RBSE Solutions Class 8 Social Science Chapter 17 Decline of the Mughal Empire and 18th Century India

Rajasthan Board Class 8 Social Science Textbook Questions Solved

Question 1. Who was the first Maratha emperor who infused nationalism in them?
Answer: Shivaji was the first Maratha leader who made his people feel a strong sense of national pride. He motivated them to fight for their land and culture.
In simple words: Shivaji was the first Maratha ruler who filled his people with a feeling of national pride.

🎯 Exam Tip: When identifying historical figures, always state their full name and their key contribution clearly.

Question 2. Which Rajasthani emperor helped Yashwant Rao Holkar?
Answer: Ranjit Singh, who ruled Bharatpur, helped Yashwant Rao Holkar. This support showed how different kingdoms sometimes worked together.
In simple words: Ranjit Singh, the ruler of Bharatpur, helped Yashwant Rao Holkar.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember to name both the helper and the person being helped, along with their associated regions, for full marks.

Question 3. Gandharv Baisi lived in whose court?
Answer: Gandharv-Baisi was part of the court of Sawai Pratap Singh. They were a group of talented people like poets and artists who worked for the king.
In simple words: Gandharv-Baisi lived in the court of Sawai Pratap Singh.

🎯 Exam Tip: When mentioning historical groups or individuals, ensure the ruler or kingdom they were associated with is clearly stated.

Question 4. On what basis the successors were decided in Mughal Empire?
Answer: There was no fixed rule for who would become the next Mughal emperor. Usually, the strongest person took the throne. This meant that whoever had the most power, often through fighting, became the next ruler, rather than following a clear family line. This often led to wars among brothers and relatives.
In simple words: There were no clear rules for who would become the next ruler in the Mughal Empire. The strongest person, usually by force, became the emperor.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on explaining the method of succession (power/sword) and its consequence (lack of clear law) for a complete answer.

Question 5. Describe the condition of Marathas in the 18th century.
Answer: The Marathas in the 18th century:
1. Shivaji started the Maratha empire in Maharashtra.
2. By the early 1700s, the Peshwas, who were like prime ministers, became even stronger than the Maratha kings (Chhatrapatis).
3. Peshwa Baji Rao helped spread Maratha power to many other areas like Malwa, Gujarat, and Bundelkhand. The Marathas were known for their military strength and for challenging Mughal rule.
In simple words: In the 18th century, Shivaji founded the Maratha empire. Later, the Peshwas gained more power and expanded the Maratha influence across many regions.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always include the founder, the shift in power (Peshwas), and the expansion areas when describing the Marathas in this period.

Question 6. Describe the achievements of Sawai Jai Singh.
Answer: Achievements of Sawai Jai Singh:
1. Sawai Jai Singh was made the governor (subedar) of Malwa in the early 1700s.
2. The Marathas came into Rajasthan because Sawai Jai Singh got involved in a fight over who would rule Bundi.
3. To stop the Marathas from getting too powerful, Sawai Jai Singh and other Rajput kings held a meeting (sammelan) at Hurda. They tried to make the Rajput rulers stronger and more united. Sawai Jai Singh was a wise ruler and a great astronomer, known for building observatories.
In simple words: Sawai Jai Singh became governor of Malwa, influenced the Maratha entry into Rajasthan through the Bundi war, and tried to unite Rajputs against the Marathas at the Hurda meeting.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention his administrative role, his political interventions (Bundi war, Hurda Sammelan), and any unique personal contributions for a comprehensive answer.

Question 7. Which Mughal commanders established their own independent regions? Name any three.
Answer: Three Mughal Subedars who founded independent Kingdoms:
(i) Subedar Saadat Khan started an independent kingdom in Avadh.
(ii) Murshid Quli Khan formed his own state in Bengal.
(iii) Nizam-ul-Mulk (also known as Nizam Chikilich Khan) set up his own kingdom in Hyderabad. These new kingdoms weakened the central Mughal authority even more.
In simple words: Saadat Khan (Avadh), Murshid Quli Khan (Bengal), and Nizam Chikilich Khan (Hyderabad) were three Mughal commanders who created their own independent kingdoms.

🎯 Exam Tip: List the subedar's name and the specific region they made independent for clarity and accuracy.

Question 8. When was Hurda meeting organized and what was its purpose?
Answer: The Hurda meeting was held in 1734. Sawai Jai Singh and other rulers organized it. Their goal was to bring the Rajput princes back together and stop the Marathas from becoming too powerful. This meeting aimed to strengthen Rajput power against external threats.
In simple words: The Hurda meeting was organized in 1734 by Sawai Jai Singh and other rulers to unite the Rajput princes and control the Marathas' growing power.

🎯 Exam Tip: Include the year, key organizers, and both parts of the purpose (unity and checking Marathas) for a complete answer.

Question 9. Describe any four reasons responsible for the downfall of Mughal Empire.
Answer: Four causes responsible for the decline of the Mughal empire are:
(i) The decline of the Nobles (Aamirs): As the royal family weakened, the nobles also started to lose their power and focus. They began to live in luxury and often fought among themselves. They cared little about the good of the empire and became ineffective. The unity and loyalty among nobles, which was once a strength, slowly vanished.
(iii) No clear rules for succession: The Mughal Empire did not have a clear law about who would become the next ruler. The throne was often decided by whoever was strongest and could fight for it, not necessarily the eldest son. This caused much instability and harm to the country. Such battles for the throne often weakened the empire from within.
(iv) Outside attacks: Foreign invaders saw that the Mughal empire was weak and took advantage. Invasions by people like Ahmed Shah Abdali and Nadir Shah made the political and economic problems much worse for the Mughal government. The Mughal army also became weak and lost its fighting spirit. Because of these invasions, many local governors (subedars) declared their independence. These invasions drained the empire's wealth and resources.
In simple words: The Mughal Empire declined due to several reasons: nobles became weak and selfish, there were no clear rules for who would be the next emperor, and frequent attacks from outside invaders weakened the empire further.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on internal weaknesses (nobles, succession) and external pressures (invasions) as key factors for the decline of the Mughal Empire.

Question 10. Describe the political conditions of any three Rajput states in the 18th century.
Answer: Political position of three Rajput states (riyasats) of India:
(i) Amer (Jaipur): Sawai Jai Singh of Jaipur was made the governor (subedar) of Malwa. The Marathas entered Rajasthan because Sawai Jai Singh got involved in the fight over who would rule Bundi. To control the growing power of the Marathas, Sawai Jai Singh and other rulers called a meeting at Hurda in 1734. They tried to unite the Rajputs. After Jai Singh, his sons Madho Singh and Ishwar Singh fought among themselves. The Jaipur state later defeated the Marathas in the Tunga war, led by Sawai Pratap Singh.
(ii) Jodhpur: Ajit Singh of Jodhpur took Jodhpur back from the Mughals and ruled it independently. He later became the governor of Gujarat. He was important in removing the Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar from power. His family members continued to fight among themselves for who would rule next.
(iii) Mewar: Amar Singh II of Mewar helped Jai Singh and Ajit Singh. He helped them regain control of Amer (Amber) and Jodhpur respectively. These Rajput states sought to strengthen their own positions as Mughal power declined.
In simple words: In the 18th century, Rajput states like Amer (Jaipur), Jodhpur, and Mewar asserted their independence. They faced challenges from the Marathas and often had internal family feuds over succession, while also playing roles in Mughal politics.

🎯 Exam Tip: For each state, highlight its key ruler, major political events (e.g., conflicts, alliances), and its stance towards Mughal or Maratha power.

RBSE Solutions for Class 8 Additional Questions Solved

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 2. In Shah Alam II accepted the sovereignty of British.
(a) 1731
(b) 1730
(c) 1728
(d) 1729
Answer: (a) 1731
In simple words: Shah Alam II agreed to be under British rule in the year 1731.

🎯 Exam Tip: For dates, double-check the exact year of the event as small differences can lead to wrong answers.

Question 3. Aurangzeb's Policy was the cause of downfall of Mughal Empire.
(a) Religious
(b) Economic
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) none of the these
Answer: (b) Economic
In simple words: Aurangzeb's economic policies were a major reason for the downfall of the Mughal Empire.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understand how different aspects of a ruler's policy (religious, economic, political) can impact an empire's stability.

Question 4. worsened the economic condition of the Mughal Empire.
(a) Das'tak system
(b) Veil system
(c) Political system
(d) none of these
Answer: (a) Das'tak system
In simple words: The Das'tak system made the Mughal Empire's money situation much worse.

🎯 Exam Tip: Know the specific policies or systems that had a negative impact on the economy of the empire.

Question 5. The European races entered India through
(a) Land ways
(b) Sea ways
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these
Answer: Not provided
In simple words: The way European people came into India is important to know for understanding history.

🎯 Exam Tip: Recall the primary routes used by European traders and colonizers to reach India, typically focusing on sea routes.

RBSE 8th Board Paper in Pdf Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1. What was the last cause of the downfall of the Mughal Empire?
Answer: The East India Company became the final reason for the Mughal Empire's downfall. Their growing influence gradually took over the power vacuum left by the declining Mughals.
In simple words: The rise of the East India Company was the last major cause for the end of the Mughal Empire.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked about the "last cause," focus on the immediate or decisive factor that led to the final collapse.

Question 2. Who founded Jaipur city?
Answer: Sawai Jai Singh founded the city of Jaipur. He was a visionary king known for his contributions to astronomy and urban planning.
In simple words: Sawai Jai Singh founded the city of Jaipur.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember the names of significant founders of historical cities and their related achievements.

Question 3. Which scripture was written in the court of Sawai Pratap Singh?
Answer: The scripture called Radha Govind Sangeet Sar was written in the court of Sawai Pratap Singh. This shows the cultural and artistic activities that thrived during his rule.
In simple words: Radha Govind Sangeet Sar was a scripture written in Sawai Pratap Singh's court.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the specific literary or artistic works associated with various royal courts to show detailed knowledge.

Question 4. Name palaces built during Jat's rule?
Answer: The Deeg palaces were built during the rule of the Jats. These palaces are famous for their beautiful gardens and water features.
In simple words: The Deeg palaces were built during the rule of the Jats.

🎯 Exam Tip: Connect specific architectural marvels with the ruling dynasties responsible for their creation.

Question 1. Describe the political powers of 18th century India?
Answer: The decline of the Mughal Empire led to the rise of many powerful regional states across India. The main political powers of 18th century India were:
1. Marathas: Shivaji founded the Maratha empire in Maharashtra. He and his successors fought against Aurangzeb. By the early 18th century, the Peshwas became more powerful than the Maratha kings. Peshwa Baji Rao expanded Maratha power to areas like Malwa, Gujarat, and Bundelkhand. By 1752, even Mughal emperors and wazirs accepted Maratha dominance. However, in 1761, the Marathas were defeated in the Third Battle of Panipat. The British fought three wars against them and eventually brought them under their control, even though Marathas were once the strongest power in India.
2. Hyderabad: In the first half of the 18th century, Nizam-ul-Mulk (Nizam Chikilich Khan), a Mughal Mansabdar, combined six Mughal provinces (subas) to establish the state of Hyderabad. The Marathas defeated him in the Palkhed War. Later, the Nizam of Hyderabad signed a treaty with the British.
3. Avadh: The Mughal Subedar, Saadat Khan, became independent and played an important role during Nadir Shah's invasion. Later, the Avadh ruler Shuja-Ud-Daula was defeated by the British in the Battle of Buxar, and Avadh was then captured by the British.
4. Bengal: Murshid Quli Khan established the independent state of Bengal, taking control of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. During the time of his successors, the Marathas seized Orissa from Bengal. In 1757, the British commander Robert Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daula in the Battle of Plassey, laying the foundation for the British Empire in Bengal.
5. Mysore: Mysore was governed by the Wadiyar dynasty. In the mid-18th century, Haider Ali captured it. He and his son Tipu Sultan continuously struggled against the British. After four wars, the British established their control over Mysore during the last decade of the 18th century.
In simple words: The 18th century saw the rise of several powerful regional states like the Marathas, Hyderabad, Avadh, Bengal, and Mysore as the Mughal Empire weakened. These states often fought among themselves or with the expanding British power.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing political powers, remember to include their founders, key leaders, geographical areas, significant conflicts, and their relationship with other major powers like the Mughals and the British.