Selina Textbook Solutions: India in the Eighteenth Century | History Class 8 ICSE PDF Download

 Page 1


India in the Eighteenth Century 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. Murshid Quli Khan became the independent ruler of Bengal and shifted his 
capital to Murshidabad. 
2. Chin Qilich Khan founded the Asaf Jahi dynasty in AD 1724. 
3. Haider Ali was the ruler of Mysore. 
4. Banda Bahadur was the leader of the Sikhs after the death of Guru Govind 
Singh. 
5. Balaji Vishwanath was the first Peshwa. 
II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B: 
 
 
 
 
 
Answer: 
 
Page 2


India in the Eighteenth Century 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. Murshid Quli Khan became the independent ruler of Bengal and shifted his 
capital to Murshidabad. 
2. Chin Qilich Khan founded the Asaf Jahi dynasty in AD 1724. 
3. Haider Ali was the ruler of Mysore. 
4. Banda Bahadur was the leader of the Sikhs after the death of Guru Govind 
Singh. 
5. Balaji Vishwanath was the first Peshwa. 
II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B: 
 
 
 
 
 
Answer: 
 
III. State whether the following statements are True or False: 
1. The office of the Peshwas was always hereditary. 
False. 
2. In the Third Battle of Panipat, the Marathas fought with the Rajputs and the Jats. 
False. 
3. The later Mughal kings were able rulers. 
False. 
4. Safdar Jung was the first Nizam of Hyderabad. 
False. 
5. Jai Singh built an observatory (Jantar Mantar) and Pink City (Jaipur). 
True. 
 IV. Answer the following questions: 
Question 1. 
Write in brief the causes that led to the downfall of the Mughal empire. 
Answer: 
Causes that led to the downfall of Mughal Empire were 
(a) 
Weak successors: After Aurangzeb’s death the Mugh empire started declining. His 
successors were weak are were toys in the hands of nobles and Governors. The lacked 
the administrative skills of their predecessors. 
(b) 
Internal Rivalry: The nobles and Governors belonged different groups and were 
always engaged in const? struggle for power. This hampered the growth of the emp 
(c) 
Crisis in Jagirdari and Mansabdari system: The Mugh introduced the Jagirdari and 
the mansabdari systems , smooth running of their administration but they only prov to 
be the cause of the decline of their empire. 
(d) 
Invasion of Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali: Duri the reign of Mohammad Shah 
two foreign invasions crippl the Mughal empire. They invaded India and weakened tl 
Mughal Empire. 
Question 2. 
When and between whom was the Third Battle of Panipa fought? What were its results? 
Answer: 
The third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761 between Ahmad Shah Abdali, an Afghan 
invader and Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao. The Peshwa suffered a crushing defeat and this 
put an end to the Maratha power. 
 
Page 3


India in the Eighteenth Century 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. Murshid Quli Khan became the independent ruler of Bengal and shifted his 
capital to Murshidabad. 
2. Chin Qilich Khan founded the Asaf Jahi dynasty in AD 1724. 
3. Haider Ali was the ruler of Mysore. 
4. Banda Bahadur was the leader of the Sikhs after the death of Guru Govind 
Singh. 
5. Balaji Vishwanath was the first Peshwa. 
II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B: 
 
 
 
 
 
Answer: 
 
III. State whether the following statements are True or False: 
1. The office of the Peshwas was always hereditary. 
False. 
2. In the Third Battle of Panipat, the Marathas fought with the Rajputs and the Jats. 
False. 
3. The later Mughal kings were able rulers. 
False. 
4. Safdar Jung was the first Nizam of Hyderabad. 
False. 
5. Jai Singh built an observatory (Jantar Mantar) and Pink City (Jaipur). 
True. 
 IV. Answer the following questions: 
Question 1. 
Write in brief the causes that led to the downfall of the Mughal empire. 
Answer: 
Causes that led to the downfall of Mughal Empire were 
(a) 
Weak successors: After Aurangzeb’s death the Mugh empire started declining. His 
successors were weak are were toys in the hands of nobles and Governors. The lacked 
the administrative skills of their predecessors. 
(b) 
Internal Rivalry: The nobles and Governors belonged different groups and were 
always engaged in const? struggle for power. This hampered the growth of the emp 
(c) 
Crisis in Jagirdari and Mansabdari system: The Mugh introduced the Jagirdari and 
the mansabdari systems , smooth running of their administration but they only prov to 
be the cause of the decline of their empire. 
(d) 
Invasion of Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali: Duri the reign of Mohammad Shah 
two foreign invasions crippl the Mughal empire. They invaded India and weakened tl 
Mughal Empire. 
Question 2. 
When and between whom was the Third Battle of Panipa fought? What were its results? 
Answer: 
The third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761 between Ahmad Shah Abdali, an Afghan 
invader and Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao. The Peshwa suffered a crushing defeat and this 
put an end to the Maratha power. 
 
Question 3. 
Name the first independent Nawab of Bengal. What were his achievements? 
Answer: 
Murshid Quli Khan became the first independent Nawab of Bengal. He established an 
efficient administration and effectively organised the revenue system. He also started 
the new system of land revenue collection, on the basis of contracts, known as Ijara 
system. He reorganised the zamindari for which he is will remembered in the history of 
Bengal. 
Question 4. 
When was the Battle of Plassey fought? What effect did it have on the position of the 
English East India Company? 
Answer: 
The Battle of Plassey was fought in 1757 between the British and Siraj-ud-daulah in 
which the English defeated the army of Siraj-ud-daulah. From then onwards the English 
East India Company functioned as king makers in Bengal politics. Finally,the English 
established their full sway in 1765 when Robert Clive set up the Dual Government in 
Bengal. 
Question 5. 
Who was Haider All? Discuss his achievements. 
Answer: 
Hyder All was the ruler of Mysore. He started his career as an ordinary soldier in the 
Mysore army. He won many battles against the Marathas, the Nizam of Hyderabad and 
routed his enemies in two consecutive Anglo-Mysore Wars. 
Question 6. 
Which ruler was known as the Tiger of Mysore? 
Answer: 
Tipu Sultan, the son and heir of Haider Ah and ruler of Mysore is known as ‘Tiger of 
Mysore. 
V. Tell me why 
Question 1. 
The consequence of the Third Battle of Panipat was n advantageous for the British. 
Answer: 
The Marathas had established a Maratha Kingdom during the reign of Aurangzeb. They 
were very powerful and with time and with the decline of the Mughals would have 
proved worthy , opponents to the emerging British empire but the third Battle of Panipat 
(1761) sealed their fate. Ahmad Shah Abdali, an Afghan . invader gave a crushing 
defeat to the forces of Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao. It put an end to the Maratha power and 
their dream of ruling India. Thus, the way was proved for the British East India Company 
to gain power and become supreme. 
Page 4


India in the Eighteenth Century 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. Murshid Quli Khan became the independent ruler of Bengal and shifted his 
capital to Murshidabad. 
2. Chin Qilich Khan founded the Asaf Jahi dynasty in AD 1724. 
3. Haider Ali was the ruler of Mysore. 
4. Banda Bahadur was the leader of the Sikhs after the death of Guru Govind 
Singh. 
5. Balaji Vishwanath was the first Peshwa. 
II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B: 
 
 
 
 
 
Answer: 
 
III. State whether the following statements are True or False: 
1. The office of the Peshwas was always hereditary. 
False. 
2. In the Third Battle of Panipat, the Marathas fought with the Rajputs and the Jats. 
False. 
3. The later Mughal kings were able rulers. 
False. 
4. Safdar Jung was the first Nizam of Hyderabad. 
False. 
5. Jai Singh built an observatory (Jantar Mantar) and Pink City (Jaipur). 
True. 
 IV. Answer the following questions: 
Question 1. 
Write in brief the causes that led to the downfall of the Mughal empire. 
Answer: 
Causes that led to the downfall of Mughal Empire were 
(a) 
Weak successors: After Aurangzeb’s death the Mugh empire started declining. His 
successors were weak are were toys in the hands of nobles and Governors. The lacked 
the administrative skills of their predecessors. 
(b) 
Internal Rivalry: The nobles and Governors belonged different groups and were 
always engaged in const? struggle for power. This hampered the growth of the emp 
(c) 
Crisis in Jagirdari and Mansabdari system: The Mugh introduced the Jagirdari and 
the mansabdari systems , smooth running of their administration but they only prov to 
be the cause of the decline of their empire. 
(d) 
Invasion of Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali: Duri the reign of Mohammad Shah 
two foreign invasions crippl the Mughal empire. They invaded India and weakened tl 
Mughal Empire. 
Question 2. 
When and between whom was the Third Battle of Panipa fought? What were its results? 
Answer: 
The third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761 between Ahmad Shah Abdali, an Afghan 
invader and Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao. The Peshwa suffered a crushing defeat and this 
put an end to the Maratha power. 
 
Question 3. 
Name the first independent Nawab of Bengal. What were his achievements? 
Answer: 
Murshid Quli Khan became the first independent Nawab of Bengal. He established an 
efficient administration and effectively organised the revenue system. He also started 
the new system of land revenue collection, on the basis of contracts, known as Ijara 
system. He reorganised the zamindari for which he is will remembered in the history of 
Bengal. 
Question 4. 
When was the Battle of Plassey fought? What effect did it have on the position of the 
English East India Company? 
Answer: 
The Battle of Plassey was fought in 1757 between the British and Siraj-ud-daulah in 
which the English defeated the army of Siraj-ud-daulah. From then onwards the English 
East India Company functioned as king makers in Bengal politics. Finally,the English 
established their full sway in 1765 when Robert Clive set up the Dual Government in 
Bengal. 
Question 5. 
Who was Haider All? Discuss his achievements. 
Answer: 
Hyder All was the ruler of Mysore. He started his career as an ordinary soldier in the 
Mysore army. He won many battles against the Marathas, the Nizam of Hyderabad and 
routed his enemies in two consecutive Anglo-Mysore Wars. 
Question 6. 
Which ruler was known as the Tiger of Mysore? 
Answer: 
Tipu Sultan, the son and heir of Haider Ah and ruler of Mysore is known as ‘Tiger of 
Mysore. 
V. Tell me why 
Question 1. 
The consequence of the Third Battle of Panipat was n advantageous for the British. 
Answer: 
The Marathas had established a Maratha Kingdom during the reign of Aurangzeb. They 
were very powerful and with time and with the decline of the Mughals would have 
proved worthy , opponents to the emerging British empire but the third Battle of Panipat 
(1761) sealed their fate. Ahmad Shah Abdali, an Afghan . invader gave a crushing 
defeat to the forces of Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao. It put an end to the Maratha power and 
their dream of ruling India. Thus, the way was proved for the British East India Company 
to gain power and become supreme. 
Question 2. 
Independent states were formed in the 18th century. 
Answer: 
The later Mughal rulers were so weak that they could not hold the provinces of the 
empire together. These provinces were under Governors who were always engaged in 
wars. Gradually, they took advantage of the situation of misrule and misgovemance by 
the central authority and declared independence.Thus, Bengal, Hyderabad, Awadh 
Rohikhand became independent one after the other. 
VI. Pictury study – This is a picture of a great ruler of Punjab. 
 
Question 1. 
Identify him. 
Answer: 
Maharaja Ranjit Singh. 
Question 2. 
How did the unite the Sikhs in Punjab? 
Answer: 
Maharaja Ranjit Singh brought the whole area west of River Sutlej under his control and 
established the Sikh kingdom in Punjab. He signed the Treaty of Amritsar (1809) with 
the British which confirmed his conquests and established his sovereignty over the 
terrioty west of Satluj. It was only after his death in 1839 that the British gained control 
over the Punjab. 
 
 
 
Page 5


India in the Eighteenth Century 
I. Fill in the blanks: 
1. Murshid Quli Khan became the independent ruler of Bengal and shifted his 
capital to Murshidabad. 
2. Chin Qilich Khan founded the Asaf Jahi dynasty in AD 1724. 
3. Haider Ali was the ruler of Mysore. 
4. Banda Bahadur was the leader of the Sikhs after the death of Guru Govind 
Singh. 
5. Balaji Vishwanath was the first Peshwa. 
II. Match the contents of Column A and Column B: 
 
 
 
 
 
Answer: 
 
III. State whether the following statements are True or False: 
1. The office of the Peshwas was always hereditary. 
False. 
2. In the Third Battle of Panipat, the Marathas fought with the Rajputs and the Jats. 
False. 
3. The later Mughal kings were able rulers. 
False. 
4. Safdar Jung was the first Nizam of Hyderabad. 
False. 
5. Jai Singh built an observatory (Jantar Mantar) and Pink City (Jaipur). 
True. 
 IV. Answer the following questions: 
Question 1. 
Write in brief the causes that led to the downfall of the Mughal empire. 
Answer: 
Causes that led to the downfall of Mughal Empire were 
(a) 
Weak successors: After Aurangzeb’s death the Mugh empire started declining. His 
successors were weak are were toys in the hands of nobles and Governors. The lacked 
the administrative skills of their predecessors. 
(b) 
Internal Rivalry: The nobles and Governors belonged different groups and were 
always engaged in const? struggle for power. This hampered the growth of the emp 
(c) 
Crisis in Jagirdari and Mansabdari system: The Mugh introduced the Jagirdari and 
the mansabdari systems , smooth running of their administration but they only prov to 
be the cause of the decline of their empire. 
(d) 
Invasion of Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali: Duri the reign of Mohammad Shah 
two foreign invasions crippl the Mughal empire. They invaded India and weakened tl 
Mughal Empire. 
Question 2. 
When and between whom was the Third Battle of Panipa fought? What were its results? 
Answer: 
The third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761 between Ahmad Shah Abdali, an Afghan 
invader and Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao. The Peshwa suffered a crushing defeat and this 
put an end to the Maratha power. 
 
Question 3. 
Name the first independent Nawab of Bengal. What were his achievements? 
Answer: 
Murshid Quli Khan became the first independent Nawab of Bengal. He established an 
efficient administration and effectively organised the revenue system. He also started 
the new system of land revenue collection, on the basis of contracts, known as Ijara 
system. He reorganised the zamindari for which he is will remembered in the history of 
Bengal. 
Question 4. 
When was the Battle of Plassey fought? What effect did it have on the position of the 
English East India Company? 
Answer: 
The Battle of Plassey was fought in 1757 between the British and Siraj-ud-daulah in 
which the English defeated the army of Siraj-ud-daulah. From then onwards the English 
East India Company functioned as king makers in Bengal politics. Finally,the English 
established their full sway in 1765 when Robert Clive set up the Dual Government in 
Bengal. 
Question 5. 
Who was Haider All? Discuss his achievements. 
Answer: 
Hyder All was the ruler of Mysore. He started his career as an ordinary soldier in the 
Mysore army. He won many battles against the Marathas, the Nizam of Hyderabad and 
routed his enemies in two consecutive Anglo-Mysore Wars. 
Question 6. 
Which ruler was known as the Tiger of Mysore? 
Answer: 
Tipu Sultan, the son and heir of Haider Ah and ruler of Mysore is known as ‘Tiger of 
Mysore. 
V. Tell me why 
Question 1. 
The consequence of the Third Battle of Panipat was n advantageous for the British. 
Answer: 
The Marathas had established a Maratha Kingdom during the reign of Aurangzeb. They 
were very powerful and with time and with the decline of the Mughals would have 
proved worthy , opponents to the emerging British empire but the third Battle of Panipat 
(1761) sealed their fate. Ahmad Shah Abdali, an Afghan . invader gave a crushing 
defeat to the forces of Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao. It put an end to the Maratha power and 
their dream of ruling India. Thus, the way was proved for the British East India Company 
to gain power and become supreme. 
Question 2. 
Independent states were formed in the 18th century. 
Answer: 
The later Mughal rulers were so weak that they could not hold the provinces of the 
empire together. These provinces were under Governors who were always engaged in 
wars. Gradually, they took advantage of the situation of misrule and misgovemance by 
the central authority and declared independence.Thus, Bengal, Hyderabad, Awadh 
Rohikhand became independent one after the other. 
VI. Pictury study – This is a picture of a great ruler of Punjab. 
 
Question 1. 
Identify him. 
Answer: 
Maharaja Ranjit Singh. 
Question 2. 
How did the unite the Sikhs in Punjab? 
Answer: 
Maharaja Ranjit Singh brought the whole area west of River Sutlej under his control and 
established the Sikh kingdom in Punjab. He signed the Treaty of Amritsar (1809) with 
the British which confirmed his conquests and established his sovereignty over the 
terrioty west of Satluj. It was only after his death in 1839 that the British gained control 
over the Punjab. 
 
 
 
Additional Questions 
A. Fill in the blanks: 
1. During the first half of the 18th century, the great Mughal 
empire decayed and disintegrated. 
The Mughal emperors who ruled India after the death of Aurangzeb are known as 
the later Mughals. 
2. There were four groups of nobles in the Mughal court. 
3. Nadir Shah looted and plundered Delhi He carried away immense treasures 
including the pricelessKohinoor and the Peacock Throne. 
4. Ahmad Shah Abdali, the ruler of Afghanistan, repeatedly attacked the Mughal 
empire. 
5. Bahadur Shah Zafar, was defeated in the Revolt of 1857 and exiled to Rangoon 
by the British. 
B. Match the following: 
 
 
Answer: 
 
C. Choose the correct answer: 
1. Aurangzeb/Akbar/Shah Jahan followed a policy of religious intolerance. 
Ans. Aurangzeb followed a policy of religious intolerance. 
2. The military campaign in the Deccan led by Shah Jahan/ Aurangzeb/Akbar ruined 
the Mughal empire financially 
Ans. The military campaign in the Deccan led by Aurangzeb ruined the Mughal 
empire financially.