Eighteenth-century political formations

IN-TEXT QUESTIONS

1. Question: See Chapter 4, Table 1. Which group of people challenged Mughal authority for the longest time in Aurangzeb’s reign?

   Answer: The Marathas challenged Mughal authority for the longest period during Aurangzeb’s reign.

2. Question: What is the Khalsa? Do you recall reading about it in Chapter 6?

   Answer:
   The Khalsa is the community of Sikhs founded by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. It marked a new beginning for the Sikhs as a collective group that followed the Sikh Gurus’ teachings and stood ready to defend their faith. The Khalsa members are expected to follow a strict code of discipline and live by high moral values.

3. Activity/Imagine (from page 104):
   “You are a ruler of an eighteenth-century kingdom. Tell us about the steps you would take to make your position strong in your province, and what opposition or problems you might face while doing so.”

   Suggested Approach/Answer:

   • Steps to make the position strong
     a) Build a strong army: Recruit loyal soldiers and train them well.
     b) Form alliances: Make friendly ties with neighboring rulers to avoid wars.
     c) Improve administration: Collect taxes fairly and use them to help people, build roads, and encourage trade.
     d) Encourage trade and agriculture: Support farmers with good irrigation, fair taxes, and protection so that they can grow more crops.
     e) Maintain law and order: Appoint officers to keep peace and settle disputes.
   • Possible opposition or problems
     a) Nobles or local chiefs might become too powerful and refuse to obey.
     b) Rebellions by peasants if taxes become too high.
     c) Threat of invasion from rival kingdoms.
     d) Internal competition among court nobles who might try to control the king.

 

1) State whether true or false:

(a) Nadir Shah invaded Bengal.
Answer: False. Nadir Shah invaded Delhi, not Bengal.

(b) Sawai Raja Jai Singh was the ruler of Indore.
Answer: False. Sawai Raja Jai Singh was the ruler of Amber, not Indore.

(c) Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth Guru of the Sikhs.
Answer:True. Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth Guru of the Sikhs.

(d) Poona became the capital of the Marathas in the eighteenth century.
Answer: True. Poona became the capital of the Marathas in the eighteenth century.

2) How were the Sikhs organised in the eighteenth century?
Answer: In the eighteenth century, Sikhs were organized into numerous bands called jathas, later forming misls. Their collective forces, known as dal khalsa, made decisions at Amritsar during Baisakhi and Diwali, employing a taxation system called rakhi for cultivator protection.

3) Why did the Marathas want to expand beyond the Deccan?
Answer: The Marathas desired expansion beyond the Deccan for access to new resources and trade routes, to counter Mughal power, and to establish their sovereignty over a wider territory.

4) Do you think merchants and bankers today have the kind of influence they had in the eighteenth century?
Answer: While merchants and bankers today are influential, their role is different from the eighteenth century. Modern economic systems and regulations have diversified power and influence, reducing the direct political influence merchants and bankers once had.