Q2. Clarify how mid-eighteenth century India was beset with the spectre of a fragmented polity.

Model Answer:

Introduction

The mid-eighteenth century in India marked the decline of the Mughal Empire, leading to political fragmentation and regional instability. This period was characterised by the rise of numerous regional powers and the weakening of central authority, creating a vacuum that European colonial powers, particularly the British, exploited.

Body

1. Decline of the Mughal Empire:

• Aurangzeb's Death (1707): The death of Aurangzeb led to a power vacuum as successive Mughal rulers were weak and unable to control their vast empire.
• Weak Central Authority: The Mughal central administration disintegrated, and provincial governors (nawabs) and local rulers became semi-independent.

2. Rise of Regional Powers:

• Marathas: The Marathas emerged as the most powerful force in western and central India, challenging Mughal authority and extending their influence over large parts of the subcontinent.
• Sikhs and Jats: In Punjab and northern India, the Sikhs and Jats gained prominence, establishing their own political entities.
• Mysore: In southern India, Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan of Mysore asserted themselves as strong regional rulers, resisting British and Maratha expansion.

3. European Colonial Intrusion:

• British and French Influence: The British East India Company and the French East India Company capitalised on the political fragmentation, forging alliances with regional rulers and intervening in their conflicts.
• Battle of Plassey (1757): British victory over Bengal marked a turning point, establishing their dominance in eastern India and signalling the beginning of formal British colonialism.

Conclusion

‍Mid-eighteenth-century India was beset by political fragmentation as the Mughal Empire crumbled, and regional powers emerged. This disunity paved the way for European colonial powers, especially the British, to exploit internal conflicts and gradually establish control. The political landscape of this period marked a transition from Mughal dominance to the rise of colonial rule.

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