History- India After the Mughals (Extra Questions)

Ch- : India after the Mughals
  Extra Questions

1. Why was Aurangzeb known as zinda pir?
He was a Muslim who lived his life by following a high standard of morality. He created a separate department to enforce moral codes. He was regarded as a Zinda Pir or living saint.

2. What revolts did Aurangzeb face?
He had to deal against the revolts led by the Jats, the Bundelas, and the Satnamis, the Sikhs, the Rajputs and the struggle with Marathas under Shivaji.

3. What did Aurangzeb do before he died to ensure peaceful partition of his empire?
 Aurangzeb had left a will to partition the empire peacefully among his three surviving sons - Muazzam, Muhammad Azam, and Muhammad Kam Baksh.

4. List the later Mughal emperors
Bahadur Shah, Jahandar Shah, Farrukhsiyar, Muhammad Shah.

5. To whom did Farrukhsiyar own his success?
Farrukhsiyar owed his success to the two Sayyid brothers.

6. What kind of ruler was Muhammad Shah?
Muhammad Shah did not prove to be a docile agent of the Sayyid brothers and succeeded in killing them. He was unable to increase his power and prestige.

7. What was the result of Muhammad Shah rule?
Soon, province after province slipped out of the Mughal control. As a result, the Marathas established their power again. The Rohillas founded the state of Rohilkhand (Ruhelkhand). The Jats near Agra and the Sikhs in Punjab became independent.

8. List some reasons for the decline of the Mughal Empire.
Death of Aurangzeb, constant war for succession, weak rulers, founding of the state of Rohilkhand and independence of the Jats and the Sikhs.

9. Why did Nadir shah Invade Delhi?
Nadir Shah wanted to plunder the wealth of India and he carried away immense booty, including the Kohinoor diamond and the costly peacock throne of Shah Jahan.

10. Why did the imperial administrative system suffer?
The imperial administrative system suffered at the hands of the mansabdars as the emperors could not keep a check on them. Nobles appointed as governors (subedars) often controlled the offices of revenue (diwani) and military (faujdari) administration and began to extract maximum revenue from the peasantry.

11. When did Ahmed Shah Abdali invade India and what did that lead to?
Ahmad Shah Abdali Repeated invaded India from 1748 CE to 1761 CE weakened the Mughal Empire considerably.

12. Why did the peasants revolt against the empire?
increased taxes

13. Which battled hastened the disintegration of the Mughal Empire?
The process of disintegration of Mughal Empire hastened with the Battle of Buxar 1764 CE.

14. In which battle were the Marathas defeated against Ahmad Shah Abdali?
The Marathas and Ahmad Shah Abdali came into direct confrontation. The forces met in the battlefield of Panipat in 1761 CE - Marathas defeated.

15. Whom did Ahmad Shah Abdali Ahmad declare as emperor?
Shah Abdali, declared Shah Alam II as the emperor.

16. What happened when the peasants and zamindars revolted?
They strengthened their position which led to a shift in political and economic authority into the hands of the governors.

17. Name the founder of the kingdom of Awadh.
Burhan-ul-Mulk Saadat Khan was the founder of the kingdom of Awadh.

18. What helped Hyderabad become an independent state?
The decline of the Mughal power led to the establishment of independent rule of the Deccan with Hyderabad as its capital.

19. How did Awadh become an independent state?
Burhan-ul-Mulk Saadat Khan took advantage of the prevailing conditions in Delhi and made Awadh an independent state.

20. Who was appointed the governor of Bengal?
1717 CE - Murshid Quli Khan - appointed governor of Bengal by Farrukhsiyar.

21.Why was Awadh an important center?
Awadh was rich and a prosperous region. Whoever controlled it would control the Ganga plain and the main trade route between Bengal and the North India.

22. What happened after the death of Chin Qilich Khan?
After his death the succession war gave the opportunities to the European trading companies to try their fortune in the region.

23. Analyse Murshid Quli Khan as a ruler.
He shifted his capital from Dhaka to Murshidabad. By keeping economic interests of his province in mind, he carefully managed his revenue and increased his finances. he even adopted severe measures to collect revenue from the local zamindars. he provided facilities and assistance to the traders to develop trade.

24.Why was Guru Teg Bahadur executed?
Guru Teg Bahadur’s (the ninth Sikh guru) protests against certain rigid policies of Aurangzeb resulted in his execution.

25. Analyse the emergence of regional powers of the Rajputs.
Many Rajput kings, particularly those belonging to Amber (Jaipur) and Marwar (Jodhpur), had served under the Mughals. After the decline of the Mughal Empire they gained prominence.

26. Who was appointed the governor of Surta?
Jai Singh II (also known as Sawai Raja Jai Singh) of Amber was appointed governor of Surat.

27. Which Jat ruler established his authority over Agra and Mathura region?
It was Badan Singh, a nephew of Churaman, who established his authority over almost the whole of Agra and Mathura districts.

28. When was Shivaji born and to whom?
He was born to Shahji Bhonsle, an official at the court of Bijapur, and Jijabai in 1630 CE.

29. Analyse the rise of the Marathas.
The Marathas rose to prominence under the leadership of Chhatrapati Shivaji. His earliest military successes recorded were when he captured a number of hill forts near Pune, Rajgad, Kondana, Torana.

30. Name the first Peshwa ruler?
Balaji Vishwanath was the first Peshwa.

31. What happened in the Third Battle of Panipat?
The Marathas were defeated. they lost control of the state. This gave way to a loose confederacy governened by independent Maratha chiefs.

32. Under whose leadership did the Marathas reach its prominence?
The Marathas rose to prominence under the leadership of Chhatrapati Shivaji.

33. What was Shivaji’s aspirations?
Shivaji’s great aspiration was to create an independent kingdom

34. Name the two types of taxes collected by the Maratha king.
Chauth and Sardeshmukhi

35.What warfare techniques were being used by the Marathas?
The guerrilla tactics of warfare which proved useful in the geographical location of the Maratha kingdom.

36. How were the forts protected?
The forts were carefully supervised and great precautions have been taken to maintain the garrisons in the forts.

37.  How was land revenue assessed?
Land revenue was assessed after a careful survey of the land. It is fixed two-fifths of the gross produce payable in cash or kind.

38. What techniques of warfare did the Maratha’s adopt?
They adopted the guerrilla tactics of warfare which proved useful in the geographical location of the Maratha kingdom. They forts were carefully supervised and great precautions were taken to maintain the garrisons in the forts.

39.  Who was the Nyayadhish?
He was the Chief Justice, who was responsible for dispensing justice on judicial, civil and military disputes.

40.  Who was the senapati?
He was a Commander-in-Chief and responsible for the recruitment, organization and discipline of the army.

41. Describe the administration of the Marathas.
The Marathas had developed a sound system of administration. The Maratha kingdom was divided into provinces (prants) and was sub-divided into parganas and tarafs. The King was the supreme head of the government and assisted by a council of eight ministers called the ashtapradhan.

42. Who was Charles II?
Charles II was the final king of the Spanish Habsburg dynasty.

43. According to the historians, what was the reason for the downfall of the dynasty?
Historians have often speculated that this inbreeding was the dynasty’s downfall and contributed to Charles II’s numerous health problems.

44. Why did the War of Spanish successor begin?
It began with the conflict that broke out from the disputed succession to the throne of Spain after the death of the childless Spanish Hapsburg King Charles II.

45. Who was recognised as the ruler of Spain after the battle?
Philip (the grandson of Louis XIV) was recognized as the King of Spain.