadh:
- Emerged as a powerful regional kingdom.
- Played a crucial role in the decline of the Mughal Empire.
- Hyderabad and the Carnatic:
- Became a significant regional power.
- Played a key role in the decline of the Mughal Empire.
- The Sikhs:
- Emerged as a powerful regional force.
- Played a significant role in the decline of the Mughal Empire.
- The Marathas:
- Became a dominant regional power.
- Played a crucial role in the decline of the Mughal Empire.
- Other regional powers:
- Jats
- Rohelas and Bangash Pathans
- Rajputs
- Mysore
- Travancore
Advent of Europeans
- Portuguese:
- First European power to arrive in India.
- Established trade relations with Indian kingdoms.
- The Dutch:
- Established trade relations with Indian kingdoms.
- Played a significant role in the decline of the Mughal Empire.
- The Danes:
- Established trade relations with Indian kingdoms.
- Played a minor role in the decline of the Mughal Empire.
- The British:
- Established trade relations with Indian kingdoms.
- Played a crucial role in the decline of the Mughal Empire.
- The French:
- Established trade relations with Indian kingdoms.
- Played a significant role in the decline of the Mughal Empire.
Anglo-French Struggle for Supremacy
- First Carnatic War:
- Fought between the British and the French.
- Resulted in the British gaining control over Madras.
- Second Carnatic War:
- Fought between the British and the French.
- Resulted in the British gaining control over the Carnatic region.
- Third Carnatic War:
- Fought between the British and the French.
- Resulted in the British gaining control over the entire Coromandel Coast.
The British in Bengal
- Black Hole incident:
- A major incident that led to the British gaining control over Bengal.
- Battle of Plassey:
- Fought between the British and the Nawab of Bengal.
- Resulted in the British gaining control over Bengal.
- Battle of Buxar:
- Fought between the British and the combined forces of the Mughal Empire and the Nawab of Bengal.
- Resulted in the British gaining control over Bengal and the Mughal Empire.
Administrative Measures
- Regulating Act of 1773:
- Established the Supreme Court in Calcutta.
- Laid the foundation for the British administrative system in India.
- The Judicature Act of 1781:
- Established the Supreme Court as the highest court of appeal.
- Pitt's India Act of 1784:
- Established the Board of Control in London.
- Laid the foundation for the British administrative system in India.
- Charter Act of 1793:
- Established the Company's monopoly over trade.
- Laid the foundation for the British administrative system in India.
- Charter Act of 1813:
- Established the Company's monopoly over trade.
- Laid the foundation for the British administrative system in India.
- Charter Act of 1833:
- Established the Company's monopoly over trade.
- Laid the foundation for the British administrative system in India.
- Charter Act of 1853:
- Established the Company's monopoly over trade.
- Laid the foundation for the British administrative system in India.
Revenue Administration, Police, Judiciary, and Civil Services
- Land Revenue Policy:
- Established the Permanent Settlement System.
- Introduced the Ryotwari System.
- Police Administration:
- Established the Indian Police Service.
- Introduced the concept of a modern police force.
- Judiciary:
- Established the Supreme Court as the highest court of appeal.
- Introduced the concept of a modern judiciary.
- Civil Services:
- Established the Indian Civil Service.
- Introduced the concept of a modern bureaucracy.
Significant Policies/Administrative Measures to Consolidate the Empire
- British Policy towards Indian States:
- Established the concept of paramountcy.
- Introduced the concept of subsidiary alliances.
- Subsidiary Alliance:
- Established the concept of a British protectorate over Indian states.
- Doctrine of Lapse:
- Introduced the concept of annexing Indian states.
- Foreign Policy:
- Established the concept of a British sphere of influence.
- Introduced the concept of British expansionism.
Economic Impact of Colonial Policies
- Distinct Stages of Colonialism:
- Established the concept of colonialism in India.
- Introduced the concept of economic exploitation.
- Impact of Political Currents:
- Established the concept of colonialism in India.
- Introduced the concept of economic exploitation.
- Development of Infrastructure:
- Established the concept of modern infrastructure.
- Introduced the concept of economic development.
- Critical Analysis of British Policies:
- Established the concept of colonialism in India.
- Introduced the concept of economic exploitation.
Conclusion
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The decline of the Mughal Empire was a complex process with multiple factors contributing to it.
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The rise of regional powers and the advent of Europeans played a significant role in the decline of the Mughal Empire.
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The British East India Company's administrative measures, revenue policies, and economic impact had a profound impact on India.
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The British policies towards Indian states, subsidiary alliances, and the doctrine of lapse were significant factors in the consolidation of the British Empire in India.### Decline of the Mughal Empire
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The Mughal Empire declined due to the weakness of its rulers, nobility, and military, as well as internal and external factors.
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The emperors after Aurangzeb were weak and indulged in luxury, leading to a decline in the empire's administration and military.
Weakness of Mughal Rulers
- Bahadur Shah I (1702-1712) was too old to maintain the empire's prestige and was nicknamed "Shah-i-Bekhabar" (The Headless king).
- Jahandar Shah (1712-1713) was a "wildly extravagant fool".
- Farrukhsiyar was a complete coward.
- Muhammad Shah (1719-1748) spent most of his time watching animal fights and was nicknamed "Rangeela".
- Ahmad Shah (1748-1754) was even more indulgent in sensual pursuits.
Degeneration of Mughal Nobility
- The Mughal nobility became soft and lazy due to wealth and luxury.
- They became corrupt and factious, and the British regularly bribed them to get their work done.
- The nobility was divided into factions, such as the Turani, Persian, and Hindustani parties, which weakened the empire.
- The leaders of these factions fought each other and intrigued with foreign invaders, weakening the empire further.
Court Factions
- The Mughal court was divided into factions, which kept the country in a state of perpetual political unrest.
- The Turani party consisted of nobles from Central Asia, while the Persian party consisted of nobles from Persia.
- The Hindustani party was led by the Sayyid Brothers and enjoyed the support of Hindus.
Defective Law of Succession
- The Mughal Empire lacked a law of succession, leading to frequent wars of succession.
- The absence of primogeniture led to every Mughal prince considering himself fit to become the ruler.
Rise of Marathas
- The Marathas under the Peshwas consolidated their position in Western India and started planning for a Hindu-Pad Padshahi or a Greater Maharashtra Empire.
- The Marathas became the strongest power in Northern India in the mid-18th century and played the role of king-makers at the Delhi Court.
Military Weaknesses
- The Mughal Army deteriorated and became demoralized due to the abundance of riches and the use of wine and comforts.
- The soldiers cared more for personal comforts and less for winning battles.
- The Mughal Army was defeated by the Marathas, who had a swift and elusive cavalry.
Economic Bankruptcy
- The Mughal Empire faced financial bankruptcy after the death of Aurangzeb.
- The system of tax farming was resorted to, which ruined the people.
- The extravagant expenditure by Shah Jahan on buildings and Aurangzeb's long war in Deccan added to the financial difficulties.
- The marches of the imperial army damaged crops, and the Maratha raiders destroyed property and crops.
Nature of Mughal State
- The Mughal government was essentially a police government and confined its attention mainly to the maintenance of internal and external order and collection of revenue.
- The Mughals failed to create a composite nation and effect a fusion between Hindus and Muslims.
Invasion of Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali
- The invasion of Nadir Shah in 1739 gave a death blow to the Mughal Empire.
- The repeated invasion of Nadir's successors, Ahmad Shah Abdali, deprived the empire of its frontier provinces.
Coming of the Europeans
- The European company, particularly the British East India Company, took advantage of the weakened Mughal Empire.
- The British won the Battle of Plassey and continued to expand their empire in the Deccan and the Gangetic Region.
- The British eventually established their hold over the whole of India, marking the end of the Mughal Empire.### Emergence of New States in the 18th Century
- The new states that emerged in the 18th century did not directly challenge the Mughal Empire's authority, but instead sought to legitimize their rule through the Mughal's sanction.
- The emergence of these states represented a transformation rather than a collapse of the polity, marking a decentralization of power rather than a power vacuum.
Succession States
- Examples of succession states include Bengal, Awadh, and Hyderabad, which arose from the assertion of autonomy by Mughal province governors as central power decayed.
- These states continued to use Mughal institutions and administrative systems in many areas of governance.
Rebel States
- Examples of rebel states include the Maratha, Afghan, Jat, and Punjab states, which were formed through rebellions by local chieftains, zamindars, and peasants against Mughal authority.
- The politics of these states differed from each other and from the succession states due to local conditions.
Principalities
- Principalities like the Rajput kingdoms, Mysore, and Travancore enjoyed considerable autonomy in the past and became completely independent in the 18th century.
- These states were not rent-extracting states, but continued to promote foreign trade and prevent internal trade breakdown.
Failure of the States
- Despite their efforts, these states failed to modernize their industrial and commercial structures, which led to their failure to consolidate power and ward off external attacks.
- The zamindars and jagirdars continued to fight over revenue, while the condition of the peasantry continued to deteriorate.
Bengal
- Bengal became independent of Mughal control after Murshid Quli Khan became the governor or Nazim of Bengal in the early 18th century.
- Khan's efficient revenue administration made Bengal a constant revenue-paying surplus area, with powerful intermediary zamindars and rising merchants and bankers.
- The nawabs of Bengal, including Alivardi Khan, gave the region a long period of peace and orderly administration, promoting trade and industry.
Oudh/Awadh
- The subah of Awadh was extended from Kanauj district to the river Karmnasa, and became virtually independent in 1722 under Saadat Khan's governorship.
- Khan suppressed lawlessness, disciplined big zamindars, and carried out a fresh revenue settlement, increasing the financial resources of his government.
- Later, Safdar Jang's successor Shuja-ud-daula was appointed governor of Awadh, and his autonomy and power remained unchallenged until his encounter with the English East India Company in 1764.
Hyderabad and the Carnatic
- The autonomous kingdom of Hyderabad was founded in 1724 by Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah, who acted like an independent ruler while maintaining a tolerant attitude towards Hindus.
- After Asaf Jah's death, Hyderabad experienced a series of crises, including border disputes with neighbors, until Nizam Ali Khan's reign brought stability.
- The Carnatic was a subah of the Mughal Deccan, and as such came under the Nizam of Hyderabad's authority, but its Deputy Governor, known as the Nawab of Carnatic, had freed himself of the control of the Viceroy of the Deccan.
The Sikhs
- Founded by Guru Nanak, the Sikh religion spread among the Jat peasantry and lower castes of the Punjab.
- The transformation of the Sikhs into a militant community was begun by Guru Hargobind, and they became a political and military force under Guru Gobind Singh.
- After Guru Gobind Singh's death, Banda Bahadur rallied together peasants and lower castes, carrying on a struggle against the Mughal army.
- The invasion of Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali gave the Sikhs an opportunity to rise again, and they eventually brought Punjab and Jammu under their control.
The Marathas
- The Marathas had a history of suppression by the Mughal Empire, especially in the 27-year war, which started in 1681.
- The Mughal strategy consisted of steady pressure on Maharashtra's forts, beating Maratha forces in the field, and devastating Maharashtra's countryside.
- The Marathas remained weakened and the civil war between Shahu and his aunt Tara Bai exacerbated the situation.
- By helping the Sayyid brothers establish a puppet emperor in Delhi, peshwa Balaji Viswanath secured for his master a Mughal sanad recognizing Shahu's right to chauth and sardeshmukhi.
- After the Maratha civil war was brought to an end, the control of the state gradually passed on from the line of Shivaji to that of the peshwas.
- Baji Rao I transformed the character of the Maratha state from a kingdom to an empire expanding in the North.
- The Marathas did not try to overturn the local zamindars for the payment of yearly tributes, and a civilian system of revenue administration took time to emerge in the newly conquered region.
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Test your knowledge of Indian History, covering 18th century India, Indian Renaissance, and Reform Movements.
