Section-1 1707-1900
Expected 4 marks Questions Short Description.
1. What was the EIC (East India Company) ?
1600, Queen Elizabeth 1, granted permission to a group of merchants to set up EIC, monopoly in trade b/w Britain & countries “east” of Africa.
First ship, 1608, at Surat. Headquarter at Bombay, 1664; gradually became stronger by acquiring military strength.
2. Battle of Plassey?
1756, French encouraged Sirajud Doula (Nawab of Bengal) to attack EIC base,Calcutta
1757, Robert Clive against the Nawab
Treachery of Mir Jafar, Nawab’s defeat.
3. Battle of Buxar?
1764, combined armies of Mir Jafar’s son-in-law Mir Qasim, Nawab of Oudh & Mughal King Shah Alam 2 against EIC army
EIC victorious
British influence increased in Bengal
4. The India Act 1784?
British govt took direct control of Indian possessions
Goverrnor-General to have control of 3 presidencies
A provincial governor & a Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces
5. Annexation of Sindh?
1841, British defeat in Afghanistan
Demage to British prestige
General Charles Napier provoked Amirs of Sindh
1843, fight b/w British & Amirs -> Sindh was captured/annexed.
6. Treaty of Lahore?
1846, b/w Sikh rulers of Punjab & EIC a Gulab Singh , the Hindu Dogra,
reward for helping the British, given the state of Kashmir.
7. Doctrine of Lapse?
1852
Lord Dalhousie though other sources mention some other Brit ruler)
If no natural heir to a state prince, EIC to annex the state.
8. ‘Drain of Indian wealth?
Collection of revenue from India
Goods were bought, shipped to England
British rule like a “a sponge”, drawing up all the good things from India.
9. Wars of succession?
No written law of succession. Dispute among princes on the death of emperor.
Each son tried to acquire the throne
Fight among princes for this, causing huge loss to the state.
10. Aurangzeb’s policies?
Re-imposed the Jiziya -> tax on non-Muslims
Demolished Hindu temples
Tried to ban some old Hindu customs e.g. Satee (burning widow alive on death of husband)
Enforced Islamic law ->life difficult for Hindus and Sikhs
11. Akbar’s Religious Policy ->’Din-i-llahi?
Dominance of Akbar’s political authority over the Clergy (religious leaders)
1579, “infallibility decree’ -> emperor to be the final authority on religion if scholars failed to agree
Combined Hinduism & Islam in “Din-i-llahi”
Religious liberty to non-Muslims
12. Shivaji?
Hindu leader of Marathans
1646, gained control of several territories in southern India, the Deccan, Surat etc.
1665, Aurangzeb defeated him; died 1689
Greatest rival of Aurangzeb
13. Greased categories?
January 1857 British introduced a new rifle with a paper cartridge
Covered in cow/pig fat
End of cartridge to be bitten off before use.
March 1857, Sepoys in Meerut refused to use the cartridge & the mutiny started.
14.Two Nation Theory?
1867, Hindi-Urdu controversy
Hindus demanded Hindi to replace Urdu as the official language
Sir Syed was shocked to know this
Predicted the separation of Hindus and Muslims in future.
15.Jehad Movement?
Founded by SASB (Syed Ahmad Shahed Barelvi), by 1823
Aimed at liberating Muslims of Punjab from the oppressive Sikh rule of Ranjit Singh
Raised a team of Mujahideen and started an armed struggle against Sikhs.
16.Faraizi Movement?
Founded by Haji Shariatullah of East Bengal, by the start of 19th century
Stressed on proper observance of Faraiz or Islamic duties prescribed for Muslims
Aimed at improving the socio economic & political conditions of poor Bengali Muslims, specially the peasants.
H For How 