Maharashtra Board Class 11 Defense Studies Chapter 3 Military History PDF Download

Military History

The Mahabharata is a well-known historical story that Indians are familiar with. Did you know that the original Mahabharata was called Jaya? This was a poem of triumph told of the victory of one king over another. You may have read about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's battle against Afzal Khan at Jawali. You have also studied history of the battles of Panipat. In the First Battle of Panipat Babur used firearms. This was the first time that firearms were used in battle in India. Babur had used guns mounted on camels while Tipu Sultan used rockets against the British in 1780s.

In the history of Maharashtra you would have read about the method of warfare used by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The form of warfare that he used was called guerrilla warfare. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj understood the geography of the region. The Sahyadri range in the West with spurs going eastwards has cut the Deccan into many small isolated compartments. Invading armies from the North are slowed down by the terrain. This region was excellent for guerrilla warfare.

In the period of the British colonial rule the Indian army had participated in the First and the Second World Wars. After independence, the first war that India experienced took place in Kashmir between India and Pakistan. Later India experienced wars with China and again with Pakistan. The Indian Army, Air Force and Navy have benefitted from the experiences of these wars.

Wars are influenced by four important factors:

1. Geography: Wars may be fought in mountainous regions or plains. They can be fought on the seas. The geography of the region where wars are fought would influence the tactics used in war. (We have discussed the role of geography in detail in the Chapter on Geopolitics).

2. The character or the morale of the people: How does the population respond during war time? Does it support the armed forces or does it oppose or criticise them? The support of the local population is crucial to any war effort.

3. The leadership: The leadership is at two levels. One is the political leadership and the other the military leadership. The political leadership has to take decisions by looking at both domestic and international factors. The military leadership has to formulate strategies. The leaders of the country and the Generals who conduct the war play an important part in the success or failure of any battle.

4. The equipment or weapons system that is used: There has been a continuous evolution in the weapons systems. In the early historical period the weapons used were swords, shields, javelins etc. Today the technological changes have brought in new weapons like missiles, drones, etc. The mode of communication has also changed. From horses and mules used in ancient times we have railways, trucks, aircraft, etc.

Teacher's Note

Wars are like big battles between countries. Think of it like a cricket match between India and Pakistan, but very serious. Winners protect their people and their land.

Exam Trick

Remember the four factors: Geography, character of people, leadership, and weapons. Think: G-C-L-W. Write these four on the side of your paper during the exam and tick them off.

Points to Remember

Geography helps armies choose how to fight - in mountains or on flat ground.
People's support is very important for winning a war.
Leaders must make good plans - both political leaders and military leaders.
Weapons change over time - from swords to guns to missiles.
Communication and transport also change - from horses to trucks to aircraft.

The above mentioned factors influence the nature of war. But the study of military history is not just the study of war. What is the subject matter of military history?

The study of military history involves the following:

1. Elements: One, it is the study of wars and all the elements that influence the nature of war. This includes geography, equipment, leadership, etc. as discussed above.

2. Strategies: We study the strategies used by the countries. From the point of view of the armed forces, we have to understand the tactics and the strategies used in war. Countries have their own military doctrines about how to face the enemy. Military history is studied at the various Armed Forces establishments. The purpose is to ensure that we do not repeat past mistakes, we improve upon its current performance by learning the lessons from the past.

3. Diplomacy: Some of the strategies are diplomatic. These are political strategies. This may include putting pressure on countries through threats or resolving problems through dialogue.

4. Causes: It is the study of the causes of war. There can be political, economic, cultural and other causes of war.

5. Effects: We study the effects of war. There is a huge loss of life and property. It has social and psychological effect on the people.

The discipline of military history is dynamic. It tries to understand the changes in society, economy and technology. Military history is an academic discipline. The core of the subject is the histories of war, both particular wars and the conduct of war. A historian can look at the history of war from various angles. It can be looked at from the perspective of how the battle was fought or from the perspective of political leadership, economic issues, and socio-cultural dimensions.

Teacher's Note

Military history is not just about fighting. It includes studying why wars happen, how leaders make plans, and what happens after wars end. Just like in India, wars changed our country's borders and peoples' lives.

Exam Trick

Remember: Military history = Five things: Elements, Strategies, Diplomacy, Causes, Effects. Make a sentence: "Every Strong Diplomat Creates Effective policy" to remember E-S-D-C-E.

Points to Remember

Elements are the parts of war like geography and weapons.
Strategies are the plans armies make to win fights.
Diplomacy means talking to solve problems, not always fighting.
Causes of war can be political, economic, or cultural reasons.
Effects of war hurt many people and change society forever.

Why Study Military History

All nations, big or small, try to ensure that their national interest is maintained. National security is the most important component of national interest. They are willing to go to war to protect their national interests. This has been the core of military history since ancient times. Military history covers a wide range of subjects. It will help us to understand why this subject needs to be studied. Let us look at some of them:

1. First, there is the relationship between war and the development of states. Look at the history of India. The introduction of Buddhism in India during the Ashokan Empire was a result of the Kalinga war. He was the first ruler to create an all India empire. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj fought against the Mughal rule to sow the seed of the Maratha Empire. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj introduced the idea of creating an 'Indian' empire. It was this idea that was carried forward by the Maratha Empire in later years.

2. Second, it helps us to study the relationship between war and the international order. The First World War brought in the League of Nations while the Second World War led to the creation of the United Nations. These organisations were created to maintain peace and order in the world. They tried to create a new world order in the world.

3. Third aspect is the impact of war on the society and culture. War brings great changes in the society. India experienced a war during the Partition of India in 1947. It had a profound impact on the Indian society. The people who migrated from Pakistan to India brought in a new lifestyle and culture. Wars result in migrations and that impacts the lifestyle of the local people.

4. What value does the study of military history bring to the armed forces? Would the study of the World Wars or wars that India fought help the military to plan for a future war? The study of wars does not mean that the military leadership will follow the old tactics and strategies in the future. The real value of the study is the knowledge it provides to think strategically, logically and rationally. Strategy is the use of military to achieve political goals. The military commander must be able to think in a logical and rational manner as to what strategy to use. The study of military history provides this ability.

Teacher's Note

Understanding war history helps nations keep themselves safe. In India, learning from old wars helps our army protect us today. It is like learning from your past mistakes in exams to do better next time.

Exam Trick

Four reasons to study military history: 1) War changes countries, 2) War creates international groups, 3) War changes society and culture, 4) War teaches military leaders. Remember: Country, Clubs, Culture, Commanders - the four C's!

Points to Remember

Wars help create new countries and change how states develop.
International groups like United Nations were made after big wars.
Wars cause people to move to new places and change culture.
Military leaders learn from past wars to protect the country.
Understanding history helps us not repeat old mistakes in war.

Indian Military History

Historical events of any country have to be understood with reference to the environmental conditions that influence it. Permanent factors of the environment are the topography of the land, availability of water and climate and seasons.

Let us take a look at some of the key trends in Indian military history from ancient times. This section will focus on the ancient, medieval and modern period of Indian history. You have already studied this history in school. What we will do here is highlight some of the issues that relate to military history of these periods.

Military History of Ancient India

The Indus Valley Civilization is one of the oldest known civilizations in the world. The archaeological sites of Lothal, Dholavira, Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa give some information of the weapons of that period. The cities of that period were well built. There appear to have been some fortifications. These were sturdy walls made with bricks. Evidence shows that archers were employed and knives have also been found. Their central military strategy was defensive in nature. It is believed that the Indus Valley civilization was defeated because of a defective military strategy.

India experienced the Persian invasions during 549 – 515 BCE and later Macedonian invasion by Alexander during 327 -325 BCE. The Macedonian form of warfare placed importance on cavalry and infantry with mounted archers. But it was characterised by brutality, massacre and enslavement of general population. The Mauryan army during the time of Ashoka placed importance on the infantry and archers. War elephants had played a significant role in the battle between Alexander and Paurava (Porus) (326 BCE). They continued to be important during the Maurayan period.

One of the most significant contributions on the system of warfare during that period was Kautilya's Arthashastra. He talks of seven essential elements of the state: the King; Amatyas or Ministers and other officials; Janapada or geographical territory; Durga or fort; Kosha or treasury; Danda or an army and Mitra or allies. He gives a detail analysis of battle strategies including battle formations, command and control, role of the commander, etc.

This phase also saw India's political and cultural expansion outside the traditional boundaries. The Cholas were able to spread their empire in the Bay of Bengal area in the areas of Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Burma (Myanmar) and South East Asia.

Some of the features of the military system of ancient India can be stated as follows:

1. The military orientation was mainly defensive. Massive forts were built to protect the populace.

2. The state maintained a regular defence force, but the budget provided was very small.

3. The Maurya period saw a shift from the use of cavalry to use of elephants.

4. A unique feature of the Indian system of warfare was that the rules of war were followed. This made warfare humane and civilised.

5. It was during the rule of Ashoka that for the first time there was an all India empire. It has been described as a 'unified state'. This is because for the first time there was an all India administrative network.

6. India's maritime capabilities were seen during the Chola rule that created an empire in South East Asia.

Great Generals of Ancient India

The first great military leader we know was King Sudasa who won many battles against other Aryan tribes as well as the Dasas, Dasuyas and the Rakshas. He is supposed to have fought a combination of ten kings in a battle called the Dasrajan war sometime during 1200/1300 BCE.

The Magadha empire produced several military leaders. Ajatasatru, Mahapadam Nanda and Emperor Chandragupta are known names. This was followed by Emperor Ashoka who gave the unique message of Dhama (Dharma). This empire extended from the Iranian border in the west to Bengal in the east and from Hindukush mountains to Karnataka in the south.

The Paurava King who fought a great defensive battle against Alexander has not been given due recognition in India.

In the second half of the First century a great general of the house of Chedi-rajavansa of Kalinga, King Karavela defeated rulers of Bengal and came upto Vidarbha. He defeated the Magadha army and plundered Rajagriha.

Teacher's Note

Ancient India had smart warriors and leaders. They built strong forts and used elephants in wars. Just like today's India has army bases, ancient India also protected its people with forts and soldiers.

Exam Trick

Remember: Ancient India = Defensive. Think of a turtle - it defends itself with a shell (forts). Ancient Indians built strong forts (like shells) to protect themselves.

Points to Remember

Ancient Indian armies were mainly defensive - they built forts to protect cities.
War elephants were very important in ancient battles against Alexander.
Kautilya's Arthashastra taught kings how to fight wars properly.
Ashoka created the first all-India empire that united the whole country.
The Cholas had ships and reached far places like Sri Lanka and Burma.

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