Textbook Solutions: New Political Formations in the 18th century | Footprints Class 7: Book Solutions, Notes & Worksheets PDF Download

I. Based on your understanding, choose the correct option. 

Q1.
Ans: (c)

Q2.
Ans: (b)

Q3.
Ans: (c)

Q4.
Ans: (a)

Q5.
Ans: (b)

Q6.
Ans: (c)

Q7.
Ans: (b)

Q8.
Ans: (b)

Q9.
Ans: (c)

Q10.
Ans: (a)

II. Answer the following in one sentence. 

Q11.
Ans: Awadh, Bengal, and Hyderabad all had a connection with the Mughals and maintained varying degrees of independence.

Q12.
Ans: Jaipur developed under the Rajputs as one of the finest planned cities in India.

Q13.
Ans: Bengal's administrative system underwent reforms to make it more efficient.

Q14.
Ans: Maharaja Ranjit Singh established one of the strongest Sikh regional powers by seizing Lahore and Amritsar.

III. Answer the following questions in brief. 

Q15.
Ans: The Nawabs of Bengal restructured the administration, tackled corruption, encouraged agriculture, trade, and industry, and regularized revenue collection to create an efficient administrative system.

Q16.
Ans: Shivaji, born in 1627, successfully expanded his rule through guerrilla warfare, bypassing Mughal forts, and assumed the title of Chhatrapati.

Q17.
Ans: The Marathas had a land revenue system that assessed and fixed revenue based on land quality and yield, with different rates for Swarajya and Mughlai lands. They encouraged agriculture and trade and provided support during famines.

Q18.
Ans: The Mughal nobles became powerful due to weak Mughal rulers, corruption, and factionalism in the Munsubdari system, and the lack of a clear succession policy. Aurangzeb's policies, such as his rigid religious stance and conflicts with various groups, contributed to the decline of the Mughal Empire.

IV. Answer the following questions in detail. 

Q19.
Ans: The decline of the Mughal Empire was caused by various factors, including weak successors, the vastness of the empire, wars of succession, Aurangzeb's policies, the power of the nobility, defects in the Munsubdari system, and Nadir Shah's invasion in 1739, which led to the looting of valuable treasures and resources. All these factors combined to weaken and ultimately lead to the downfall of the Mughal Empire.

Q20.
Ans: The establishment of Sikh regional power began with Guru Gobind Singh's organization of the Sikhs into the Khalsa. Banda Bahadur furthered their power, and after his death, the Sikhs organized into 12 bands, later unified under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who established a strong Sikh kingdom by seizing Lahore and Amritsar.

Q21.
Ans: The state of Hyderabad was established by Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah, a powerful Mughal noble. Initially, he was a subedar of Awadh and the Deccan but later declared independence and founded the Asaf Jahi dynasty. The Nizams efficiently administered the region and opposed the growing power of the Marathas.

Q22.
Ans: The Maratha land revenue system was based on a regular assessment of land, fixed revenue contingent on land quality, and two types of taxes, chauth and sardeshmukhi, for Mughlai lands. In Swarajya lands, farmers paid two-fifths of their produce as tax. The Marathas encouraged agriculture and trade, fortification of territories, and employed guerrilla warfare tactics. Their land revenue system played a significant role in sustaining their power.