NCERT MCQ Solutions for Class 8 Social Science Chapter 3 The Rise of the Marathas

The  European merchants were different from others because they were “obstinate people” whose chief strengths were their naval power and use of gunpowder, indicating their military intentions.

During the 13th century, the Yadava dynasty was the dominant power in the region of Maharashtra. Their rule ended in the 14th century when the Khilji Sultanate from Delhi conquered them.

These saints made religious and philosophical texts accessible to everyone by using Marathi, the local language. This created a shared cultural and social identity that later helped in political organization.

From a young age, Shivaji nurtured the vision of ‘Swarajya,’ which means a self-governing and sovereign kingdom. This idea guided his political, economic, and cultural goals throughout his life.

While other empires had merchant ships, they did not maintain a dedicated naval force for coastal defense. Shivaji’s navy was a pioneering effort to secure the coastline and project power at sea.

Shivaji effectively used guerrilla warfare, which leverages small, mobile groups and the local geography, like hills and forests, to ambush and overcome bigger, less agile enemy forces.

During his raid on Surat, Shivaji showed respect for a charitable man named Mohandas Parekh by ensuring his house was not attacked, even while seizing immense wealth from the city.

Faced with the formidable army of Jai Singh, Shivaji was defeated at Purandar Fort and forced into a treaty where he had to surrender numerous forts and territories to the Mughals.

Shivaji pretended to send out large baskets of sweets as gifts. After the guards got used to seeing the baskets and stopped checking them, he and Sambhaji hid inside to escape.

The conquest of territories in present-day Tamil Nadu and Karnataka provided a secure southern base. This proved crucial for the Marathas to fall back on and resist the Mughals later.

After his brother Sambhaji was executed by Aurangzeb, Rajaram became the Chhatrapati. He moved the capital to Gingee and continued the war, extending the conflict across the Deccan.

As the empire grew, power shifted from a single king to a more federal structure where powerful chiefs, especially the Peshwa (prime minister), held significant influence, sometimes even more than the Chhatrapati.

By this period, the Mughal empire had weakened, and the Marathas controlled vast parts of India. They were the most formidable Indian power that the British had to defeat to establish their rule.

Shivaji ended the hereditary system for posts and paid salaries from the state treasury. By regularly transferring officials, he ensured no single person could build a local power base to challenge his authority.

The council of eight ministers was led by the Pradhan, who served as the Prime Minister and was the head of the administration, directly assisting the Chhatrapati.

‘Chauth’ (25%) and ‘sardeshmukhi’ (an additional 10%) were taxes of protection. By paying them, regions not directly ruled by the Marathas could avoid being attacked and manage their own governance.

The Maratha cavalry had two types of soldiers. The bargirs were fully equipped by the state, whereas the more independent shiledars had to arrange for their own horses and weapons.

Ramachandrapant Amatya explained that forts were essential for state survival. They provided strategic control over regions and shelter for the army, allowing the kingdom to withstand decades of invasion.

European powers forced Indian ships to buy their trade passes (cartaz). The Marathas turned the tables on them by successfully challenging this system and demanding that Europeans purchase Maratha passes to sail in their waters.

The Marathas had an efficient justice system where the primary body for resolving disputes was the panchayat, a local council of officials and respected men. The system was also known for its moderate use of the death penalty.

This work was part of Shivaji’s cultural revival efforts. It aimed to replace the commonly used Persian administrative terms with words from Sanskrit and Marathi, thereby promoting local languages in governance.

After her husband Rajaram’s death, Tarabai took charge and realized the Mughal heartland in north India was vulnerable. She organized large armies and sent them north, initiating the Maratha expansion.

Ahilyabai was a great builder and patron of religion. She undertook massive public works projects across the subcontinent, most famously rebuilding major Hindu temples that had been destroyed in previous centuries.

The Modi script, which is a faster, cursive form of the Devanagari script, was the standard script for writing administrative and personal documents throughout the Maratha period.

Ekoji, who shared the same father as Shivaji, established Maratha rule in the Thanjavur region of Tamil Nadu in the late 17th century, leading to a rich blending of Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu cultures.

Serfoji II was a great patron of the arts. During his reign, the court of Thanjavur played a vital role in developing and codifying the early stages of Bharatanatyam, along with modern Carnatic music.

Serfoji II was a modern-minded ruler who was interested in European technology and knowledge. He established a printing press, a significant step in the dissemination of knowledge at the time.

By the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the Maratha Empire, not the declining Mughal Empire, controlled the largest swathe of India. Therefore, the British had to defeat the Marathas in a series of wars to become the supreme power.

The iconic saffron flag was first used by Shivaji as a symbol of his rule and his vision of ‘Swarajya’. It became a unifying symbol for all Marathas who followed him.

The Maratha success in challenging the mighty Mughal empire and establishing their own rule became a powerful example. Their fight for ‘Swarajya’ provided a historical basis and inspiration for later generations in the struggle for independence.