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Q.1 Why is the period of 18th century considered a period of stagnation in Indian History?

Ans.: Main features of the Indian Economic Life in the 18th Century.

(1) India a Land of Contrasts. The society was divided into two groups. One group was that

of the chiefs and their stooges who were fully enjoying and the other group was oppressed

group who were deprived of every amenity, irrespective of their hard labour.

(2) Backward and Stagnant Agriculture. Agriculture was the main source for livelihood

during the 18th century. But due to the old method of cultivation and outdated implements

the land had gone infertile.

(3) Self-sufficient Villages. The villages were self-sufficient and most of the needs of the

villages were fulfilled in the village itself.

(4) Decline in the Internal Trade. The trade was hindered due to poor communication on the

one hand and on the other hand, it got a set-back due to internal disturbances. There was

hardly any security on the roads. The people were often robbed on the way. It was thus

very difficult to send commodities from one place to another.

(5) Activities of the foreign Trading Companies. The foreign trading companies were

hankering after the Indian trade. The British, the French, the Portugese, the Dutch etc. all

joined hands to undermine the economic condition of India.

Q.2 What were the two achievements of the Nawabs of Bengal in the 18th Century?

Ans.: (1) The Nawabs of Bengal (murshid-Quli-Khand, Ali Vardi Khand and Siraj-ud-Daula)

particularly Murshid-Quali-Khand crushed the rebels and established peace and order in

the country.

(2) They treated alike both their Hindus and Muslim subjects and gave them equal

opportunities.

Q.3 Describe the political condition of India at the beginning of the 18th century.

Ans.: The 18th century is generally regarded as the darkest period in the History of India because

after the downfall of the Mughal Empire there ensured a struggle for supremacy not only

between the native powers, but also between the native powers and foreigners.

Taking full advantage of the weakness of the Mughal Empire, various states like

Hyderabad, Bengal, Qudh, Mysore etc. became independent in different parts of India.

These states are sometimes called Succession States.

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Particularly, the rise of the so-called succestion states (Hyderabad, Bengal, Oudh, Mysore

etc.) proved very disastrous for the Mughal Empire. It tore the Mughal empire into pieces

and led to anarchy throughout India. It encouraged the powers like the Rajputs, Jats,

Sikhs, Marathas, etc. to make the best use of anarchy and make the confusion more

confounded. Not only this, even, the foreign powers like the Portugese, the Dutch, the

French, the English etc. were also encouraged to fish in trouble waters.

Q.4 Discuss the Ranjit Singhs Administration of the Punjab.

Ans.: Early life and Accession. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the founder of the Sikh state in the

Punjab and is taken to be one of the few Indian administrators. He was born in 1780 A.D.

at Gujaranwala in the Sukharchakia Misl, which was being headed by S.Mohan Singh at

that time. He learnt more of the sword, horse-riding and other fighting activities instead of

reading and writing. He was hardly 12 when his father died and he was made the ruler. He

was married in the Kanhaiya Misl which greatly strengthened his position.

Conquests. He started his conquests in 1799 A.D. by winning over Lahore. He got

Amritsar in 1802 A.D. from the Bhangi Misl. He became the ruler of the entire area upto the

Satluj by the year1806 A.D. Then he tried to capture Patiala and Jind after crossing over

the river Satluj. He had to enter into a treaty at Amritsar with the English in 1809 A.D.

according to which the river Satluj was fixed as the eastern boundary of his kingdom. Upto

his death in 1839 A.D. there were many ups and downs in their relations but on the whole

they maintained good relations. After the treaty of Amritsar he fixed his attention towards

the west and within a short period he conquered Kangra, Multan, Attock, Kashmir, Hazara,

Derajat, Peshawar, Ladakh and Jamrud etc. In this way, he founded a vast kingdom due to

his ability and power which was not an easy task.

Q.5 Give a critical appreciation of the character and achievements Hyder Ali of Mysore.

Ans.: Establishment of the State of Mysore. During the 18th century the two important states

which came into being in the south were Hyderabad and Mysore. After the fall of

Vijaynagar, Mysore maintained its identity.

During the 18th century two minister Nanjaraj and Devraj took powers in their hands and the

emperor Chikka Krishna Raj became a puppet in their hands. Hyder Ali, in those days, was

quite an unknown person. He was born in 1721 A.D. He was merely seven when his father

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died. The difficulties at the beginning gave him the qualities of confidence, enthusiasm and

wisdom. He became a helper of Nanjaraj while the serving in the army.

He took over all the powers from Nanjaraj in 1761 A.D. and became an independent ruler in

1766 A.D. after the Kings death.

Hyder Ali an Administrator. Although he was an illiterate person, he was an able man.

He was much above the caste distinctions. He appointed many Hindus on higher ranks.

His first Dewan and many other officers were the Hindus. He loved his people and was

always ready to help them.

Q.6 Describe the expansion of the Maratha power under the first three Peshwas.

Ans.: After Shivajis death his son Shambhaji and Grandson Sahu proved incompetent.

Shambhaji was caught and killed in 1689 A.D. The Peshwas soon became popular and

thus started their regime.

Balaji Vishwanath (1712 20 A.D.) He was the founder of Peshwasship. He was very

able and an intelligent person. Slowly and slowly, he assumed all the powers in his hands

and made Peshwaship hereditary. He changed his capital from Sitara to Poona and put in

many other reforms but the important task undertaken by him was the help he rendered to

the sayyid Brothers (Hussain Ali and Abdullah Khan). The Sayyed Brothers, with his help,

dethroned the Mughal emperor Farrukh Siyar and chose rulers according to their sweet will.

Besides this the Marathas got the right to collect Chauth and Sardeshmukhi (Only for 10

lakh rupees per years) from the six Subhas of the Deccan. This was not a small success of

Balaji Vishwanth as it resulted in spreading the Maratha influence in the entire area of the

Deccan.

Baji Rao I (1720 40 A.D.). After Balajis death in 1720 A.D., his 20 year old son Baji Rao

became the Peshwa. He proved an efficient solider and a clever administrator. Baji Rao

was perhaps the bravest Maratha chief after Shivaji. He is known as the ablest of all the

Peshwas due to his wisdom and bravery. His father had done a lot to increase the Maratha

influence in the South; likewise he did the same in the North. He sent the Maratha army

first of all to win Malwa and Gujrat in 1724 A.D., which they easily did. He invaded Delhi

himself in 1737 A.D.

Balaji Baji Rao (1740 61 A.D.) After the death of Balaji I, his 18 years old son Balaji Baji

Rao became the Peshwa in 1740 A.D. Although he was not as powerful as his father, he

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managed his affairs with the help of his cousin Sadashiv Rao who was a very wise man.

During his regime the Maratha power touched its peak. They regined from Bihar and Orrisa

in the East to Punjab in the West.