Eighteenth Century Political Formations Class 7 NCERT

Overview: India After Aurangzeb

The eighteenth century began after the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, when the Mughal Empire still looked large on the map but was weak in practice. The emperor in Delhi could not easily control distant provinces, collect revenue properly, or stop powerful nobles from acting independently. Governors who were once appointed by the Mughal emperor started building their own power bases. Some paid respect to the emperor in name, but made their own decisions about armies, taxes and appointments. This is why the chapter uses the idea of political formations: new arrangements of power were taking shape in different regions, instead of one strong central empire controlling all of India.

Key Terms You Must Know

Subadar

A provincial governor under the Mughal system. In the eighteenth century, some subadars became almost independent rulers.

Jagirdar

A person who received the right to collect revenue from a jagir, or assigned land area, usually in return for service.

Chauth

A tax equal to one-fourth of the land revenue claimed by the Marathas from areas outside their direct control.

Sardeshmukhi

An additional levy of ten percent claimed by the Marathas as a mark of their superior authority.

Revenue farmer

A person who paid the state a fixed amount and then collected taxes from peasants, often trying to collect more than what was fair.

How Mughal Decline Led to New Regional Powers

1. Step 1: Weak central authority — After Aurangzeb, later Mughal emperors were not strong enough to control nobles, armies and provinces. Court politics and succession struggles reduced the emperor's real power.
2. Step 2: Powerful nobles gained independence — Nobles and governors in provinces such as Awadh, Bengal and Hyderabad kept revenue and maintained armies. They still used Mughal titles, but behaved like independent rulers.
3. Step 3: Local warrior groups expanded — Groups such as the Marathas, Sikhs, Jats and Rajputs used military strength, local support and smart leadership to expand their control over regions.
4. Step 4: New political formations emerged — India became a land of many regional powers. Some were old Mughal provinces becoming independent, while others were newly rising groups with their own military and revenue systems.

Worked Examples: Reading the Chapter Like a Historian

• Example 1: Explain why Bengal became strong.
  Step 1: Identify the Mughal link: Bengal was originally a Mughal province.
  Step 2: Notice the change: its governor reduced dependence on Delhi and controlled revenue collection.
  Step 3: Add the economic reason: Bengal was wealthy because of agriculture, trade and textile production.
  Final answer: Bengal became strong because its rulers controlled a rich province, collected revenue effectively, and became less dependent on the weak Mughal emperor.

• Example 2: Classify the Marathas as a regional power.
  Step 1: Ask whether they were simply Mughal officers. They were not; they had their own leadership and military organisation.
  Step 2: Look at expansion: after Shivaji, Maratha power spread under the Peshwas into many regions.
  Step 3: Look at revenue claims: chauth and sardeshmukhi show they collected money even from areas not directly ruled by them.
  Final answer: The Marathas were a major regional power because they built their own army, leadership structure and revenue system across a wide area.

Mughal-Centred Rule vs Regional Political Formations

Exam Tip: Do Not Memorise Only Names

In this chapter, CBSE questions often test cause and effect. Do not write only that Awadh, Bengal, Hyderabad, Marathas, Sikhs and Jats became powerful. Add how and why: weak Mughal control, control over revenue, military strength, local support, and clever administration. When writing a 3-mark answer, use a structure like: one cause, one example, one result. Also avoid saying the Mughal Empire suddenly disappeared in 1707. It declined gradually, and many rulers still used Mughal titles for legitimacy.

High-Value Revision Points

• The death of Aurangzeb in 1707 is a key turning point, but Mughal decline was gradual, not instant.
• Awadh, Bengal and Hyderabad were examples of old Mughal provinces becoming almost independent.
• The Marathas expanded through strong cavalry, local administration and taxes such as chauth and sardeshmukhi.
• The Sikhs organised themselves into bands called jathas and later misls, helping them become a political force.
• Revenue control was central to power: whoever collected taxes could pay soldiers and run administration.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: Why did the Mughal Empire weaken in the eighteenth century?
  A: Step 1: Begin with the political reason: after Aurangzeb, later emperors were weak and faced court conflicts.
  Step 2: Add the administrative reason: nobles and provincial governors became powerful and stopped obeying Delhi fully.
  Step 3: Add the economic-military link: weak revenue control made it harder to maintain a strong army.
  Final answer: The Mughal Empire weakened because central authority declined, nobles and governors became independent, and the empire could not control revenue and military power effectively.

• Q: How were Awadh, Bengal and Hyderabad similar as political formations?
  A: Step 1: Identify their origin: all three were once important Mughal provinces.
  Step 2: Explain the change: their governors gained control over administration, revenue and armed forces.
  Step 3: Mention their relationship with Delhi: they often accepted Mughal authority in name but acted independently.
  Final answer: Awadh, Bengal and Hyderabad were similar because they emerged from Mughal provinces whose governors became almost independent regional rulers.

• Q: What made the Marathas an important power in eighteenth-century India?
  A: Step 1: Mention leadership and organisation: the Marathas expanded after Shivaji, especially under the Peshwas.
  Step 2: Explain military strength: their mobile cavalry helped them move quickly across regions.
  Step 3: Add revenue policy: they collected chauth and sardeshmukhi from many areas.
  Final answer: The Marathas became important because of strong leadership, fast military expansion and an effective revenue system.

• Q: Why is revenue collection important for understanding this chapter?
  A: Step 1: Connect revenue to government: rulers needed money to pay soldiers and officials.
  Step 2: Connect revenue to independence: provincial governors who controlled taxes became less dependent on the Mughal emperor.
  Step 3: Give an example: Bengal and Awadh became powerful because they managed rich revenue resources.
  Final answer: Revenue collection was important because control over taxes gave regional rulers money, military strength and political independence.

Frequently Asked Questions