Questions covered are:
1. What significant political change occurred in India during the first half of the eighteenth century?
2. What factors contributed to the crisis of the Mughal Empire during the later years of its rule?
3. How did Nadir Shah’s invasion of Delhi affect the Mughal Empire?
4. Describe the emergence of new states in India during the eighteenth century?
5. Who were the key figures in the establishment of the states of Awadh, Bengal, and Hyderabad?
6. What role did bankers and merchants play in the new political order of the eighteenth century?
7. Explain the significance of the watan jagirs in the political structure of Rajput states during the eighteenth century.
8. How did the Marathas impact the political landscape of India in the eighteenth century?9. What was the impact of foreign invasions on the Mughal Empire in the eighteenth century?
10. How did the Mughal subadars attempt to consolidate their power in the eighteenth century?
11. What were the main causes of the decline of the Mughal Empire in the 18th century?12.Which regional states emerged as powerful entities after the decline of the Mughal Empire?
13. How did the Rajput states contribute to the political landscape of 18th-century India?
14. What was the significance of the Maratha Confederacy during the 18th century?
15. What impact did the invasions by Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali have on the Mughal Empire?
16. How did the decline of the Mughal Empire affect the economic structure of India?
17. How did administrative roles change as the Mughal Empire declined?
18. How did regional rulers form alliances and engage in conflicts during the 18th century?19. What were some cultural and social changes that accompanied the new political formations in the 18th century?
20. How did European trading companies influence the political situation in India during the 18th century?
21. What was the role of Hyderabad in the political dynamics of the 18th century?
22. How did Murshid Quli Khan transform Bengal in the early 18th century?
23. What was the significance of Awadh under the leadership of Saadat Khan?
24. How did the decline of Mughal central authority affect regional rulers and their autonomy?
25. How did banking and commerce influence political formations in the 18th century?
Fill in the blanks:
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1. What significant political change occurred in India during the first half of the eighteenth century?
During the first half of the eighteenth century, the Mughal Empire’s boundaries were reshaped due to the emergence of several independent kingdoms. By 1765, the British had taken control of significant territories in eastern India. The political conditions in India changed dramatically during this period.
2. What factors contributed to the crisis of the Mughal Empire during the later years of its rule?
The crisis of the Mughal Empire was due to several factors, including Emperor Aurangzeb’s depletion of military and financial resources through prolonged wars in the Deccan, inefficiency in imperial administration under his successors, the challenge posed by powerful mansabdars (nobles), peasant and zamindari rebellions, and the invasion by foreign rulers like Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali.
3. How did Nadir Shah’s invasion of Delhi affect the Mughal Empire?
Nadir Shah’s invasion of Delhi in 1739 devastated the city. He looted immense wealth, including the Peacock Throne. The invasion significantly weakened the already declining Mughal Empire and exposed its vulnerabilities to further invasions and internal strife.
4. Describe the emergence of new states in India during the eighteenth century.
With the decline in Mughal authority, large provinces like Awadh, Bengal, and Hyderabad emerged as powerful states. The governors of these provinces consolidated their power, becoming independent rulers while maintaining nominal allegiance to the Mughal emperor. These states were characterized by the emergence of new power centers, changes in tax collection methods, and the involvement of local bankers and merchants in the political system.
5. Who were the key figures in the establishment of the states of Awadh, Bengal, and Hyderabad?
The key figures in the establishment of these states were Sa‘adat Khan (Awadh), Murshid Quli Khan (Bengal), and Asaf Jah (Hyderabad). All three were high-ranking Mughal nobles who took advantage of the weakening central authority to establish their independent states.
6. What role did bankers and merchants play in the new political order of the eighteenth century?
Bankers and merchants played a significant role in the new political order by lending money to revenue farmers and even states. They gained land as security and collected taxes through their agents, influencing the management of state revenues. This marked a shift in the relationship between the state and the economic elites.
7. Explain the significance of the watan jagirs in the political structure of Rajput states during the eighteenth century.
Watan jagirs were lands given to Rajput kings in exchange for their service to the Mughal Empire. During the eighteenth century, Rajput rulers like those of Amber and Jodhpur expanded their control over adjacent regions, attempting to consolidate their power. They were involved in factional politics at the Mughal court and sought to extend their territories.
8. How did the Marathas impact the political landscape of India in the eighteenth century?
The Marathas played a crucial role in challenging the Mughal Empire and expanding their control over large parts of India. They conducted military campaigns that pressured other regional states like the Rajputs and significantly altered the political landscape by establishing their dominance in various regions.
9. What was the impact of foreign invasions on the Mughal Empire in the eighteenth century?
Foreign invasions by rulers like Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali severely weakened the Mughal Empire. These invasions led to plundering, destruction, and a further loss of authority for the Mughal emperors, accelerating the fragmentation of the empire and the rise of regional powers.
10. How did the Mughal subadars attempt to consolidate their power in the eighteenth century?
Mughal subadars, such as those in Awadh, Bengal, and Hyderabad, consolidated their power by reducing Mughal influence, managing political, financial, and military affairs independently, appointing loyal servants, reassessing revenue systems, and establishing relationships with local bankers and merchants. They also sought to control both the diwan (revenue) and faujdari (military) offices to strengthen their authority.
11. What were the main causes of the decline of the Mughal Empire in the 18th century?
The decline of the Mughal Empire was due to a combination of factors, including weak successors after Aurangzeb, administrative inefficiency, financial bankruptcy, internal rebellions, and invasions by foreign powers like Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali.
12.Which regional states emerged as powerful entities after the decline of the Mughal Empire?
The regional states that emerged included the Kingdom of Awadh, Bengal, Hyderabad, and the Maratha Confederacy. These states were often governed by local rulers who asserted their independence from the declining Mughal authority.
13. How did the Rajput states contribute to the political landscape of 18th-century India?
The Rajput states, particularly in Rajasthan, maintained their autonomy and played a significant role in regional politics. They formed alliances with both the Mughals and Marathas, and some, like the state of Jaipur, became major regional powers.
14. What was the significance of the Maratha Confederacy during the 18th century?
The Maratha Confederacy rose to power in the 18th century, becoming the dominant force in large parts of India. They challenged the Mughal authority, established their own administrative system, and expanded their influence across the subcontinent.
15. What impact did the invasions by Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali have on the Mughal Empire?
Nadir Shah’s invasion in 1739 and Ahmad Shah Abdali’s multiple invasions in the mid-18th century severely weakened the Mughal Empire. These invasions led to the looting of Delhi, a massive drain of wealth, and the further destabilization of Mughal authority.
16. How did the decline of the Mughal Empire affect the economic structure of India?
The decline led to the rise of regional powers who controlled trade routes and resources. There was also an increase in the power of bankers and merchants, who began to play a more significant role in the politics and economy of these emerging states.
17. How did administrative roles change as the Mughal Empire declined?
As the central authority of the Mughal Empire weakened, local governors (subadars) and regional rulers consolidated power in their respective territories, often establishing hereditary control over provinces and reducing their allegiance to the Mughal emperor.
18. How did regional rulers form alliances and engage in conflicts during the 18th century?
Regional rulers formed alliances through marriages, treaties, and military support. Conflicts were common as states like the Marathas, Rajputs, and the Nizam of Hyderabad sought to expand their territories, often clashing with each other or with the remnants of the Mughal Empire.
19. What were some cultural and social changes that accompanied the new political formations in the 18th century?
The rise of regional powers led to a revival of local cultures, languages, and traditions. There was increased patronage of regional arts, literature, and architecture. Socially, the weakening of central authority allowed local customs and practices to flourish, often reinforcing regional identities.
20. How did European trading companies influence the political situation in India during the 18th century?
European trading companies, particularly the British East India Company and the French East India Company, capitalized on the political fragmentation in India. They formed alliances with regional powers, intervened in local conflicts, and gradually expanded their territorial control, laying the groundwork for colonial rule.
21. What was the role of Hyderabad in the political dynamics of the 18th century?
Hyderabad, under the Nizams, emerged as a powerful state in South India. The Nizams maintained a degree of independence from the Mughal Empire, established a strong administrative structure, and played a crucial role in the Deccan politics, often allying with or opposing the Marathas and the British.
22. How did Murshid Quli Khan transform Bengal in the early 18th century?
Murshid Quli Khan, appointed as the Nawab of Bengal, restructured the administration, shifted the capital to Murshidabad, and made Bengal one of the most prosperous regions in India. He effectively reduced the Mughal influence in Bengal and laid the foundation for an independent state.
23. What was the significance of Awadh under the leadership of Saadat Khan?
Saadat Khan founded the state of Awadh and established it as a powerful entity in North India. He reformed the revenue system, strengthened the military, and maintained a semi-independent status, making Awadh a key player in the politics of the Gangetic plains.
24. How did the decline of Mughal central authority affect regional rulers and their autonomy?
As Mughal central authority declined, regional rulers gained more autonomy, asserting their independence in administrative and military matters. They began to mint their own coins, collect taxes independently, and negotiate treaties with foreign powers, effectively operating as sovereign states.
25. How did banking and commerce influence political formations in the 18th century?
Banking and commerce became increasingly important as regional powers sought to finance their armies and administration. Merchant and banking families gained influence by providing loans to rulers and managing trade, which in turn affected political decisions and alliances.
Fill in the blanks:
1. The decline of the __________ Empire in the 18th century led to the emergence of regional states across India.
2. __________ was the ruler who founded the state of Awadh and established it as a key power in North India.
3. The __________ Confederacy became the dominant force in large parts of India after the decline of the Mughal Empire.
4. The invasions by __________ Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali weakened the Mughal Empire and led to the looting of Delhi.
5. __________ Khan was the Nawab who transformed Bengal into a prosperous region in the early 18th century.
6. The Nizams established __________ as a powerful state in South India during the 18th century.
7. The __________ movement played a significant role in the political and cultural revival of regional states.
8. The rise of regional powers led to a revival of local __________, languages, and traditions.
9. The European trading companies, particularly the __________ East India Company, expanded their influence during this period.
10. __________, the capital of the Mughal Empire, was looted by Nadir Shah in 1739.
11. Regional rulers began to mint their own __________ as a symbol of their autonomy from the Mughal Empire.
12. The decline of Mughal central authority allowed regional rulers to negotiate __________ with foreign powers independently.
13. The __________, a powerful regional state, emerged in the Deccan under the leadership of the Nizams.
14. __________ played an increasingly important role in financing regional powers during the 18th century.
15. The Kingdom of __________ in Rajasthan maintained its autonomy and formed alliances with both the Mughals and Marathas.
Answers:
1. Mughal
2. Saadat
3. Maratha
4. Nadir
5. Murshid Quli
6. Hyderabad
7. Bhakti
8. cultures
9. British
10. Delhi
11. coins
12. treaties
13. Hyderabad
14. Banking and commerce
15. Rajputs
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