Please Wait... While Loading Full Video

Later Mughals and Marathas

The Decline

1. The Mughal Empire was vast and extensive in the beginning of the eighteenth century. But by the close of the century it had shrunk to a few kilometres around Delhi.

2. After the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, a war of succession began amongst his three surviving sons, Muazzam the governor of Kabul, Azam-the governor of Gujarat, and Kam Baksh-the governor of Deccan.

Later Mughal Rulers

• Bahadur Shah I (1707-12) - His origianl name was Muazzam and ascended the Mughal throne with the title of Bahadur Shah I.
• He was also known as Shah Alam I.
• Jahandar Shah (1712-13) - He ascended the throne with the help of Zulflkar Khan and abolished Jizya.
• Farrukhsiyar (1713-19) - He lacked the ability and knowledge to rule independently. His reign saw the emergence of the Sayyid Brothers.
• Muhammad Shall (1719-48) - Nadir Shah invaded India and took awav Peacock throne and Kohinoor diamond.
• Ahmed Shah (1748-54) - Ahmed Shah Abdali (General of Nadir Shah) marched towards Delhi and the Mughals ceded Punjab and Multan.
• Alamgir (1754 -59) - Ahmed Shah occupied Delhi. Later. Delhi was plundered by Marathas.
• Shah Alam II (1759-1806)- He could not enter Delhi for 12 years.
• Akbar II (1806 - 37) pensioner of East India Company.
• Bahadur Shah II (1837 - 57) - Last Mughal Emperor who premiered during the 1857 Revolt.

Literature in Mughal Period

• The Mughal period produced a vast literature. This was possible because the Mughal emperors were great patrons of literature.

• It was a period of growth of literature in India.

• Many Mughal emperors and members of the royal family were great men of letters.

• This period saw the development of Hindi as well as Sanskrit literature.

• Apart from Persian and Hindi literature, Bengali and Punjabi literature also made strides.

• Some of the important source books in history were written.

Some Famous Work of Literature of Mughal Period

• Babur - Tuzak-i-Babri

• Abul Fazal - Ain-i-Akbari, Akbarnamah

• Jahangir - Tuzuk-i-Jahangir

• Hamid - Padshahnama

• Darashikoh - Majan-ul-Bahrain

• Mirza Md Qasim - Alamgirnama

Marathas

Shivaji (AD 1627 - 80)

• Born at Shivner to Shahji Bhonsle and Jijabai. His religious teacher was Samartb Ramdas and guardian was
Dadaji Kondadev.
• Treaty of Purandar (AD 1665) between Shivaji and Mughals.
• Coronation at Raigarh (AD 167 4) and assumed the title of Haindava Dharmadharak (Protector of Hinduism).
• Ashtapradhan (eight rninisters) helped in administration. These were Peshwas, Sar-i-Naubat (Military), Mazumdar or
Amatya (Accounts), Waqenavis (Intelligence), Surunavis (Correspondence), Dabir or Sumanta (Ceremonies), Nyayadhish (Justice) and Panditrao (Charity).
• Successors of Shivaji were Shambhaji, Rajaram and Shahu (fought at Battle of Khed in AD 1708).

Peshwas (AD 1719 - 18)

• .Founded by Balaji Vishwanath, who concluded an agreement with the Sayyid Brothers (the king makers in history) by which Mughal emperor Farukkh Siyyar recognised Shahu as the king of Swarajya.
• Baji Rao was considered as the "greatest exponent of guerilla tactics after Shivaji"
• Under his rule, Maratha power reached its zenith and system of confederacy began.
• He defeated Siddis of Janjira and led to the conquest of Bassein, Salsette from Portuguese.
• Third Battle of Panipat {AD 176 l) was held between Marathas and Ahmed Shah Abdali which gave a big jolt to the Maratha empire.
 
SiteLock