The British East India Company utilized "diplomacy backed by force" through the Subsidiary Alliance system. This policy allowed the British to station their own troops in Maratha territories at the Marathas' own expense. By controlling the external relations of states like Baroda and later Pune, theRead more
The British East India Company utilized “diplomacy backed by force” through the Subsidiary Alliance system. This policy allowed the British to station their own troops in Maratha territories at the Marathas’ own expense. By controlling the external relations of states like Baroda and later Pune, the British ensured that the Maratha Confederacy could not coordinate a pan-Indian resistance. While Maratha cavalry was formidable, it was ultimately outmatched by the British combination of disciplined infantry, superior financial credit and the strategic isolation of individual chiefs.
The conquest of Punjab in 1758 pushed the Maratha Empire to its absolute physical limits. The logistical challenge of defending a frontier so far from the Deccan heartland was insurmountable. The Maratha sardars in the North were already stretched thin and the absence of a permanent, large-scale admRead more
The conquest of Punjab in 1758 pushed the Maratha Empire to its absolute physical limits. The logistical challenge of defending a frontier so far from the Deccan heartland was insurmountable. The Maratha sardars in the North were already stretched thin and the absence of a permanent, large-scale administrative presence in Punjab meant they had no local allies to help fend off Ahmad Shah Abdali. This overreach provoked the Afghans and led directly to the disaster at Panipat, proving that the Marathas had expanded beyond their capacity to govern effectively.
The Maratha revenue model was a hybrid of "Swarajya" (own territory) administration and external extraction. In their core territories, they maintained a peasant-friendly system, but in North India, the focus was purely on "Chauth"—a 25% levy for protection. This system allowed the Marathas to expanRead more
The Maratha revenue model was a hybrid of “Swarajya” (own territory) administration and external extraction. In their core territories, they maintained a peasant-friendly system, but in North India, the focus was purely on “Chauth”—a 25% levy for protection. This system allowed the Marathas to expand their military reach without the burden of managing a complex civil service. However, it made their economy dependent on continuous conquest and plunder. This emphasis on military extraction meant the state functioned more like a massive military machine than a consolidated administrative empire.
Under the reign of Shahu Maharaj, the complexities of managing a growing empire led to the centralization of power in the office of the Peshwa. Balaji Vishwanath and his son Bajirao I successfully brought the "Saranjamdars" (military chiefs) under their influence. By controlling the collection of ChRead more
Under the reign of Shahu Maharaj, the complexities of managing a growing empire led to the centralization of power in the office of the Peshwa. Balaji Vishwanath and his son Bajirao I successfully brought the “Saranjamdars” (military chiefs) under their influence. By controlling the collection of Chauth and Sardeshmukhi, the Peshwas became the empire’s chief financiers. The loyalty of the army shifted toward the Peshwa, who led them in battle, rather than the secluded Chhatrapati. This shift was formalized by the Sangola Treaty, which officially recognized the Peshwa as the supreme administrative authority of the Maratha state.
Geographically, Malwa sits atop the Vindhya and Satpura ranges, connecting the Deccan plateau with the Indo-Gangetic plains. For the Peshwas, Malwa was more than just a source of revenue; it was a tactical necessity. Controlling this region allowed the Marathas to intercept Mughal communications andRead more
Geographically, Malwa sits atop the Vindhya and Satpura ranges, connecting the Deccan plateau with the Indo-Gangetic plains. For the Peshwas, Malwa was more than just a source of revenue; it was a tactical necessity. Controlling this region allowed the Marathas to intercept Mughal communications and move troops rapidly between Pune and Delhi. Its fertile soil and wealthy trade routes also provided a stable economic base. Its conquest by Bajirao I was the decisive step that transformed the Maratha state from a southern kingdom into an all-India empire.
The British success against the Marathas was largely due to their — (A) Naval dominance alone (B) Use of subsidiary alliances (C) Superior cavalry (D) Religious diplomacy
The British East India Company utilized "diplomacy backed by force" through the Subsidiary Alliance system. This policy allowed the British to station their own troops in Maratha territories at the Marathas' own expense. By controlling the external relations of states like Baroda and later Pune, theRead more
The British East India Company utilized “diplomacy backed by force” through the Subsidiary Alliance system. This policy allowed the British to station their own troops in Maratha territories at the Marathas’ own expense. By controlling the external relations of states like Baroda and later Pune, the British ensured that the Maratha Confederacy could not coordinate a pan-Indian resistance. While Maratha cavalry was formidable, it was ultimately outmatched by the British combination of disciplined infantry, superior financial credit and the strategic isolation of individual chiefs.
See lessThe failure of the Marathas to establish lasting control in Punjab reveals— (A) Afghan military superiority (B) Geographical overextension (C) Religious hostility (D) Lack of artillery
The conquest of Punjab in 1758 pushed the Maratha Empire to its absolute physical limits. The logistical challenge of defending a frontier so far from the Deccan heartland was insurmountable. The Maratha sardars in the North were already stretched thin and the absence of a permanent, large-scale admRead more
The conquest of Punjab in 1758 pushed the Maratha Empire to its absolute physical limits. The logistical challenge of defending a frontier so far from the Deccan heartland was insurmountable. The Maratha sardars in the North were already stretched thin and the absence of a permanent, large-scale administrative presence in Punjab meant they had no local allies to help fend off Ahmad Shah Abdali. This overreach provoked the Afghans and led directly to the disaster at Panipat, proving that the Marathas had expanded beyond their capacity to govern effectively.
See lessThe Maratha revenue system differed from the Mughal system mainly because it emphasized—
The Maratha revenue model was a hybrid of "Swarajya" (own territory) administration and external extraction. In their core territories, they maintained a peasant-friendly system, but in North India, the focus was purely on "Chauth"—a 25% levy for protection. This system allowed the Marathas to expanRead more
The Maratha revenue model was a hybrid of “Swarajya” (own territory) administration and external extraction. In their core territories, they maintained a peasant-friendly system, but in North India, the focus was purely on “Chauth”—a 25% levy for protection. This system allowed the Marathas to expand their military reach without the burden of managing a complex civil service. However, it made their economy dependent on continuous conquest and plunder. This emphasis on military extraction meant the state functioned more like a massive military machine than a consolidated administrative empire.
See lessWhich factor transformed the Peshwa from a royal minister into the de facto head of the Maratha state?
Under the reign of Shahu Maharaj, the complexities of managing a growing empire led to the centralization of power in the office of the Peshwa. Balaji Vishwanath and his son Bajirao I successfully brought the "Saranjamdars" (military chiefs) under their influence. By controlling the collection of ChRead more
Under the reign of Shahu Maharaj, the complexities of managing a growing empire led to the centralization of power in the office of the Peshwa. Balaji Vishwanath and his son Bajirao I successfully brought the “Saranjamdars” (military chiefs) under their influence. By controlling the collection of Chauth and Sardeshmukhi, the Peshwas became the empire’s chief financiers. The loyalty of the army shifted toward the Peshwa, who led them in battle, rather than the secluded Chhatrapati. This shift was formalized by the Sangola Treaty, which officially recognized the Peshwa as the supreme administrative authority of the Maratha state.
See lessThe strategic importance of Malwa for the Marathas lay mainly in its—
Geographically, Malwa sits atop the Vindhya and Satpura ranges, connecting the Deccan plateau with the Indo-Gangetic plains. For the Peshwas, Malwa was more than just a source of revenue; it was a tactical necessity. Controlling this region allowed the Marathas to intercept Mughal communications andRead more
Geographically, Malwa sits atop the Vindhya and Satpura ranges, connecting the Deccan plateau with the Indo-Gangetic plains. For the Peshwas, Malwa was more than just a source of revenue; it was a tactical necessity. Controlling this region allowed the Marathas to intercept Mughal communications and move troops rapidly between Pune and Delhi. Its fertile soil and wealthy trade routes also provided a stable economic base. Its conquest by Bajirao I was the decisive step that transformed the Maratha state from a southern kingdom into an all-India empire.
See less