History Part 25 25] Maratha Empire Notes - Tnpsc …...Winmeen Tnpsc Group 1 & 2 Self Preparation Course 2018 1 | Learning Leads to Ruling History Part – 25 25] Maratha Empire Notes

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History Part – 25

25] Maratha Empire

Notes

The marathas were people Who lived in the hilly region of deccan and around

maharashtra.

The developed a peculiar type of warfare called “ Guerilla warfare “ which

means irregular warfare.

The Marathas worked under the shia kings, who ruled the Deccan.

The marathas had developed hatred against muslims for their atrocities.

The spiritual leaders like Tukkaram, Ramdas, Vaman Pandit and Eknath

fostered social unity.

The political unity was conferred by Shivaji.

The Marathas held important positions in the administrative and military

systems of Deccan Sultanates of Bijapur and Ahmadnagar.

There were a number of influential Maratha families such as the Mores and

Nimbalkers. But the credit of establishing a powerful Maratha state goes to

Shahji Bhonsle and his son Shivaji.

Shivaji (1627-1680)

The Marathas rose to power under Shivaji.

He was born at Shivner Fort in 1627.



His father was Shahji Bhonsle and mother was Jijabai.

He inherited the Jagir of Poona from his father.

Shivaji conquered the forts of purandhar , Raigarh , torna and kalyan from the

sultan of Bijapur in A.D 1646.

He also conquered many forts like, Kondana, Chakan, , Supa and Panhala.

The Bijapur Sultan sent Afzal Khan against Shivaji, but he was murdered by

Shivaji in 1659.

Shaista Khan, was sent by Aurangzeb against Shivaji. Shaista Khan defeated

and captured Poona from Shivaji.

But Shivaji made a bold attack on Shaista Khan and plundered Surat and

Ahmednagar.

Raja Jai Singh of Amer was sent by Aurangzeb to put down Shivaji in 1665.

He succeeded in besieging the Fort of Purandar and opened negotiations with

Shivaji.

The Treaty of Purandhar was signed in 1665, according to which, Shivaji had to

surrender 23 forts out of 35 forts held by him to Mughals.

The remaining forts were to be left to Shivaji on condition of service and

loyalty to Mughal emperor.

When Sivaji visited Agra, he was imprisoned there.



Aurangazeb called shivaji a “ Mountain Rat” after Shivaji escaped from Agra

and began Military preparations.

He then captured all his lost territories from the Mughals.

In 1674, he assumed the title of Chatrapathi.

He captured jinji , vellore and many other important forts.

His kingdom included a large part of mysore , konkan and Maharashtra.He

conquested Karnataka during 1677-80 before his death.

He died in A.D 1680 at Raigarh.

Administration under Shivaji:

He had a council of ministers called Asthapradhan. Each minister was directly

responsible to Shivaji. He divided the Maratha territory into three provinces under

a viceroy. Provinces were then divided into prants, further subdivided into

Paragans. The lowest unit was village, headed by Patel.The territory under shivaji

was known as “Swarajya”.

The ministers in Shivaji’s council of ministers:

Peshwa: Initially finance and general administration. Later became prime

minister.

Sar-i-Naubat or Senapati: Military commander.

Majumdar(Amatya): Revenue and accounts



Waqenavis(Mantri): Intelligence, postand home affairs.

Surnavis(Sachiv): Head of Royal corresponsence

Sumant(Dabir): master of ceremonies

Nyayadhish: justice

Pandit Rao(Sadar): Religious administration

Revenue Administration

Shivaji abolished the Zamindari system.He had direct contact with ryots.The

land was assessed after a careful survey.

2/5 of the produce was fixed as the share of the state.

The revenue system of Shivaji was based on that of Malik Amber of

Ahmadnagar.

Lands were measured by using the measuring rod called kathi. Lands were also

classified into three categories – paddy fields, garden lands and hilly tracks.

He reduced the powers of the existing deshmuks and kulkarnis. He appointed

his own revenue officials called karkuns.

Chauth and sardeshmukhi were the taxes collected not in the Maratha kingdom

but in the neighbouring territories of the Mughal empire or Deccan sultanates.

Chauth was one fourth of the land revenue paid to the Marathas in order to

avoid the Maratha raids.



Sardeshmukhi was an additional levy of ten percent on those lands which the

Marathas claimed hereditary rights.

The land revenue system resembled the system followed by Raja Todar mal

under Akbar.

Customs duties and Professional taxes were collected.

Judicial Administration

The Judicial administration was based on Hindu laws.

Patel was the enquiry officer of the criminal cases during Shivaji's reign.

All civil and criminal appeal cases were enquired by Nyayadhish who was a

member of Ashtapradhan.

After death of Shivaji, a war of succession took place between Shanbaji and

Rajaram, his sons.

Shambaji won, but later captured and killed by Mughals.

He was succeeded by Shivaji II under guardianship of Tarabai and Shahu.

The Peshwas (1713-1818)

Balaji Viswanath (1713-1720)

Balaji Viswanath began his career as a small revenue official and became

Peshwa in 1713.



As Peshwa, he made his position the most important and powerful as well as

hereditary.

He played a crucial role in the civil war and finally made Shahu as theMaratha

ruler. He sought the support of all Maratha leaders for Shahu.

In 1719, Balaji Viswanath got certain rights from the then Mughal emperor,

Farukh Siyar.

First, the Mughal emperor recognized Shahu as the Maratha king. Second, he

allowed Shahu to collect Chauth and Sardeshmukhi from the six Mughal

provinces of the Deccan including the Carnatic and Mysore.

Baji Rao (1720 – 1740)

Baji Rao was the eldest son of Balaji Viswanath.

He succeeded his father as Peshwa at the age young age of twenty.

The Maratha power reached its zenith under him. He was generally regarded as

the “greatest of the peshwas “.

He wanted to expand the Maratha power in north nd followed a “ Forward

Policy”.

He compelled the nizam of hderbad to sign a peace treaty.

He initiated the system of confederacy among the Maratha chiefs. As a result,

many Maratha families became prominent and established their authority in

different parts of India.



They were the Gaekwad at Baroda, the Bhonsle at Nagpur, the Holkars at

Indore, the Scindias at Gwalior, and the Peshwas at Poona.

Balaji Baji Rao(1740-1761 AD)

Balaji Baji Rao succeeded his father as Peshwa Baji Rai I.

With Sahu dying without any issues, and other nominated successor Ramraja in

Satara prison.

Balaji Baji Rao became the sole controller of Maratha kingdom.

He entered into an agreement with the Mughal emperor Ahmed Shah in 1752,

according to which, the Peshwas would protect the Mughal empire from

external and internal threats.

For this, the Marathas would collect Chauth from northwest provinces along

with the total revenue coming from Ajmer and Agra.

The marathas occupied punjab and maratha flag was unfurled over the fort of

Attock.

AD In 1761, the Maratha Empire reached its peak of fame.

Balaji Bajirao is the third peshwa in the peshwas.

The Third Battle Of panipat (AD 1761)

The conquest and occupation of the Punjab the marathas had brought them into

conflict with Ahmad shah abdali, the king of Afghanisthan.



He made huge preparations to invade india with the help of Nazib-ud-daulah

Of Rohillkhand.It was called third battle of panipat in 1761.Which was the

main cause for the decline of the Maratha empire.

Invasion of Nadir Shah (AD 1739 )

In AD 1739, Nadir Shah invaded India.

He was one of the greatest warriors of persia.

Nadir Shah wanted to plunder immense wealth of india.

He came to know that the india was ruled by a weak and incompetent ruler ,

Muhammad shah.

Maratha Empire - Questions

1) In Which parts the Marathas lived?

(A) Deccan

(B) Maharashtra

(C) Poona

(D) Rajasthan

2) Which of the following statements is wrong?

(A) The Marathas worked under the shia kings, who ruled the Deccan.

(B) The Marathas knew the guerrilla warfare

(C) Guerrilla warfare is a regular warfare.

(D) Shivaji's tutor is Guru Dadaji Khonda Dev .



3) When did Shivaji born ?

(A) 1627

(B) 1629

(C) 1980

(D) 1682

4) When did shivaji conquered the purandhar , Raigarh , Torna and kalyanfrom the

sultan of Bijapur ?

(A) 1627

(B) 1646

(C) 1946

(D) 1940

5) Who was sent by Sultan of bijapur to kill Shivaji in 1659?

(A) Afzal khan

(B) Sayistakhan

(C) Shahi Bhonsley

(D) Bairamkhan

6) In 1660, Aurangzeb sent whom to attack Shivaji ?

(A) Afzal khan

(B) Sayistakhan

(C) Shahi Bhonsley



(D) Bairamkhan

7) When did Treaty of purandhar was signed ?

(A) 1660

(B) 1662

(C) 1665

(D) 1670

8) The Purandar Agreement was signed between

(A) Aurangzeb and Shivaji

(B) Raja Jai Singh and Shivaji

(C) Raja Jai Singh and Sambhaji

(D) Aurangzeb and Sambaji

9) Who is known as 'Mountain rat'?

(A) Sambhaji

(B) Shivaji

(C) Aurangzeb

(D) Raja Jai Singh

10) When did shivaji got the title Chatrapati ?

(A) 1670

(B) 11675

(C) 1674



(D) 1600

11) Which of the following statement is/are correct ?

1) Shivaji captured the gingee fort.

2) Shivaji's Maratha Empire spread to Mysore, Konkan, and Maharashtra.

3) AD In 1680 Shivaji died in Pune.

(A) 1, 2

(B) 2, 3

(C) 3 only

(D) 1, 3

12) How was the council of eight ministers called in Shivaji's administration?

(A) Ashtadiggajas

(B) Ashtapradhan

(C) Swarajya

(D) Parganas

13) How many ministers were in Shivaji's cabinet?

(A) 7

(B) 8

(C) 9

(D) 10

14) During shivaji’s period chauth and sardeshmuki were



(A) Feudation system

(B) Important taxes

(C) Investigator officer

(D) Court forums

15) How was Shivaji's Empire called?

(A) Region

(B) Parganas

(C) Swarajya

(D) Ashtapradhan

16) Match the following

1) Mantri - Prime Minister

2) Peshwa - Chronicler

3) Sumant - Finance Minister

4) Senapathi - Foreign Secretary

5) Amatya - Commander in chief

(A) 2 1 4 5 3

(B) 1 2 4 3 5

(C) 3 4 5 1 2

(D) 2 5 3 4 1

17) Which of the following is the correct match?



1) Home Secretary - Sachiv

2) Ecclesiastical Head – Pandit Rao

3) Chief justice - Nyayadhish

(A) 1 only

(B) 1 and 2 only

(C) 2 and 3 only

(D) All the above

18) Which of the following statements is/are wrong ?

1) Shivaji is the founder of Zamindar system.

2) 1/5th

of the produce was fixed as the share of the state.

3) The share of the state can be paid only by the grain.

4) The land revenue system resembled the system followed by Raja Todar mal

under Akbar.

5) Customs duties and Professional taxes were collected.

(A) 1 , 2 and 3

(B) 1, 2 , 3 and 4

(C) 4 and 5

(D) 1 , 2 and 5

19) The Judicial administration was based on

(A) Hindu religion



(B) Islam is religion

(C) Both (A) and (B)

(D) Sikhism

20) Who was the enquiry officer of the criminal cases during Shivaji's reign?

(A) Nyayadhish

(B) Patel

(C) Pandit Rao

(D) Minister

21) Who is the son of Shivaji?

(A) Sambhaji

(B) Rajaram

(C) Both (A) and (B)

(D) Shahu

22) Who is responsible for shahu to became as maratha king in AD1708?

(A) Balaji Bajirao

(B) Balaji Vishwanath

(C) Bahadhur shah

(D) Bajirao

23) When did the Peshwa rule started in the Maratha Empire?

(A) 1713



(B) 1720

(C) 1761

(D) 1708

24) Who was the first Peshwa of maratha empire?

(A) Balaji Vishwanath

(B) Bajirao

(C) Balaji Bajirao

(D) Shahji

25) Who is considered as the greatest of the Peshwas?


(B) Bajirao

(C) Balaji Bajirao

(D) Shahji

26) Who practiced Forward thinking / policy in the Peshwas?


(B) Bajirao

(C) Balaji Bajirao

(D) Shahu

27) Who compelled the Nizam of Hyderabad to sign a peace Treat ?




(B) Bajirao

(C) Balaji Bajirao

(D) Shahu

28) What of the following statements is /are wrong?

1) Balaji Bajirao is the third peshwa in the peshwas.

2) In AD 1761, the Maratha Empire reached its peak of fame.

3) The marathas occupied punjab and maratha flag was unfurled over the fort of

Attock.

(A) 1, 2

(B) 1, 3

(C) 2, 3

(D) None of these

29) When did the Third Batttle of Panipat takes place ?

(A) 1761

(B) 1760

(C) 1670

(D) 1590

30) The third Panipat War was held between?

(A) Ahmad shah Abdali and Nazib-ud-Daulah

(B) Ahmad shah Abdali and Sadasivarav



(C) Shu Sha Ud Daulah and Ahmad shah Abdali

(D) Sadasivarav and Shu Sha Ud Daulah

31) What was the cause of the fall of the Marathas?

(A) First Battle of panipat

(B) Second Battle of panipat

(C) Third Battle of panipat

(D) Fourth Battle of panipat

32) Which of the following statements is / are correct ?

1) In AD 1739, Nadir Shah invaded India.

2) Nadir Shah wanted to plunder the immense wealth of india.

(A) 1 and 2 is correct and 2 is a correct explanation for 1

(B) 1 and 2 is correct and 2 is not a correct explanation for 1

(C) 1 only

(D) 2 only

33) In 1739, when Nadir Shah invaded India, who ruled India?

(A) Ahmad Shah

(B) Muhammad Shah

(C) Marathas

(D) Jattukal



34) Who was the Marathas who came from the throne of Jagirdar to the throne of

Chatrapati?


(B). Shivaji

(C) Venkaji

(D) Shahu

35) Look at the following statements

1) Shivaji captured the forts of Purandhar, Raigarh , Torna and kalyan.

2) Shivaji captured gingee , vellore and thanjavur.

(A) 1 only

(B) 2 only

(C) 1 and 2

(D) None of these

Documents

History Part 25 25] Maratha Empire Notes - Tnpsc …...Winmeen Tnpsc Group 1 & 2 Self Preparation Course 2018 1 | Learning Leads to Ruling History Part – 25 25] Maratha Empire Notes