The Decline of the Mughal Empire

The Decline of the Mughal Empire

The great Mughal Empire, the envy of its contemporaries, for almost two centuries, declined and disintegrated during the first half of the 18th century. The Mughal Emperors lost their power and glory and their empire shrank to a few square miles around Delhi. In the end, in 1803, Delhi itself was occupied by the British array and the proud Mughal Emperor was reduced to the status of a mere pensioner of a foreign power. A study of the process of decline of this great Empire is most instructive. It reveals some of the defects and weaknesses of India’s medieval social, economic and political structure which were responsible for the eventual subjugation of the country by the English East India Company.

Third Battle of Panipat

Third Battle of Panipat

Facts about the Third Battle of Panipat

ü  Fought between: Maratha Empire and Durrani Empire (Afghanistan)

ü  People involved: Sadashivrao Bhau (Commander-in-chief of the Maratha Army), Vishwasrao, Malharrao Holkar, Ahmad Shah Durrani (also called Ahmad Shah Abdali).

ü  When: 14th January 1761

ü  Where: Panipat (97 km north of Delhi) in modern day Haryana.

ü  Result: Victory for the Afghans.

ü  Durrani got support from the Rohillas of the Doab and Shuja-ud-daulah, the Nawab of Awadh.

ü  The Marathas failed to get support from the Rajputs, Jats or the Sikhs.

Battle of Plassey

Battle of Plassey

The Battle of Plassey was a decisive victory of the British East India Company over the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies on 23 June 1757. The battle consolidated the Company's presence in Bengal, which later expanded to cover much of India over the next hundred years.

Caste System in Gupta Era

Caste System in Gupta Era

One of the most notable features of Indian society till date has been caste system. So was it during Gupta era also. There were three notable features of caste system in Gupta era as follows:

ü  Firstly, upper castes although managed their respective position in the caste hierarchy, yet there was an indication mobility and fluidity, which allowed other castes (than Brahmins) to make some progress.

ü  Secondly, condition of Shudras improved mainly because the link between occupation and birth got loose for some time. As the shudras entered into farming, they upgraded themselves into sharecroppers.

ü  Thirdly, the condition of lowest strata of society, untouchables reached to nadir. They were forced to live away from population and engaged in most demeaning occupations.

Moplah Rebellion of 1921

Moplah Rebellion of 1921

The Moplah Rebellion, also known as the Moplah Riots of 1921 was the culmination of a series of riots by Moplahs (Muslims of Malabar) in the 19^th and early 20^th centuries against the British and the Hindu landlords in Malabar (Northern Kerala). The rebellion is sometimes seen as a class uprising although events show that the riots were communal in nature.

Third Anglo-Maratha War

Third Anglo-Maratha War

Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817 – 1818)

Background and course

• After the second Anglo-Maratha war, the Marathas made one last attempt to rebuild their old prestige.
• They wanted to retake all their old possessions from the English.
• They were also unhappy with the British residents’ interference in their internal matters.
• The chief reason for this war was the British conflict with the Pindaris whom the British suspected were being protected by the Marathas.
• The Maratha chiefs Peshwa Bajirao II, Malharrao Holkar and Mudhoji II Bhonsle forged a united front against the English.
• Daulatrao Shinde, the fourth major Maratha chief was pressured diplomatically to stay away.
• But the British victory was swift.

Indian Councils Act 1861

Indian Councils Act 1861

The Indian Council’s Act 1861 was an act of the British Parliament that made significant changes in the Governor-General’s Council.

Provisions of the Indian Councils Act 1861

• For the executive functions of the Council, a fifth member was added. Now there were five members for home, military, law, revenue and finance. (A sixth member for public works was added in 1874.)
• Lord Canning, who was the Governor-General and Viceroy at the time, introduced the portfolio system. In this system, each member was assigned a portfolio of a particular department.