Q1. Shivaji’s decision to build a strong navy was unique in his time. Which of the following had the broader impact on the Maratha power?
(a) It allowed them to dominate inland trade routes
(b) It helped them resist European naval dominance on the west coast
(c) It strengthened their ties with the Delhi Sultanate
(d) It enabled them to abandon guerrilla warfare
Ans: (b) It helped them resist European naval dominance on the west coast
Shivaji built a navy to secure the west coast, where the Mughals and Bijapur had weak or no navies. Under Kanhoji Angre, the Maratha navy challenged European trade control by demanding passes (cartaz), frustrating powers like the Portuguese and English, thus resisting their naval dominance.
Q2. Which of the following best reflects how the Bhakti movement contributed to the rise of Maratha power?
(a) It provided military strategies against the Mughals
(b) It promoted cultural unity through accessible devotional literature
(c) It encouraged the Marathas to build forts for defense
(d) It helped Shivaji establish trade relations with Europe
Ans: (b) It promoted cultural unity through accessible devotional literature
The Bhakti movement, through saints like Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram, translated holy texts into Marathi, fostering cultural unity. This provided a strong cultural foundation, enabling the Marathas to unite politically under Shivaji’s leadership.
Q3. Why was Shivaji’s coronation at Raigad Fort in 1674 symbolically important?
(a) It marked the end of Mughal power in the Deccan
(b) It legitimised Maratha rule with traditional Hindu rituals
(c) It established a democratic council for administration
(d) It created an alliance between the Marathas and the Dutch
Ans: (b) It legitimised Maratha rule with traditional Hindu rituals
Shivaji’s 1674 coronation at Raigad Fort with Vedic rites, starting the Rajyabhisheka Shaka era. This event symbolized the establishment of a sovereign Maratha state rooted in Hindu traditions, legitimizing his rule as Chhatrapati.
Q4. If you were a Maratha chief during Tarabai’s leadership, which strategy would best reflect her vision?
(a) Staying defensive within forts
(b) Expanding aggressively into northern Mughal territories
(c) Negotiating peace and reducing warfare
(d) Seeking European alliances over Indian ones
Ans: (b) Expanding aggressively into northern Mughal territories
Tarabai’s bold leadership after Rajaram’s death, as she launched campaigns into Mughal territories, exploiting Aurangzeb’s focus on the Deccan. Her vision involved aggressive expansion to maintain and grow Maratha power.
Q5. Shivaji’s raid on Surat spared religious places and kind individuals like Mohandas Parekh. What does this suggest about his leadership?
(a) He valued wealth over religion
(b) He sought to gain legitimacy and moral authority
(c) He was dependent on the Mughals for cultural guidance
(d) He discouraged trade with wealthy ports
Ans: (b) He sought to gain legitimacy and moral authority
Shivaji looted Surat but spared religious places and kind individuals like Mohandas Parekh, earning fame in newspapers like the London Gazette. This selective approach suggests he aimed to project moral authority and gain legitimacy as a just ruler, not just a plunderer.
Q6. How did the cultural contributions of saints like Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram indirectly prepare the ground for Maratha political unity under Shivaji?
Ans: The cultural contributions of Bhakti saints like Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram fostered Maratha unity by creating a shared cultural identity. The saints translated sacred texts like the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita into Marathi, making them accessible to common people. Their devotional poetry and songs in Marathi, spread from the 7th to 17th centuries, emphasized devotion and social awareness, uniting diverse communities. This cultural cohesion, as noted, provided a strong foundation for Shivaji’s vision of Swarajya, enabling him to rally Marathas politically against Mughal and Sultanate rule by leveraging a shared sense of identity and purpose.
Q7. “Forts are the foundation of a strong state.” — Evaluate this statement in the context of Maratha administration and military strategy.
Ans: The statement, attributed to Shivaji’s minister Ramachandrapant Amatya in the Adnyapatra, is highly applicable to Maratha success. Forts were central to Maratha military strategy, as noted, controlling key routes and serving as bases for guerrilla warfare. Shivaji captured forts like Pratapgad to defeat enemies like Afzal Khan, and forts enabled the Marathas to withstand Mughal assaults under Aurangzeb, unlike Bijapur and Golconda. Administratively, forts were governance hubs, supporting local administration and tax collection (e.g., chauth). However, reliance on forts limited mobility in open battles, as seen in the defeat at Panipat (1761). Overall, forts were foundational to Maratha resilience, enabling defense and strategic control, though not sufficient alone for empire-wide dominance.
Q8. Compare Shivaji’s guerrilla warfare tactics to modern-day military strategies like “surgical strikes.” What similarities and differences can you identify?
Ans: Similarities:
Differences:
Q9. Imagine you are a Mughal official at Aurangzeb’s court. How would you evaluate Shivaji’s daring escape from Agra? Would you view it as a failure of Mughal power or the brilliance of Maratha planning? Justify.
Ans: As a Mughal official, I would view Shivaji’s escape from Agra as a brilliance of Maratha planning, though it exposes a lapse in Mughal vigilance. Shivaji, humiliated at Aurangzeb’s court, escaped by hiding in gift baskets, showcasing his cunning and strategic foresight. This daring act required meticulous planning, exploiting Mughal trust in routine gift exchanges. While it highlights a failure in our security—failing to monitor a known rebel closely—it primarily underscores Shivaji’s resourcefulness, as his escape strengthened Maratha morale and resistance. His ability to outwit our forces, despite our superior resources, demands respect and calls for tighter surveillance in future dealings with such a crafty foe.
Q10. Discuss how Tarabai and Ahilyabai Holkar redefined the role of women in leadership and governance during the Maratha period.
Ans: Tarabai and Ahilyabai Holkar reshaped women’s roles in Maratha leadership:
Q11. The Marathas challenged European trade control by demanding passes (cartaz) from them. In what way did this policy reverse traditional power dynamics?
Ans: The Maratha policy of demanding cartaz from Europeans, led by Kanhoji Angre, reversed traditional power dynamics by shifting control from European naval powers to an Indian state. Europeans typically forced Indian ships to buy trade passes, asserting dominance over maritime routes. By demanding passes from Europeans, the Marathas challenged this hierarchy, compelling powers like the Portuguese and English to negotiate with an Indian navy. This frustrated Europeans, earning Angre the “pirate” label, and asserted Maratha sovereignty over the west coast, reversing the dynamic where Indian powers were subordinate to European trade control.
Q12. Create a comparative chart of Shivaji’s administration and that of the Mughals. In what ways did Shivaji innovate while still borrowing elements from older systems?
Ans:
Innovations by Shivaji:
Q13. The Marathas are often credited with planting the early seeds of Indian nationalism. Critically evaluate this statement with examples from their cultural and political legacy.
Ans: The Marathas contributed to early Indian nationalism, but the claim requires nuance:
Q14. Imagine Shivaji had lived 20 more years. Predict how this might have changed Maratha-British or Maratha-Mughal relations in the late 17th century.
Ans: If Shivaji lived until 1700:
Maratha-Mughal Relations:
Maratha-British Relations:
Overall Impact: Shivaji’s leadership would likely consolidate Maratha power, delaying Mughal decline and British expansion. His vision of Swarajya could inspire broader resistance, altering the trajectory of colonial influence in India.
Q15. Evaluate the successes and failures of the Peshwa leadership after Shivaji’s death. How did their strategies both expand and weaken the Maratha Empire?
Ans: Successes of Peshwa Leadership:
Failures of Peshwa Leadership:
Impact of Strategies:
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1. What were the key factors that led to the rise of the Marathas? | ![]() |
2. Who was Shivaji Maharaj and what was his significance in Maratha history? | ![]() |
3. How did the Marathas expand their territory during their rise? | ![]() |
4. What role did the Peshwas play in the administration of the Maratha Empire? | ![]() |
5. What were the cultural achievements of the Maratha Empire during its rise? | ![]() |