BEFORE 1850s

Question 1

Causes for French Defeat and British Success

Answer 1

1 ) Naval superiority of the British
2 ) Position of French finance worsened as compared to the British
3 ) Bad leadership on the French part ( Count De Lally alienation of forces)
4 ) Better military discipline of the British Army and the timely salary was given
5 ) Civil Discipline and Fair selection system
6 ) Notion of nationalist pride

Question 2

Causes of Decline of Mughals (Administrative reasons)

Answer 2

1 ) Mansabdari system- Mansabdar responsible for revenue collection and maintaining armed troops was inefficient

Question 3

Causes of Decline of Mughals (Economic reasons)

Answer 3

1 ) Expensive wars were fought by Aurangazeb
2 ) No interest in improving agricultural productivity
3 ) Peasant rebellions in 1700s due to decline in agriculture
4 ) Jagirdari crisis- Many Jagirs chasing less Jagirs
5 ) Luxurious lifestyle of emperor

Question 4

Causes of Decline of Mughals (Army structure)

Answer 4

1 ) Affected operational efficiency of the army
2 ) Corruption in the army
3 ) No new technological advances

Question 5

Causes of Decline of Mughals (Socio-religious reasons)

Answer 5

1 ) Religion tax or jaziya
2 ) Led to the alienation of masses
3 ) Imposed on non-muslims only

Also
1 ) Afghan invasions
2 ) Constant war of succession

Question 6

Significance of Battle of Buxar and Plassey

Answer 6

1 ) Gave British firm foothold in the subcontinent
2 ) Made British a strong contender to become the next pan-Indian empire
3 ) Gave boost to finances of East India Company
4 ) Revenue collection power was attained by the British
5 ) Special trading privileges to EIC
6 ) British resident at Murshidabad

Question 7

Causes of Battles of Buxar and Plassey

Answer 7

1 ) Anglo-French rivalry
2 ) Assertive position of young Nawab
3 ) Defiance of Nawab’s authority

Question 8

Why Marathas failed to establish Pan-Indian Empire

Answer 8

1 ) Political factionalism and dispute among Marathas
2 ) Decline of strong Peshwaship
3 ) Conflict between Holkars, Scindhias, Bhosle over the appointment of peshwa
4 ) Revenue system (Saranjami) was similar to Jagirdari of Mughals and suffered
5 ) No active steps were taken to increase the revenue
6 ) Failed to establish direct administrative presence beyond Maharashtra
7 ) Maratha expertise in Guerilla warfare but Panipat was plain field
8 ) Numerically greater in number (Afghans) defeated Marathas in Third Battle of Panipat

Question 9

Why so many battles fought in Panipat?

Answer 9

1 ) Panipat had strategic location

2 )