Class 8th History

Lesson -4

The Eighteenth Century India

Exercise A. Answer the following questions:

Q1.(a) Name the last important ruler of the Mughal dynasty.

A1.(a) Aurangzeb was the last important Mughal ruler of the Mughal dynasty.

Q1.(b) When did he die?

A1.(b) He died in 1707 CE.

Q2.(a)What was the Mansabdari system?

A2.(a) The system in which salaries and responsibilities of a person is

determined according to his rank.

Q2.(b) What was the Jagirdari system?

A2.(b) The system in which Jagir or land was given to landlords in return for

their services.

Q3.There were several reasons for the decline of the Mughal Empire. In this

context discuss the following:

(a) Rivalry among the nobles

A3.(a) (i)The nobles of the Mughal court were divided into many segments like

Afghans, Turanis, Iranis and Hindustani.

(ii)These nobles constantly struggled with one another for power.

(iii) This hampered the smooth functioning of the administration.

(b) Nadir Shah's invasion of India.

A3.(b) (i)Nadir Shah invaded India in 1739.

(ii)He defeated the Mughal army and marched towards Delhi.

(iii)He looted the enormous wealth and took the famous Kohinoor diamond and

the Peacock Throne.

(c) Challenges faced from regional kingdoms.

A3.(c) (i)The governors of Bengal,Awadh and Hyderabad became powerful

during the reign of the later Mughals.

(ii)They stopped paying taxes.

(iii)They began disobeying the orders of the Mughal emperor and declared

themselves independent.

Q4. The rulers of Bengal were kind and welfare oriented. List three things they

did for the Welfare of their subjects.

A4. The rulers of Bengal were kind and welfare oriented. They did many things

for the welfare of their subjects.

(i) The improved administration and agriculture.

(ii) The poor farmers got loans on easy terms.

(iii) They collected custom duties strictly.

Q5.(a) What was the name of the dynasty founded by

Qamar-ud-din- Siddiqui?

A5.(a) Asaf Jahi dynasty was founded by Qamar-ud-din- Siddiqui.

Q5.(b) What were his successors called?

A5.(b) His successors were called Nizams.

Q6. Why did the Rajputs fail to re-establish the lost glory of the past?

A6. The Rajputs failed to re-establish the lost glory of the past because:

(i) The Rajputs were not united under single power.

(ii) They kept fighting with one another.

Q7.(a) Mention three contributions of Hyder Ali.

A7.(a) The main contributions of Hyder Ali were:

(i) He made Mysore a powerful kingdom.

(ii) He successfully controlled the rebels.

(iii) He improved the financial conditions of the kingdom.

Q7.(b) Mention three reforms brought about by Tipu Sultan.

A7.(b) Tipu Sultan brought many reforms.

(i) He introduced a new calendar and new system of coinage.

(ii) He organised military on European lines.

(iii) He set up modern industries in his kingdom.

Q8. How did Balaji Vishwanath regain the lost prestige and power of the

Marathas?

A8. Balaji Vishwanath regained the lost glory of the Marathas in following ways:

(i) Balaji Vishwanath successfully controlled the Maratha chiefs.

(ii) He signed a pact with the Sayyid brothers. The pact restored all the

territories of Shivaji to Shahu which were captured by the Mughals.

(iii) He also got the rights to collect Chauth and Sardeshmukhi of six

Mughal provinces in Deccan.

Q9. Name the Maratha chiefs who were a part of the Marathas Confederacy.

A9. Gaekwads, Bhonsle, Holkar and Scindia were a part of the Maratha

Confederacy.

Q10. During the reign of Balaji Bajirao, the Maratha empire reached its zenith.

However , the empire was broken into pieces by the end of his rule. Explain how

and why.

A10.(i) During Balaji Bajirao's reign , the Maratha power reached its zenith.

(ii)He expanded the Maratha empire from Attock to Cuttack.

(iii)The Maratha Army over took the whole of India.

(iv)Balaji Bajirao's desire to extend his control to north-west brought him to a

direct conflict with the Afghan ruler Ahmed Shah Abdali.

(v)In 1761 ,the Third Battle of Panipat was fought between the Marathas and

Ahmad Shah Abdali.

(vi)The Marathas were defeated in the battle.

(vii)They became very weak and the Maratha empire was broken into pieces.

Q11. Mention two reasons for the decline of the Marathas.

A11. The reasons for the decline of the Marathas were:

(i) There was lack of unity among the Maratha chiefs.

(ii) They didn’t take any pain to modernize their military and

administration.

(iii) They angered other rulers by raiding their territories.

Ex.B Give reasons for the following:

1.Aurangzeb was an unpopular ruler.

Ans. Aurangzeb was an unpopular ruler because of his policies.

(i) He imposed Jaziya on Hindus.

(ii) He destroyed temples and raised land revenue and taxes.

2. The Marathas lost the Third Battle of Panipat.

Ans.The Marathas lost the Third Battle of Panipat because they had no allies or

supporters.

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