Eighteenth Century Political Formations Class 7 Notes | YoLearn.ai

The Decline of the Mughal Empire

The early 18th century witnessed the gradual disintegration of the powerful Mughal Empire, which had dominated India for nearly two centuries. Several factors contributed to this decline:

• Aurangzeb's Policies: Emperor Aurangzeb's long wars in the Deccan exhausted the empire's military and financial resources. His religious policies also alienated significant sections of the population.
• Succession Crisis: After Aurangzeb's death in 1707, a series of weak successors led to frequent wars of succession among competing nobles, further destabilizing the central administration.
• Jagirdari Crisis: The mansabdari and jagirdari systems, which formed the backbone of Mughal administration, became corrupt and inefficient. A shortage of jagirs (land grants) and the inability to effectively collect revenue led to a crisis of authority and loyalty among officials.
• Powerful Nobles: Ambitious nobles often used their control over vast areas to defy central authority and establish their own regional power bases.
• Invasions: The invasions of Nadir Shah (Persian ruler) in 1739, who sacked Delhi and took away immense wealth including the Peacock Throne and Koh-i-Noor diamond, and subsequent raids by Ahmed Shah Abdali (Afghan ruler) between 1748 and 1761, severely crippled the empire's finances and prestige. These invasions exposed the military weakness of the Mughals and provided opportunities for regional powers to assert independence.

Key Terms and Definitions

Subahdar

The provincial governor under the Mughals, responsible for maintaining law and order and collecting revenue in a suba (province).

Jagirdar

A person holding a jagir, which was a grant of land revenue rights in lieu of salary, assigned to Mughal mansabdars.

Faujdar

A Mughal military commander responsible for maintaining law and order in a given district.

Mansabdar

A grade holding (mansab) rank in the Mughal bureaucracy, determining status, salary, and military responsibilities.

Chauth

A tax (one-fourth of the land revenue) claimed by the Marathas from territories not under their direct administration, in exchange for protection from raids.

Sardeshmukhi

An additional tax (one-tenth of the land revenue) claimed by the Marathas as hereditary head (deshmukh) of the land.

Misl

Military brotherhoods or confederacies that the Sikhs organized themselves into during the 18th century.

Nizam

The title of the ruler of Hyderabad, signifying his status as the governor or viceroy of the Deccan.

Emergence of New Independent States

Key Points to Remember

• The 18th century marked a significant shift from a centralized Mughal Empire to a fragmented political landscape.
• Aurangzeb's Deccan campaigns and internal administrative issues severely weakened the Mughal Empire.
• Nadir Shah's invasion (1739) and Ahmed Shah Abdali's repeated attacks exposed Mughal vulnerability.
• Awadh, Bengal, and Hyderabad were prominent successor states that emerged from the decline of Mughal authority.
• The Maratha Empire, under Shivaji and later the Peshwas, became a dominant power, collecting taxes like Chauth and Sardeshmukhi.
• The Sikhs organized into twelve 'Misls' and established their own power, eventually unifying under Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
• The Jats consolidated their power in regions around Delhi and Agra, building strong states like Bharatpur.
• These new states often adopted Mughal administrative practices but also developed their own unique systems.
• The rise of these regional powers set the stage for later European colonial expansion, particularly that of the British East India Company.

Exam Tip: Mastering This Chapter

When studying 'Eighteenth Century Political Formations', focus on cause-and-effect relationships. For instance, understand how Aurangzeb's policies contributed to the Mughal decline, which then led to the rise of regional powers. Create a mental timeline of key invasions (Nadir Shah, Abdali) and their impact. For the new states, remember the founders and 2-3 unique characteristics of each (e.g., Awadh's revenue system, Maratha taxes). Examiners often ask for specific examples of how these states asserted independence or about the Maratha tax system. Practice mapping the major powers on a blank map of 18th-century India to solidify geographical understanding.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: Name two major invasions that severely weakened the Mughal Empire in the 18th century. A: The invasions by Nadir Shah of Persia (1739) and Ahmed Shah Abdali of Afghanistan (multiple times between 1748-1761).
• Q: What were 'Chauth' and 'Sardeshmukhi'? Which power collected them? A: Chauth was 1/4th of the land revenue, and Sardeshmukhi was an additional 1/10th of the land revenue. Both were collected by the Marathas.
• Q: Who were the founders of the independent states of Awadh, Bengal, and Hyderabad? A: Awadh was founded by Saadat Khan Burhan-ul-Mulk, Bengal by Murshid Quli Khan, and Hyderabad by Asaf Jah (Nizam-ul-Mulk).
• Q: How did the Sikhs organize themselves in the 18th century? A: The Sikhs organized themselves into several military brotherhoods or confederacies known as 'Misls'.

Frequently Asked Questions