Which long-term consequence of Maratha rule indirectly facilitated British conquest of India?
The decentralized “Confederacy” model eventually led to extreme political fragmentation. As the Peshwa’s power declined, the various Maratha houses became more interested in fighting each other than in defending the empire. This disunity created an ideal environment for the British East India Company to play one chief against another, leading to the gradual annexation of the entire Maratha domain. ANSWER: (C) Political fragmentation
Share
While the confederacy facilitated expansion, its long-term consequence was a lack of national cohesion. By the late 18th century, the Maratha Empire had fragmented into several autonomous states with conflicting interests. The British exploited this fragmentation through diplomacy and subsidiary alliances. Because there was no single “Maratha State” to defeat, but rather a series of rival houses, the British were able to isolate and conquer them one by one. This internal division was the most significant factor that allowed a foreign trading company to eventually overcome the most powerful military force in India.