Eighteenth Century Political Formation | History VII | Questions and Answers

 

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Eighteenth Century Political Formation | History VII | Questions and Answers

 

Chapter 8: Eighteenth Century Political Formation

 

Let’s Recall

Question 1. Match the following:

Answer:

Column A	Column B
subadar	provincial governor
faujdar	a Mughal military commander
ijaradar	a revenue farmer
kunbis	Maratha peasant warriors
umara	a high noble
chauth	tax levied by the Marathas
misls	a band of Sikh warriors

 

Question 2. Fill in the blanks:

Answer:

(i) Aurangzeb fought a protracted war in the Deccan.
(ii) Umara and jagirdars constituted powerful sections of the Mughal administration.
(iii) Asaf Jah founded the Hyderabad state in 1724.
(iv) The founder of the Awadh state was Sa’adat Khan.
(v) Under Ranjit Dev, Jammu was called the City of Temples.

Question 3. State whether True or False:

Answer:

(i) Nadir Shah invaded Bengal. – False
(ii) Sawai Raja Jai Singh was the ruler of Indore. – False
(iii) Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth Guru of the Sikhs. – True
(iv) Poona became the capital of the Marathas in the eighteenth century. – True

Question 4. What were the offices held by Sa'adat Khan?
Answer: Sa’adat Khan held the offices of (i) subadar, (ii) diwan, and (iii) faujdar of Awadh. These roles gave him both civil and military authority in the region.

Question 5. Write down the achievements of Ranjit Dev.

Answer:
(i) He maintained peace and order in Jammu.
(ii) He encouraged agriculture and trade.
(iii) He promoted religious tolerance.
(iv) Under his reign, Jammu was called the "City of Temples."

Question 6. Write down the achievements of King Nima Namgyal.

Answer:
(i) King Nima Namgyal defended Ladakh from external invasions.
(ii) He encouraged the spread of Buddhism.
(iii) He supported the construction of monasteries.
(iv) His rule brought peace and spiritual growth to the region.

Let’s Discuss

Question 7. Why did the Nawabs of Awadh and Bengal try to do away with the jagirdari system?
Answer: The jagirdari system led to inefficiency, corruption, and Mughal interference. (i) The Nawabs wanted more control over revenue and administration. (ii) They also aimed to reduce the power of jagirdars and centralize authority in their hands.

Question 8. How were the Sikhs organised in the eighteenth century?

Answer:
(i) The Sikhs were organised into misls, which were like military brotherhoods.
(ii) Each misl was headed by a leader, and all misls together formed the Dal Khalsa.
(iii) Eventually, Maharaja Ranjit Singh united them into a powerful kingdom.

Question 9. Why did the Marathas want to expand beyond the Deccan?

Answer:
(i) They sought wealth and control over rich northern territories.
(ii) Expansion helped them collect chauth and sardeshmukhi taxes.
(iii) They aimed to establish themselves as the successors of the Mughals.

Question 10. What were the policies adopted by Asaf Jah to strengthen his position?

Answer:
(i) He declared independence while maintaining nominal Mughal loyalty.
(ii) He appointed local officials for administration and revenue collection.
(iii) He maintained a powerful army.
(iv) He avoided confrontation with Delhi to secure his rule over Hyderabad.

Question 11. Do you think merchants and bankers today have the kind of influence they had in the eighteenth century?
Answer: No, they do not have the same political influence. (i) In the 18th century, they financed rulers and influenced governance. (ii) Today, while economically powerful, their role is regulated and mostly confined to commerce and industry.

Question 12. Did any of the kingdoms mentioned in this chapter develop in your state? If so, in what ways do you think life in the state would have been different in the eighteenth century from what it is in the twenty-first century?
Answer: Yes, the kingdom of Jammu under Ranjit Dev developed in my state. (i) In the eighteenth century, life was feudal, with limited rights and primitive technology. (ii) Today, the region enjoys democratic rights, access to education, better infrastructure, and modern governance.