D.N. Kundra Textbook Solutions India in the Eighteenth Century - History

History - Chapter 4

Class 8 - DN Kundra History & Civics Solutions

Objective Type Questions

Read the two statements given below about the decline of the Mughal Empire. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between (A) and (R).

Assertion (A): After Aurangzeb died in 1707, the Mughal empire started declining.

Reason (R): The successors of Aurangzeb were weak and were merely puppets in the hands of the nobles and Governors.

1. (R) contradicts (A)
2. (R) is the reason for (A)
3. (A) is true but (R) is false
4. (A) and (R) are independent of each other

Ans: Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

Explanation:

(i) Assertion: The Mughal Empire began to decline after Aurangzeb's death in 1707. This is correct because central authority weakened and different provinces began asserting themselves.

(ii) Reason: Aurangzeb's successors were weak and were often controlled by powerful nobles and governors. This is also correct.

(iii) Justification: Weak rulers allowed nobles and governors to gain power, which led to political fragmentation and loss of central control; therefore, the Reason explains the Assertion.

Identify the main reasons for the rise of Tipu Sultan as a brave General.

P: Built a modern navy

Q: Introduced modern weapons in the army

R: Introduced a fighter plane in the airforce

S: Used liquid fire in war

1. P and Q
2. R and S
3. P and R
4. Q and S

Ans: (a)

Explanation: Tipu Sultan is known for modernising his army and for efforts to strengthen Mysore's military power. He introduced modern weapons and rocket artillery and made attempts to create a navy. Options involving fighter planes are anachronistic for the eighteenth century, so P and Q are the correct reasons.

Jasleen is preparing a project on "Rise of the Maratha Power" in India. Which of the following rulers is she MOST LIKELY to highlight?

1. Haider Ali
2. Raja Sawai Jai Singh
3. Guru Gobind Singh
4. Shivaji

Ans: (d)

Explanation: Shivaji founded the Maratha kingdom and is regarded as the main founder of Maratha power. He led the early resistance to the Mughals and established an independent Maratha state, so he is the ruler most relevant to a project on the rise of Maratha power.

Which of the following aspects is being depicted by the given picture?

1. Tipu's hatred towards his enemy, the British
2. Tiger and white person
3. A toy featuring colonialism
4. A toy featuring the strength of the tiger

Ans: (a)

Explanation: The image refers to Tipu Sultan's famous emblem showing a tiger attacking a European. This symbol expressed Tipu's hostility towards the British and his resistance to their power.

Identify the ODD ONE out of the following.

1. Baji Rao I
2. Balaji Vishwanath
3. Balaji Baji Rao
4. Mukesh Rao

Ans: (d)

Explanation: Baji Rao I, Balaji Vishwanath and Balaji Baji Rao are all prominent historical Maratha leaders (Peshwas). "Mukesh Rao" is not a known historical Maratha ruler and is therefore the odd one out.

Consider the statements given below and choose the correct answer:

Statement I: Haider Ali, who became the ruler of Mysore in 1761, started his career as an ordinary soldier in the Mysore army.

Statement II: Haider Ali was succeeded by his son Bahadur Shah Zafar.

1. Statement (I) is correct and statement (II) is incorrect.
2. Statement (I) is incorrect and statement (II) is correct.
3. Both statements (I) and (II) are incorrect.
4. Both statements (I) and (II) are correct.

Ans: (a)

Explanation: Statement I is correct: Haider Ali rose from a soldier to become the ruler of Mysore. Statement II is incorrect: Haider Ali was succeeded by his son Tipu Sultan, not Bahadur Shah Zafar (who was the last Mughal emperor).

Which among the following statements is incorrect?

1. The defeat in the Third Battle of Panipat put an end to the Maratha dream of establishing an All India empire.
2. The Maratha power reached its peak during the reign of Balaji Baji Rao.
3. Tipu Sultan was deeply influenced by the ideas of the French Revolution.
4. The city of Jaipur is also known as the White City.

Ans: (d)

Explanation: Jaipur is popularly known as the "Pink City", not the "White City". The other statements are historically accurate: the Third Battle of Panipat was a major setback for the Marathas; Balaji Baji Rao's period saw Maratha power at its greatest; and Tipu Sultan had close contacts with the French and was influenced by some French ideas.

Arrange the following in chronological order:

(i) Third Battle of Panipat (ii) Invasion of Nadir Shah (iii) Banda Singh Bahadur was killed (iv) Tipu Sultan became ruler of Mysore

1. (ii), (iv), (i), (iii)
2. (iv), (iii), (ii), (i)
3. (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)
4. (iii), (ii), (i), (iv)

Ans: (d)

Explanation: Correct chronological order with approximate dates is:
(iii) Banda Singh Bahadur was killed - 1716.
(ii) Invasion of Nadir Shah - 1739.
(i) Third Battle of Panipat - 1761.
(iv) Tipu Sultan became ruler of Mysore (succeeded Haider Ali) - 1782.
This sequence matches option (d).

Who among the following organized the Sikhs into a military brotherhood called the Khalsa?

1. Guru Nanak
2. Maharaja Ranjit Singh
3. Guru Angad

Ans: Guru Gobind Singh

Explanation: Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, created the Khalsa in 1699 to give the Sikhs a strong military and moral identity. (Note: The correct name is given even though it is not listed among the three options above.)

Identify the ruler based on the given clues.

• He shifted his capital from Satara to Poona.
• The Maratha power reached its peak during his reign.

1. Balaji Vishwanath

Ans: Balaji Baji Rao

Explanation: Balaji Baji Rao (also called Nana Saheb) shifted the effective centre of Maratha power to Poona and under his leadership Maratha influence reached its height.

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks.

1. ................ became the independent ruler of Bengal and shifted his capital to Murshidabad.
2. ................ founded the Hyderabad state.
3. Haider Ali was the ruler of ............... .
4. ................ was the leader of the Sikhs after the death of Guru Govind Singh.
5. ................ was the first Peshwa.
6. The ............... was the Chief Minister of Marathas.

Ans:

1. Murshid Quli Khan
2. Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah
3. Mysore
4. Banda Singh Bahadur
5. Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath
6. Peshwa

Match the Following

Match Column A with Column B.

Ans:

True or False

State whether the following statements are True or False.

1. The office of the Peshwas was always hereditary.
2. In the Third Battle of Panipat, the Marathas fought with the Rajputs and the Jats.
3. The later Mughal kings were able rulers.
4. Safdar Jung was the first Nizam of Hyderabad.
5. Jai Singh built an observatory (Jantar Mantar) at Jaipur.

Ans:

1. Ans: False - Explanation: The office of the Peshwas did not start as a hereditary post; it became hereditary later as certain families consolidated power.
2. Ans: False - Explanation: In the Third Battle of Panipat (1761) the Marathas fought the Afghan leader Ahmad Shah Abdali, not primarily the Rajputs and Jats.
3. Ans: False - Explanation: The later Mughal kings were generally weak and ineffective, which contributed to the empire's decline.
4. Ans: False - Explanation: Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah was the first Nizam of Hyderabad; Safdar Jung was a powerful noble but not the first Nizam.
5. Ans: True - Explanation: Raja Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur built an observatory (Jantar Mantar) at Jaipur.

Answer the Following Questions Briefly

Write in brief the causes that led to the downfall of the Mughal empire.

Ans:

• Weak Successors: After Aurangzeb's death the emperors who followed were weak and lacked control. Powerful nobles and governors often dominated them.
• Rivalry Among Nobles: Constant fights among nobles and court factions led to instability and prevented united rule.
• Weak Administration: The jagirdari and mansabdari systems were misused; revenue fell and the central authority weakened, reducing military strength.
• Invasions: Foreign invasions, especially by Nadir Shah (1739) and Ahmad Shah Abdali, caused great damage, including the looting of riches like the Peacock Throne.
• Wars of Succession: Frequent struggles for the throne drained resources and caused disorder.
• Aurangzeb's Policies: Prolonged military campaigns and certain religious policies weakened the economy and alienated many groups, contributing to decline.

When and between whom was the Third Battle of Panipat fought? What were its results?

Ans:

The Third Battle of Panipat was fought in 1761 between the Maratha forces and the Afghan leader Ahmad Shah Abdali. The Marathas were defeated decisively. As a result, Maratha plans for an all-India empire were halted and the political weakness that followed helped the English East India Company to expand its influence in India.

Name the first independent Nawab of Bengal. What were his achievements?

Ans:

Murshid Quli Khan was the first independent Nawab of Bengal. He brought relative peace to the region, encouraged trade and commerce, and made Murshidabad his capital, which became an important administrative and commercial centre.

Who was Haider Ali? Discuss his achievements.

Ans:

Haider Ali became the ruler of Mysore in 1761 after rising through the ranks from being an ordinary soldier. He strengthened Mysore's army, won battles against the Marathas and the Nizam of Hyderabad, and fought the British successfully in the first two Anglo-Mysore Wars.

Which ruler was known as the Tiger of Mysore? Write a short paragraph about him.

Ans:

Tipu Sultan is known as the "Tiger of Mysore". He ruled Mysore for about 17 years and was an able and courageous leader. He modernised his army with better weapons and rockets, sought support from the French, and tried to build a navy. He died in 1799 defending Seringapatam in the final Anglo-Mysore War.

Give Reasons

Give Reason:

The consequence of the Third Battle of Panipat was advantageous for the British.

Ans:

Explanation: The Maratha defeat in 1761 weakened a major Indian power and created political instability. This fragmentation and loss of Maratha strength allowed the English East India Company to form alliances, expand influence and gradually gain supremacy in India.

Give Reason:

Independent states were formed in the eighteenth century.

Ans:

Explanation: After Aurangzeb's death the central Mughal authority weakened. Weak successors and powerful regional governors and nobles led to the rise of independent states as local rulers asserted autonomy.

Picture Study

1. Identify the ruler.

2. How did he unite the Sikhs in Punjab?

Ans:

1. Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
2. Maharaja Ranjit Singh united the Sikh misls (confederacies) by bringing the twelve misls under his control and creating a central authority. He consolidated territories west of the Sutlej and established a strong Sikh kingdom in Punjab. The Treaty of Amritsar (1809) with the British confirmed his control over lands west of the Sutlej.

Assertion-Reason Type Questions

Assertion (A): Asaf Jah declared himself the ruler of Deccan.

Reason (R): He took advantage of the disturbance in the Deccan.

1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
3. Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false.
4. Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true.

Ans: Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

Explanation:

(i) Assertion: Asaf Jah declared himself the ruler of the Deccan - True.

(ii) Reason: He took advantage of the disturbance in the Deccan and the weakening of central Mughal authority - True.

(iii) Justification: Political instability in Delhi and the Deccan let Asaf Jah (Nizam-ul-Mulk) establish independent rule in the Deccan, so the Reason explains the Assertion.

Assertion (A): Rajputs of Amber and Jodhpur were looked upon with much respect.

Reason (R): Raja Swai Jai Singh established the city of Jaipur.

Ans: Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true.

Explanation:

(i) Assertion: The Rajputs of Amber (Jaipur) and Jodhpur were looked upon with much respect - This is not accurate as a general political statement for the eighteenth century; many Rajput states were weakened by internal feuds.

(ii) Reason: Raja Sawai Jai Singh established the city of Jaipur - True; he planned and built Jaipur and also constructed astronomical observatories.

(iii) Justification: While Jai Singh was a notable ruler and founder of Jaipur, Rajput states in the eighteenth century were often politically divided and not uniformly powerful; hence the Assertion is false though the Reason is true.