Quick Review Flashcards - Click to flip and test your knowledge!
Question
On which plateau are the Maratha people native to?
Answer
The Deccan plateau.
Question
With which language are the Maratha people primarily identified?
Answer
Marathi.
Question
In the 13th century, which dynasty ruled most of Maharashtra from its capital at Devagiri?
Answer
The Yadava dynasty.
Question
Which sultanate from Delhi overcame the Yadava dynasty in the early 14th century?
Answer
The Khilji Sultanate.
Question
What spiritual path did many Indian saints prefer over external ritualism between the 7th and 17th centuries?
Answer
The path of bhakti (devotion).
Question
Which Maratha saint is known for gains in popularity alongside Namdev, Tukaram, and Ramdas?
Answer
Dnyaneshwar.
Question
Which two major ancient texts did Maratha saints translate into Marathi to make philosophy accessible?
Answer
The Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita.
Question
In which year was Shivaji born?
Answer
1630.
Question
To which clan did Shivaji belong?
Answer
The Bhonsle clan.
Question
Who was the mother of Shivaji?
Answer
Jijabai.
Question
Who was the father of Shivaji?
Answer
Shahji.
Question
Term: Jāgīr
Answer
Definition: A piece of land given by a ruler as a reward for service, allowing the holder to collect taxes.
Question
In which region did Shivaji hold his jāgīr during his youth?
Answer
Pune.
Question
At what age did Shivaji launch his first military campaigns?
Answer
16.
Question
What was the term for Shivaji's vision of a sovereign kingdom?
Answer
Swarājya.
Question
In what year was the Maratha navy founded?
Answer
1657.
Question
Why did Shivaji establish the Maratha navy?
Answer
To secure access to the resources of coastal regions and protect the west coast.
Question
Which tactic uses speed, surprise, and knowledge of terrain to help small groups defeat larger armies?
Answer
Guerrilla warfare.
Question
Which veteran general was sent by the Bijapur Sultanate to confront Shivaji?
Answer
Afzal Khan.
Question
At the foot of which fort did Shivaji meet and kill Afzal Khan?
Answer
Pratapgad fort.
Question
What is the name of the 'tiger’s claw' weapon Shivaji used to kill Afzal Khan?
Answer
Wāgh nakh.
Question
Which Mughal nobleman barely escaped Shivaji's night raid after losing a few fingers?
Answer
Shaista Khan.
Question
Which wealthy Mughal port city did Shivaji sack twice to obtain treasure?
Answer
Surat.
Question
Approximately how much treasure did Shivaji obtain during his first sacking of Surat?
Answer
Almost one crore of rupees.
Question
Whose house did Shivaji famously spare during the sacking of Surat due to the man's charitable nature?
Answer
Mohandas Parekh.
Question
Which English newspaper reported on Shivaji's demands for money from European agents in Surat?
Answer
The London Gazette.
Question
Which distinguished Rajput general did Aurangzeb send to defeat Shivaji?
Answer
Jai Singh.
Question
Which treaty forced Shivaji to give up a large part of his kingdom and send his son into Mughal service?
Answer
The Treaty of Purandar.
Question
In which Mughal city was Shivaji put under house arrest by Aurangzeb?
Answer
Agra.
Question
How did Shivaji and his son Sambhaji escape house arrest in Agra?
Answer
They hid inside large baskets used for distributing fruit and sweets.
Question
In what year was Shivaji coronated at Raigad Fort?
Answer
1674.
Question
What formal title did Shivaji take after his coronation?
Answer
Shri Raja Shiva Chhatrapati.
Question
What was the name of the new era started by Shivaji following his coronation?
Answer
The Rājyābhiṣheka shaka.
Question
What was the southern conquest led by Shivaji called?
Answer
The dakṣhiṇa-digvijaya.
Question
Which European group did Shivaji forbid from trading slaves during his southern campaign?
Answer
The Dutch.
Question
Which Hindi poet composed famous poems in praise of Shivaji after visiting Maharashtra?
Answer
Bhushan.
Question
Which Bundela prince was inspired by Shivaji to create an independent kingdom in Bundelkhand?
Answer
Chhatrasal.
Question
Who succeeded Shivaji as Chhatrapati after his death?
Answer
Sambhaji.
Question
Which Chhatrapati was captured, tortured, and executed by Aurangzeb?
Answer
Sambhaji.
Question
To which southern fortress in present-day Tamil Nadu did Rajaram flee?
Answer
Gingee.
Question
Who was the queen of Rajaram who led Maratha inroads into Mughal territories after his death?
Answer
Tarabai.
Question
What is the meaning of the Persian term 'Peshwa'?
Answer
Prime Minister.
Question
Which Peshwa and his son were instrumental in the pan-Indian expansion of the Marathas?
Answer
Peshwa Bajirao I and Nanasaheb Peshwa.
Question
In which 1761 battle did the Marathas suffer a disastrous defeat against the Afghans?
Answer
The Battle of Panipat.
Question
Under whose leadership did the Marathas recapture Delhi in 1771?
Answer
Mahadji Shinde (Mahadji Scindia).
Question
Between which years were the three Anglo-Maratha wars fought?
Answer
1775 and 1818.
Question
Who was the powerful official credited with organising the first pan-Indian anti-British alliance?
Answer
Nana Phadnavis.
Question
How did Shivaji change the system of government posts from the previous Mughal/Sultanate style?
Answer
He abolished hereditary posts and land assignments, paying salaries from the treasury instead.
Question
Why did Shivaji periodically transfer his government officials?
Answer
To ensure they did not acquire enough power to dictate terms to the king.
Question
What script did Shivaji use on his coins to assert his cultural identity?
Answer
Devanagari.
Question
Which fruit-bearing trees did Shivaji strictly forbid his officials from cutting down?
Answer
Mango and jackfruit trees.
Question
What was the 'aṣhṭa pradhāna manḍala'?
Answer
Shivaji's council of eight ministers who assisted him with administration.
Question
What was the role of the Amātya in Shivaji's council?
Answer
Finance Minister.
Question
What was the role of the Mantrī in the Maratha council of eight?
Answer
Intelligence Minister.
Question
Which minister in the aṣhṭa pradhāna was responsible for Land Revenue?
Answer
The Sachiv.
Question
What was the title of the Maratha Commander-in-chief?
Answer
Senāpatī.
Question
Who served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs in Shivaji’s administration?
Answer
The Sumant.
Question
What was the title of the Prime Minister in the Maratha council of eight?
Answer
Pradhān.
Question
What was the role of the Panḍitrāo in Shivaji's administration?
Answer
Head of Religious Affairs.
Question
What was the role of the Nyāyādhīsh in the Maratha council?
Answer
Chief Justice.