India in the Eighteenth Century

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Bahadur Shah 1 (1707-12)

  • Muzam succeeded Aurungzeb after latter’s death in 1707
  • He acquired the title of Bahadur Shah.
  • Though he was quite old (65) and his rule quite short there are many significant achievements he made
  • He reversed the narrow minded and antagonistic policies of Aurungzeb
  • Made agreements with Rajput states
  • Granted sardeshmukhi to Marathas but  not Chauth
  • Released Shahuji (son of Sambhaji) from prison (who later fought with Tarabai)
  • Tried to make peace with Guru Gobind Sahib by giving him a high Mansab. After Guru’s death, Sikhs again revolted under the Leadership of Banda Bahadur. This led to a prolonged war with the Sikhs.
  • Made peace with Chhatarsal, the Bundela chief and Churaman, the Jat chief.
  • State finances deteriorated

Jahandar Shah (1712-13)

  • Death of Bahadur Shah plunged the empire into a civil war
  • A noted feature of this time was the prominence of the nobles
  • Jahandar Shah, son of Bahadur Shah, ascended the throne in 1712 with help from Zulfikar Khan
  • Was a weak ruler devoted only to pleasures
  • Zulfikar Khan, his wazir, was virtually the head of the administration
  • ZK abolished jizyah
  • Peace with Rajputs: Jai Singh of Amber was made the Governor of Malwa. Ajit Singh of Marwar was made the Governor of Gujarat.
  • Chauth and Sardeshmukh granted to Marathas. However, Mughals were to collect it and then hand it over to the Marathas.
  • Continued the policy of suppression towards Banda Bahadur and Sikhs
  • Ijarah: (revenue farming) the government began to contract with revenue farmers and middlemen to pay the government a fixed amount of Money while they were left free to collect whatever they could from the peasants
  • Jahandhar Shah defeated in January 1713 by his nephew Farrukh Siyar at Agra

Farrukh Siyar (1713-19)

  • Owed his victory to Saiyid Brothers: Hussain Ali Khan Barahow and Abdullah Khan
  • Abdullah Khan: Wazir,                    Hussain Ali: Mir Bakshi
  • FS was an incapable ruler. Saiyid brothers were the real rulers.
  • Saiyid Brothers
    • Known the Indian History as King Makers
    • adopted the policy of religious Tolerance. Abolished jizyah (again?). Pilgrim tax was abolished from a number of places
    • Marathas: Granted Shahuji swarajya and the right to collect chauth and sardeshmukhi of the six provinces of the Deccan
    • They failed in their effort to contain rebellion because they were faced with constant political rivalry, quarrels and conspiracies at the court.
    • Nobles headed by Nizam-ul-Mulk and Muhammad Amin Khan began to conspire against them
    • In 1719, the Saiyid Brothers killed and overthrew FS.
    • This was followed by placing, in quick SUCCESSION, of two young princes who died of consumption
    • Murder of the emperor created a wave of revulsion against the SB. They were looked down as ‘namak haram’
  • Now, they placed 18 year old Muhammad Shah as the emperor of India
  • In 1720, the nobles assassinated Hussain Ali Khan, the younger of the SB. Abdullah Khan was also defeated at Agra

Muhammad Shah ‘Rangeela’ (1719-1748)

  • Weak-minded, frivolous and over-fond of a life of ease
  • Neglected the affairs of the state
  • Intrigued against his own ministers
  • Naizam ul Mulk Qin Qulich Khan, the wazir, relinquished his office and founded the state of Hyderabad in 1724
    • “His departure was symbolic of the flight of loyalty and virtue from the Empire”
  • Heriditary nawabs arose in Bengal, Hyderabad, Awadh and Punjab
  • Marathas conquered Malwa, Gujarat and Bundelkhand
  • 1738: Invasion of Nadir Shah

 

Nadir Shah’s Invasion (1738)

  • Attracted to India by its fabulous wealth. Continual campaigns had made Persia bankrupt
  • Also, the Mughal Empire was weak.
  • Didn’t meet any resistance as the defense of the north-west frontier had been neglected for years
  • The two armies met at Karnal on 13th Feb 1739. Mughal army was summarily defeated. MS taken prisoner
  • Massacre in Delhi in response to the killing of some of his soldiers
  • Plunder of about 70 crore rupees. Carried away the Peacock throne and Koh-i-noor
  • MS ceded to him all the provinces of the Empire west of the river Indus
  • Significance: Nadir Shah’s invasion exposed the hidden weakness of the empire to the Maratha sardars and the foreign trading companies

Ahmed Shah Abdali

  • One of the generals of Nadir Shah
  • Repeatedly invaded and plundered India right down to Delhi and Mathura between 1748 and 1761. He invaded India five times.
  • 1761: Third battle of Panipat. Defeat of Marathas.
  • As a result of invasions of Nadir Shah and Ahmed Shah, the Mughal empire ceased to be an all-India empire. By 1761 it was reduced merely to the Kingdom of Delhi

Shah Alam II (1759-

  • Ahmed Bahadur (1748-54) succeeded Muhammad Shah
  • Ahmed Bahadur was succeeded by Alamgir II (1754-59)
    • 1756: Abdali plundered Mathura
  • Alamgir II was succeeded by Shah Jahan III
  • Shah Jahan III succeeded by Shah Alam II in 1759
  • Shah Alam spent initial years wandering for he lived under the fear of his wazir
  • In 1764, he joined forces with Mir Qasim of Bengal and Shuja-ud-Daula of Awadh in declaring a war upon the British East India company. This resulted in the Battle of Buxar
  • Pensioned at Allahabad
  • Returned to Delhi in 1772 under the protection of Marathas

Decline of the Mughal Empire

  • After 1759, Mughal empire ceased to be a military power.
  • It continued from 1759 till 1857 only due to the powerful hold that the Mughal dynasty had on the minds of the people of India as a symbol of the political unity of the country
  • In 1803, the British occupied Delhi
  • From 1803 to 1857, the Mughal emperors merely served as a political front of the British.
  • The most important consequence of the fall of the Mughal empire was that it paved way for the British to conquer India as there was no other Indian power strong enough to unite and hold India.

Succession States

  • These states arose as a result of the assertion of autonomy by governors of Mughal provinces with the decay of the central power
  • Bengal, Awadh, Hyderabad

Hyderabad and the Carnatic

  • Founded by Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah in 1724
  • Tolerant policy towards Hindus
    • A Hindu, Puran Chand, was his Dewan.
  • Established an orderly administration in Deccan on the basis of the jagirdari system on the Mughal pattern
  • He died in 1748
  • Nawab of Carnatic freed himself of the control of the Viceroy of the Deccan and made his office hereditary
    • Saadutullah Khan of Carnatic made his nephew Dost Ali his successor

Bengal

  • 1700: Murshid Quli Khan made the Dewan of Bengal
  • Freed himself of the central control
  • Freed Bengal of major uprisings
    • Three major uprisings during his time: Sitaram Ray, Udai Narayan and Ghulam Muhammad, and then by Shujat Khan, and finally by Najat Khan
  • Carried out fresh revenue settlement. Introduced the system of revenue-farming.
  • Revenue farming led to the increased distress of the farmers
  • Laid the foundations of the new landed aristocracy in Bengal
  • MQK died in 1727. Succeeded by Shuja-ud-din.
  • 1739: Alivardi Khan killed and deposed Shuja-ud-din’s son, Sarfaraz Khan, and made himself the Nawab
  • All three Nawabs encouraged merchants, both Indian and foreign.
  • Safety of roads and rivers. Thanas and Chowkies at regular intervals.
  • Maintained strict control over the foreign trading companies
  • They, however, did not firmly put down the increasing tendency of the English East India Company to use military force, or to threaten its use, to get its demands accepted.
  • They also neglected to build a strong army

Awadh

  • 1722: Saadat Khan Burhan-ul-Mulk
  • Suppressed rebellions and disciplined the Zamindars
  • Fresh revenue settlement in 1723
  • Did not discriminate between Hindus and Muslims. The highest post in his government was held by a Hindu, Maharaja Nawab Rai
  • Died in 1739. Succeeded by Safdar Jung.
  • SJ’s reign was an era of peace
  •  made an alliance with the Maratha sardars
  • Carried out warfare against Rohelas and Bangash Pathans
  • Organized an equitable system of Justice
  • Distinct culture of Lucknow developed during his period

Mysore

  • Haidar Ali, in 1761, overthrew Nanjaraj and established his own authority over Mysore
  • 1755: Established a modern arsenal at Dindigal with the help of French experts
  • Conquered Bidnur, Sunda, Sera, Canara and Malabar
  • He conquered Malabar because he wanted access to the Indian Ocean
  • First and Second Anglo-Mysore War
  • 1782: Succeeded by Tipu Sultan
  • TS was an innovator. Introduced a new calendar, a new system of coinage and new scales of weights and measures.
  • Keen interest in French Revolution
    • Planted a ‘tree of Liberty’ at Srirangapatnam and became a member of the Jacobin Club
  • Made efforts to build a modern navy
  • Mysore flourished economically under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan
  • Sent missions to France, Turkey, Iran and Pegu Myanmar to develop Foreign Trade
  • Some historians say that Tipu was a religious fanatic. But facts don’t support this assertion.

 

 

Kerala

  • Divided into large number of feudal chiefs in the 18th century
  • Four important states
    • Calicut (under Zamorin), Chirakkal, Cochin and Travancore
  • In 1729, Travancore rose to prominence under King Martanda Varma
  • Conquered Quilon and Elayadam, and defeated the Dutch
  • From 1766 Haidar Ali invaded Kerala and annexed northern Kerala up to Cochin
  • Revival of Malyalam literature
    • Trivandram became a famous centre of Sanskrit scholarship

Rajput States

  • Rajputana states continued to be divided as before
  • Raja Sawai Jai Singh of Amber was the most outstanding ruler of the era
    • Founded the city of Jaipur
    • Made Jaipur a great seat of science and art
    • Astronomer. Erected observatories at Jaipur, Ujjain, Varanasi, and Mathura
    • Drew up a set of tables, entitled Zij Muhammadshahi, to enable people to make astronomical observations
    • Translated Euclid’s “Elements of Geometry” into Sanskrit
    • Social reformers. Reduce lavish marriage expenditures.

Jats

  • Jat peasants revolted in 1669 and 1688
  • Jat state of Bharatpur set up by Churaman and  Badan Singh
  • Reached its highest glory under Suraj Mal, who ruled from 1756 to 1763

Sikhs

  • Sikhsim transformed into a militant religion during Guru Hargobind (1606-45), the sixth guru.
  • Guru Gobind Singh waged constant war against the armies of Aurangzeb and the hill rajas
  • After Guru Gobind Singh’s death (1708), leadership passed to Banda Singh (Banda Bahadur)
    • He struggled with the Mughal army for 8 years
    • Put to death in 1715
  • Banda Bahadur failed because
    • Mughal centre was still strong
    • Upper classes and castes of Punjab joined forces against him
    • He could not integrate all the anti-Mughal forces because of his religious bigotry
  • After the withdrawal of Abdali from Punjab, Sikhs were again resurgent
  • Between 1765 and 1800 they brought the Punjab and Jammu under their control
  • They were organized into 12 misls
  • Ranjit Singh
    • Chief of the Sukerchakia Misl
    • Captured Lahore (1799) and Amritsar (1802)
    • Conquered Kashmir, Peshawar and Multan
    • Possessed the second best army in Asia
    • Tolerant and liberal
    • Fakir Azizuddin and Dewan Dina Nath were his important ministers
    • “known to step down from his throne to wipe the dust off the feet of Muslim mendicants with his long grey beard”
    • Negative point: He did not remove the threat of British. He only left it over to his successors. And so, after his death, when his kingdom was torn by intense internal struggle, English conquered it.

Marathas

  • Maratha Families
    • Peshwa – Pune
    • Gaekwad – Baroda
    • Bhosle – Nagpur
    • Holkar – Indore
    • Scindia – Gwalior
  • The most powerful of the succession states
  • Could not fill the political vacuum because
    • Maratha Sardars lacked unity
    • Lacked the outlook and programme which were necessary for founding an all-India empire
  • Shahuji
    • Son of Sambhaji
    • Imprisoned by Aurungzeb
    • Released in 1707
    • Civil war between Shahu and his aunt Tarabai who ruled in the name of her infant son Shivaji II
    • The conflict gave rise to a new era of Maratha leadership, the era of Peshwa leadership
  • Balaji Vishwnath
    • 1713: Peshwa of King Shahu
    • Induced Zulfikar Khan to grant the chauth and sardeshmukhi of the Deccan
    • Helped the Saiyid brothers in overthrowing Farukh Siyar
    • Maratha sardars were becoming individually strong but collectively weak
    • Died in 1720. Succeeded by his son Baji Rao I
  • Baji Rao I
    • the greatest extent of guerrilla tactics after Shivaji
    • Vast areas ceded by the Mughals
    • Marathas won control over Malwa, Gujarat and parts of Bundelkhand
    • Rivalry with Nizam ul Mulk
    • Compelled the Nizam to grant chauth and sardeshmukhi of the Deccan provinces
    • 1733: Campaign against Sidis of Janjira and The Portuguese (Salsette and Bassein)
    • Died in 1740
    • Captured territories but failed to lay the foundations of an empire
    • Succeeded by Balaji Baji Rao (Nana Saheb)
  • Balaji Baji Rao (1740-61)
    • Shahu died in 1749. Peshwas became the de facto rulers
    • Shifted the capital to Poona
    • Captured Orissa
    • Mysore forced to pay tributes
    • In 1752, helped Imad-ul-Mulk to become the wazir
    • Brought Punjab under their control and expelled the agent of Ahmad Shah Abdali
      • This led AS Abdali to come to India to settle accounts with Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat
    • Third Battle of Panipat
      • ASA formed an alliance with Najib-ud-daulah of Rohilkhand and Shuja-ud-daulah of Awadh.

Saranjami system?

Social and economic condition,

The eighteenth century was a time of great change and upheaval in India. The Mughal Empire, which had once ruled over much of the subcontinent, was in decline, and a number of smaller kingdoms and empires began to emerge. The MARATHA EMPIRE, the Mysore Sultanate, and the Carnatic Wars were all major events of this period.

The Mughal Empire was founded in the early 16th century by Babur, a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan. The Mughals were a Muslim dynasty, and they brought with them a new culture and religion to India. Under the Mughals, India experienced a period of great economic and cultural prosperity. However, the Mughal Empire began to decline in the late 17th century. This was due to a number of factors, including internal political instability, economic problems, and the rise of regional powers.

The Maratha Empire was founded in the late 17th century by Shivaji Maharaj. The Marathas were a Hindu warrior group, and they fought against the Mughals for control of India. The Marathas were successful in defeating the Mughals, and they established their own empire in the Deccan region of India. The Maratha Empire was a powerful force in India for over a century, and it played a major role in the decline of the Mughal Empire.

The Mysore Sultanate was founded in the 17th century by Hyder Ali. The Mysore Sultanate was a Muslim kingdom located in the southern part of India. Hyder Ali was a skilled military leader, and he expanded the Mysore Sultanate into a major power in India. His son, Tipu Sultan, continued his father’s work, and he made the Mysore Sultanate a major threat to the British East India Company.

The Carnatic Wars were a series of wars fought between the British East India Company and the French East India Company in the southern part of India. The wars were fought over control of the Carnatic region, which was a wealthy and strategically important region. The Carnatic Wars were a major turning point in the history of India, as they led to the decline of the Mughal Empire and the rise of the British East India Company.

The Battle Of Plassey was fought in 1757 between the British East India Company and the Nawab of Bengal. The battle was a major victory for the British, and it marked the beginning of British rule in India. The Battle of Plassey was a turning point in the history of India, as it led to the decline of the Mughal Empire and the rise of the British East India Company.

The Battle of Buxar was fought in 1764 between the British East India Company and the Mughal Empire. The battle was a major victory for the British, and it led to the British taking control of much of northern India. The Battle of Buxar was a turning point in the history of India, as it led to the decline of the Mughal Empire and the rise of the British East India Company.

Tipu Sultan was the ruler of the Mysore Sultanate from 1782 to 1799. He was a skilled military leader, and he fought against the British East India Company for control of India. Tipu Sultan was known for his innovative use of military technology, and he was also a patron of the arts and sciences. He was killed in battle against the British in 1799.

The British East India Company was a trading company that was founded in 1600. The company was granted a monopoly on trade with India by the British Crown. The British East India Company gradually became involved in the politics of India, and it eventually took control of much of the subcontinent. The British East India Company ruled India from 1757 to 1857.

The Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny, was a major uprising against British rule in India. The rebellion was sparked by a number of factors, including religious tensions, economic problems, and the British East India Company’s policies. The rebellion was ultimately unsuccessful, but it led to a number of reforms in British rule in India.

The eighteenth century was a time of great change and upheaval in India. The Mughal Empire, which had once ruled over much of the subcontinent, was in decline, and a number of smaller kingdoms and empires began to emerge. The Maratha Empire, the Mysore Sultanate, and the Carnatic Wars were all major events of this period. The British East India Company also played a major role in the history of India during this time. The Battle of Plassey and the Battle of Buxar were two major victories for the British, and they led to the British taking control of much of India. The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was a major uprising against British rule, but it was ultimately unsuccessful.

What is the history of India?

India is a country with a rich and diverse history. It is home to many different cultures and religions, and its people have been shaped by centuries of conflict and conquest.

The earliest known inhabitants of India were hunter-gatherers who lived in the Indus Valley around 5000 BC. These people were eventually replaced by the Aryans, a group of Indo-European people who migrated to India from Central Asia around 1500 BC.

The Aryans brought with them their own language, Sanskrit, and their own religion, Hinduism-2/”>Hinduism. They also introduced the caste system, which is a social hierarchy that divides people into different groups based on their birth.

India was ruled by a number of different dynasties over the centuries. The Mauryan Empire, which was founded in the 4th century BC, was one of the largest and most powerful empires in Indian history. The Mughal Empire, which was founded in the 16th century, was another major empire that ruled over much of India.

In the 18th century, India was divided into a number of different kingdoms. These kingdoms were eventually conquered by the British, who ruled India for nearly 200 years.

India gained independence from Britain in 1947. Since then, it has been a republic with a democratically elected government.

What are the major religions in India?

The major religions in India are Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, and Buddhism-2/”>Buddhism.

Hinduism is the oldest Religion in India. It is a polytheistic religion that is based on the belief in a number of different gods and goddesses. Hinduism is also a very complex religion with a rich history and tradition.

Islam is the second largest religion in India. It is a monotheistic religion that is based on the belief in one God. Islam is a very important religion in India, and it has had a major impact on Indian culture.

Christianity is the third largest religion in India. It is a monotheistic religion that is based on the belief in Jesus Christ. Christianity is a relatively new religion in India, but it has been growing rapidly in recent years.

Sikhism is the fourth largest religion in India. It is a monotheistic religion that is based on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Sikhism is a very important religion in India, and it has had a major impact on Indian culture.

Buddhism is the fifth largest religion in India. It is a non-theistic religion that is based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha. Buddhism is a very important religion in India, and it has had a major impact on Indian culture.

What are the major languages spoken in India?

The major languages spoken in India are Hindi, English, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, and Kannada.

Hindi is the most widely spoken language in India. It is the Official Language of India, and it is spoken by over 400 million people.

English is the second most widely spoken language in India. It is the official language of business and government in India, and it is spoken by over 100 million people.

Bengali is the third most widely spoken language in India. It is spoken by over 90 million people.

Telugu is the fourth most widely spoken language in India. It is spoken by over 80 million people.

Marathi is the fifth most widely spoken language in India. It is spoken by over 70 million people.

Tamil is the sixth most widely spoken language in India. It is spoken by over 70 million people.

Urdu is the seventh most widely spoken language in India. It is spoken by over 50 million people.

Gujarati is the eighth most widely spoken language in India. It is spoken by over 50 million people.

Kannada is the ninth most widely spoken language in India. It is spoken by over 40 million people.

What are the major exports of India?

The major exports of India are petroleum products, gems and jewelry, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, and textiles.

Petroleum products are the most valuable export of India. They account for over 20% of India’s total exports.

Gems and jewelry are the second most valuable export of India. They account for over 10% of India’s total exports.

Engineering goods are the third most valuable export of India. They account for over 8% of India’s total exports.

Pharmaceuticals are the fourth most valuable export of India. They account for over 7% of India’s total exports.

Textiles are the fifth most valuable export of India. They account for over 6% of India’s total exports.

Sure, here are some MCQs without mentioning the topic India in the Eighteenth Century:

  1. Which of the following is not a characteristic of the Mughal Empire?
    (A) It was a centralized state with a strong military.
    (B) It was a tolerant empire that allowed religious freedom.
    (C) It was a wealthy empire that was built on trade and agriculture.
    (D) It was an empire that was ruled by a series of weak emperors.

  2. The Mughal Empire began to decline in the 18th century due to a number of factors, including:
    (A) The death of Aurangzeb, the last great Mughal emperor.
    (B) The rise of regional powers, such as the Marathas and the Sikhs.
    (C) The invasion of Afghanistan by Nadir Shah.
    (D) All of the above.

  3. The British East India Company was founded in 1600 with the goal of trading with India. However, the company soon began to expand its power and influence in India, eventually leading to the establishment of British rule in the subcontinent. The following are some of the reasons for the British East India Company’s success in India:
    (A) The company had a strong military.
    (B) The company had a well-organized Bureaucracy.
    (C) The company had the support of the British government.
    (D) All of the above.

  4. The Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny, was a major uprising against British rule in India. The rebellion was led by Indian soldiers, known as sepoys, who were angered by a number of British policies, including the introduction of the Enfield rifle, which required soldiers to bite off the cartridge, which was greased with animal fat. The rebellion was ultimately unsuccessful, but it had a profound impact on British rule in India.

  5. The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 by a group of Indian intellectuals who were inspired by the ideals of nationalism and Democracy. The Congress’s goal was to achieve self-government for India within the British Empire. The Congress played a leading role in the Indian independence movement, and its leaders, such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, were instrumental in the eventual achievement of Indian independence in 1947.

  6. The partition of India in 1947 was the division of the Indian subcontinent into two independent dominions, India and Pakistan. The partition was a result of the growing Hindu-Muslim divide in India, and it led to widespread violence and bloodshed. Millions of people were displaced, and hundreds of thousands were killed. The partition of India is one of the most tragic events in Indian history.

  7. The Republic of India was established on January 26, 1950, with a new constitution that adopted a secular, democratic form of government. The first president of India was Rajendra Prasad, and the first prime minister was Jawaharlal Nehru. India is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the Non-Aligned Movement. It is the world’s largest democracy, with a Population of over 1.3 billion people.

  8. India is a land of great diversity, with a rich history and culture. The country is home to a number of different religions, languages, and ethnic groups. India is also a rapidly developing country, with a growing economy and a young population. India is a major player on the world stage, and it is expected to play an even more important role in the 21st century.