Regional Kingdoms and Rise of Marathas (17th–18th Century)

Rise of Regional Powers

  1. The decline of the Mughal Empire in the 17th century led to the emergence of regional powers across India.
  2. These regional kingdoms were characterized by strong local governance and resistance to central authority.
  3. The Marathas, under Shivaji Maharaj, established a powerful empire in the Deccan.
  4. The Rajputs, especially in Rajasthan, retained their influence by maintaining semi-autonomous states.
  5. Mysore, under rulers like Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, emerged as a significant power in South I

Sikh Empire

  1. Sikh Empire was established in the early 19th century by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
  2. The roots of the empire trace back to the Sikh Gurus, especially Guru Nanak (1469–1539), who founded Sikhism.
  3. Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru, transformed Sikhs into a military force with the creation of the Khalsa in 1699.
  4. After the death of Guru Gobind Singh, Banda Singh Bahadur led the Sikhs in uprisings against the Mughal Empire.
  5. Banda Singh Bahadur introduced agrarian reforms

Maratha Empire

  1. Maratha Empire emerged as a dominant power in India during the 17th and 18th centuries.
  2. Shivaji Maharaj (1627–1680) was the founder of the Maratha Empire.
  3. Shivaji established a well-organized and disciplined administration based on the principles of justice and welfare.
  4. The Coronation of Shivaji in 1674 at Raigad marked the formal beginning of the Maratha Empire.
  5. Shivaji created a powerful navy to protect the western coastline from foreign invasions.
  6. He introduced Ashta P
Regional Kingdoms and Rise of Marathas (17th–18th Century)