Class 7 History Question Answers - New Political Formationa in the 18th century

Short Answer Questions

Q1: What was the main cause of the decline of the Mughal Empire?
Ans: The weak successors of Aurangzeb and their inability to manage the vast empire.

Q2: Who looted the Kohinoor diamond and the Peacock Throne from the Mughals?
Ans: Nadir Shah in 1739.

Q3: Who founded the city of Jaipur, and why is it significant?
Ans: Sawai Raja Jai Singh founded Jaipur, known for its well-planned layout and the Jantar Mantar observatories.

Q4: Which Sikh guru organized the Sikhs into a military brotherhood, and what was it called?
Ans: Guru Gobind Singh organized the Sikhs into the Khalsa.

Q5: Who was the first Nawab of Awadh, and what reforms did he introduce?
Ans: The first Nawab was Saadat Khan, who reduced the number of jagirdars and introduced revenue farmers (ijaradars).

Q6: Who founded the independent state of Hyderabad, and what was their role in the Mughal court?
Ans: Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah founded Hyderabad and served as a powerful Mughal noble in the court of Farrukhsiyar and Muhammad Shah.

Q7: What tactics did Shivaji use to expand his kingdom and fight the Mughals?
Ans: Shivaji used guerrilla warfare, bypassed Mughal forts, and attacked their cities and supply lines.

Q8: What were the two types of taxes levied on Mughlai lands by the Marathas?
Ans: Chauth (one-fourth of the yield) and Sardeshmukhi (one-tenth of the yield).

Q9: What was the primary source of income for the Jats, and who led them to control the region between Delhi and Agra?
Ans: Agriculture was their main income source, and Churaman led the Jats to control the region.

Q10: Who became the most powerful Maratha kingdom in the 18th century, and what territories did they capture?
Ans: The Marathas under Balaji Baji Rao captured Delhi and Punjab in 1753 and 1758, respectively.

Long Answer Questions

Q11: Explain the factors contributing to the decline of the Mughal Empire during the 18th century.
Ans: The decline was caused by weak successors, vastness of the empire, wars of succession, Aurangzeb's policies, powerful nobility, defects in the Mansabdari system, and Nadir Shah's invasion in 1739.

Q12: Describe the rise of the Sikh regional power in the 18th century.
Ans: Guru Gobind Singh organized the Sikhs into a military brotherhood called the Khalsa. Banda Bahadur led the Sikhs against the Mughals, and later, they organized into 12 groups, eventually unified under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who established a powerful Sikh kingdom.

Q13: Explain the establishment of the state of Hyderabad and the role of Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah.
Ans: Asaf Jah was a Mughal noble who established the independent state of Hyderabad in 1724. He was entrusted with the governorship of Awadh and later the Deccan. After Mughal authority declined, he founded the Asaf Jahi dynasty and efficiently administered the region.

Q14: Discuss the Maratha land revenue system and its importance in their administration.
Ans: The Marathas assessed and fixed land revenue based on land quality and yield, with two types of taxes, chauth and sardeshmukhi, for Mughlai lands. In swarajya lands, farmers paid two-fifths of their produce as tax. This system was crucial for their income and encouraged agriculture and trade.

Q15: Examine the rise and expansion of the Maratha Empire under leaders like Balaji Vishwanath and Baji Rao I.
Ans: Balaji Vishwanath established hereditary Peshwai and brought Gujarat, Malwa, and Bundelkhand under Maratha control. Baji Rao I expanded further by capturing territories, defeating the Nizam of Hyderabad, and capturing areas from the Portuguese.