The Trail History and Civics for Class 8 ICSE Solutions – Rise of Independent Regional Powers

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The Trail History and Civics for Class 8 ICSE Answers

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EXERCISES

A. Fill in the blanks:

  1. Balaji Vishwanath laid the foundation of the Hereditary Dynastic rule of the Peshwas.
  2. Lucknow was the capital of Awadh.
  3. Mysore, under the leadership of Hyder Ali became the most formidable adversary of the English East India Company in the south.
  4. Guru Govind Singh ji, the tenth Sikh guru, organized a military brotherhood of Sikhs called Khalsa.
  5. The Sikhs were organized into a loose confederacy of 12 misls or groups.

B. Match the following:
The Trail History and Civics for Class 8 ICSE Solutions - Rise of Independent Regional Powers 1
Answer:
The Trail History and Civics for Class 8 ICSE Solutions - Rise of Independent Regional Powers 2

C. Choose the correct answer:

1. The Marathas/Sikhs/Rajputs had the power and potential to establish an all-India empire after the collapse of the Mughal empire.
Ans. The Marathas had the power and potential to establish an all- India empire after the collapse of the Mughal empire.

2. Shahu was an ease-loving and weak Maratha/Sikh/Rajput
Ans. Shahu was an ease-loving and weak Maratha ruler.

3. The Maratha empire reached the heights of its power and glory during the reign of Balaji Vishwanath/Baji Rao I/Balaji Baji Rao.
Ans. The Maratha empire reached the heights of its power and glory during the reign of Balaji Vishwanath.

4. Shuja-ud-DauIah was the nawab of Hyderabad/Awadh/Bengal.
Ans. Shuja-ud-Daulah was the nawab of Awadh.

5. The state of Hyderabad/Awadh/Mysore was founded by the Mughal viceroy of the Deccan, Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah.
Ans. The state of Hyderabad was founded by the Mughal viceroy of the Deccan, Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah.

D. State whether the following are true or false:

  1. Bengal was one of the poorest provinces of the Mughal empire.
    False.
    Correct: Bengal was the richest provinces of the Mughal empire.
  2. The most capable among the successors of Murshid Quli Khan was Alivardi Khan.
    True.
  3. Lucknow was the cultural centre of Bengal.
    False.
    Correct : Lucknow was the cultural center of Awadh.
  4. The most powerful kingdom in the south was Mysore.
    True.
  5. Ranjit Singh became the master of Punjab by the end of the 18th century.
    True.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1.
What followed the disintegration of the Mughal empire?
Answer:
The disintegration of the Mughal empire led to the rise of number of independent and semi-independent regional powers such as Bengal, Awadh, Hyderabad, Maratha, Mysore and Sikh kingdoms.

Question 2.
What is the significance of the Third Battle of Panipat?
Answer:
The Maratha army was decisively defeated by Ahmad Shah Abdali at the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761. The Maratha ambition of replacing the Mughal empire lay scattered on the plains of Panipat. The Afghans, too, failed to capitalize on their victory. The conditions were ideal for the entry of another powerful contender for superemacy – the English East India Company.

Question 3.
What advantage did Murshid Quli Khan take of the decline in the power of the Mughal empire?
Answer:
The Governor of Bengal, Murshid Quli Khan, took advantage of the situation to free himself from imperial control. Although he continued to pay annual tribute to the Mughal empire, he began to rule Bengal independently.

Question 4.
How did political and economic stability in Awadh impact cultural development in Lucknogf?
Answer:
The Nawabs of Awadh were intelligent, efficient and order, introduced revenue reforms and strengthened their army. The prolonged period of peace and economic prosperity stimulated the growth of a refined and distinct Lucknavi culture. Lucknow, the capital city, blossomed into a centre for creative and performing arts, literature and architecture.

Question 5.
How did political instability in the Carnatic benefit the European trading companies?
Answer:
Carnatic, however, freed himself from the Nizam’s control and established hereditary rule in his state. This led to wars of succession and political instability in the Carnatic, providing the European trading companies opportunities to interfere in its internal affairs and make territorial, commercial and financial gains.

Question 6.
Name any two principal Rajupt states that took advantage of the declining power of the Mughals and asserted their independence.
Answer:
The principal Rajput states like Jaipur (Amber), Jodhpur (Marwar) and Udaipur (Mewar) took advantage of the declining power of the Mughals and asserted their independence.

Question 7.
What made the Rajputs vulnerable to the selfish designs of the English East India Company?
Answer:
The court intrigues, conspiracies, treachery and corruption of the Mughal courts were replayed in the courts of the Rajput rulers. This sapped their energies and made them vulnerable to the selfish designs of the English East India Company.

Question 8.
Name the signatories of the Treaty of Amritsar.
Answer:
Ranjit Singh signed a treaty of ‘perpetual friendship’ with Lord Minto.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1.
The second phase of Maratha history was a period of dominance of the peshwas. In this context answer the following questions:
(a) State the circumstances that led of the growth of peshwa dominance in the Maratha kingdom.
(b) Discuss the achievements of

  1. Baji Rao I and
  2. Balaji Baji Rao.

(c) How was the Maratha confederacy established?
Answer:
(a)
The Maratha kingdom was captured by Shahu the grandson of Shivaji with the help of Balaji Vishwanath. Shahu appointed Balaji Vishwanath as Pesha for his services and Joyalty. Shahu himself was a ease loving and weak ruler which resulted in reducing his position as only ceremonial head of the Maratha kingdom. While real power and authority was exercised by the Peshwa, which led to the growth of Peshwa dominance in the Maratha kingdom.
(b)

  1. Baji Rao I was a military genius. Under his bold and dynamic leadership, the Maratha kingdom was transformed into the Maratha empire after a series of brilliant campaigns against the Mughals and other rivals.
  2. Balaji Baji Rao followed the policy of expansion. During his reign the Maratha empire reached the heights of its power and glory. In the north, the Marathas became the power behind the Mughal throne.

(c)
A major development at this time was the rise of the prominent Maratha families-the Sindhias, the Bhonsles, the Holkars and the Gaekwards. The peshwa divided the erstwhile Mughal provinces into ‘spheres of influence’ and placed them under the chiefs of these Maratha families. These chiefs enjoyed maximum autonomy within their respective regions. The peshwa was the official head of this loose union of Maratha chiefs which is referred to as the Maratha confederacy.

Question 2.
With reference to the rise and growth of Bengal as regional power, discuss the following:
(a) The achievements of Murshid Quli Khan
(b) The rule of Alivardi Khan
(c) The failures of the nawabs of Bengal
Answer:
(a)
Murshid Quli Khan was an excellent administrator and a man of exceptional abilities. He freed Bengal from external and internal dangers and established stability, peace and prosperity in the state.
(b)
Alivardi Khan recognized the importance of promoting trade and encouraged merchants-Indian as well as fdreign-to carry on trde in Bengal. He, however, did not allow the French and British merchants to fortify their factories in Chandemagore (now Chandannagar) and Culcutta (now Kolkata), respectively.
(c)
The nawabs of Bengal, however, failed to understand the true nature and ulterior motives of the British trading company. They believed that a trading company could never challenge (heir authority. No efforts were made to reorganize and strengthen the army. Corruption was rampant and even high-ranking officials were susceptible to bribes. These weaknesses made Bengal a happy hunting ground for the aggressive and imperialistic ambitions of the British.

Question 3.
The collapse of the Vijayanagar kingdom was followed by emergence of the powerful kingdom of Mysore. In this context discuss the following:
(a) The collapse of the Vijayanagar empire
(b) The achievements of Hyder Ali
(c) The contribution of Tipu Sultan
Answer:
(a)
The collapse of the powerful Vijayanagar empire in the 17th century gave rise to a number of independent kingdomes, constantly at war with one another. The most important of these was the kingdom of Mysore which had somehow managed to preserve its independence despite repeated attacks by neighbouring kingdoms. In the middle of the 18th century, Mysore, under the leadership of Hyder Ali, emerged as one of the most powerful kingdoms in the south.
(b)
In 1761 Hyder Ali overthrew the government and established his authority over the Mysore state. Under his rule, Mysore became a prosperous and powerful state and a formidable adversary of the English East India Company in the south.
(c)
Tipu Sultan proved to be a worthy successor. He introduced many reforms to overhaul and reorganize the administrative machinery. He modernized the army and strengthened the economy by encouraging agriculture and modem trade and industry.

Question 4.
With reference to the rise of independent Rajput states and the establishment of the Sikh kingdom, answer the following questions:
(a) Why did the resurgent Rajputs fail to establish an empire in India?
(b) To what extent was Guru Gobind Singh responsible for the transformation of the peace-loving Sikhs into a martial race?
(c) Discuss the achievements of Ranjit Singh.
Answer:
(a)
The Rajputs fail to establish an empire in India because they were busy in looking for their individual goals and interests which were often divergent and conflicting. They made no efforts to establish a Rajput empire, instead they were busy in finishing their energies in petty quarrels. The Rajput courts like the Mughal one’s were busy in conspiracies and corruption, which led to their failure.
(b)
Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last Sikh guru, organized a military brotherhood of Sikhs called the Khalsa. He instilled in the peace-loving Sikhs a martial spirit that would help them to carry on their struggle against the persecution of the Mughals.
(C)
Ranjit Singh, chief of one of the misls, was a bom leader. He brought all the Sikh chiefs to the west of the Satluj under his control and made himself master of Punjab by the end of the 18th century.

G Picture study:

 This is picture of the founder of the kingdom that extended the Khyber Pass in the north to Sindh in the south.

The Trail History and Civics for Class 8 ICSE Solutions - Rise of Independent Regional Powers 3

1. Identify the person in the picture.
Ans. Ranjit Singh.

2. Name the kingdom founded by him.
Ans. Punjab.

3. What did he do to expand his kingdom?
Ans. He brought all the Sikh chiefs, west of the Sutlej, under his control and made himself master of Punjab by the end of 18th century.

4. Name the treaty signed between him and the English East India Company.
Ans. Treaty of Amritsar.

5. What effect did this treaty have on his policy of expansion?
Ans. Due to his expansionist policy, he became master of a powerful kingdom which extended from the Khyber Pass in the North to Sind in the South.

OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
Question 1.
Name the four prominent Maratha families in the Maratha confederacy.
Answer:

  1. Bhonsle
  2. Holkar
  3. Sindhia
  4. Gaekwad

Question 2.
The conquest of Punjab was a turning point in the history of the Maratha empire. Explain.
Answer:
The conquest of Punjab brought the Maratha’s into direct conflict with the Afghan general, Ahmad Shah Abdali. A major struggle for mastery over North India began. The Maratha army was decisively defeated by Ahmad Shah Abdali at Panipat land. Their dream to replace the Mughal empire in North India was also scattered.

Question 3.
Why did Bengal become a happy hunting ground for the English East India Company?
Answer:
The Nawabs of Bengal failed to understand the true nature and ulimate motives of the British trading company. They felt that a trading company could never challenge their authority. No efforts were made to reorganize and strengthen the army. Corruption was much and even high ranking officials were susceptible to bribes. These weakneses made Bengal a happy hunting ground for the English East India Company.

Question 4.
How did Hyder Ali become the ruler of Mysore?
Answer:
Hyder Ali was a man of exceptional qualities and abilities. He rose from the rank of an ordinary soldier in the Mysore army to the position of commander by his efficiency and determination. In 1761 he overthrew the government and established his authority over the Mysore state.

Question 5.
Mention two important terms of the Treaty of Amritsar (1809).
Answer:
Two important terms of the Treaty of Amritsar were:

  1. By this treaty Maharaja Ranjit singh accepted the Sutlez River as the boundary between the Sikh kingdom and British territories.
  2. The British promised not to interfere in the affairs of the sikh kingdom.

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