Notes-NCERT-Class-8-Social Science-Chapter-3-The Rise of the Marathas-CBSE

Who are the Marathas? :

• The Marathas are people from the Deccan Plateau, mainly in today’s Maharashtra.
• They speak Marathi, a language with a rich literary history since the 12th century.
• Their rise in politics was greatly influenced by the Bhakti movement.
• From the 7th to the 17th century, saints like Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Tukaram, and Ramdas became famous for writing devotional songs in Marathi and translating important religious texts like the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita.
• This movement helped common people understand philosophy, strengthened social unity, and created a strong cultural base that later helped the Marathas come together as a political power.

Foundation of Maratha Power and the Rise of Shivaji :

• Shivaji Maharaj, born in 1630 to Shahji and Jijabai of the Bhonsle clan, played a key role in building Maratha power.
• He grew up in Pune, where his father had land (jagir).
• Seeing the constant conflicts among the Deccan sultanates and the suffering of the people deeply influenced him.
• At just sixteen, he started his military journey by taking control of the Pune region and rebuilding old forts.
• His main goal was to create Swarajya—a free and self-ruled kingdom with political, economic, and cultural independence. This idea guided him throughout his life and inspired his fight against powerful rulers of that time.

Shivaji's Military and Strategic Genius :

Shivaji's success was rooted in a combination of innovative military tactics, strategic foresight, and bold leadership that allowed him to overcome larger, more powerful enemies.

Core Military Strategies :

• Guerrilla Warfare: The Marathas used fast, surprise attacks and their deep knowledge of the hilly Deccan region to defeat much larger armies. A famous example is their victory over Afzal Khan’s army after his death at Pratapgad.
• Forts as the “Core of the State”: Shivaji understood that forts were key to power and defense. His finance minister, Ramachandrapant Amatya, said, “Forts are the core of the state.” Forts gave protection, stored supplies, and served as bases for attacks. They helped the Marathas survive long wars against powerful enemies like the Mughals.
• Building a Maratha Navy: Shivaji created a strong navy to protect the west coast, safeguard trade, and challenge European powers at sea. This was a groundbreaking step for an Indian ruler and helped the Marathas control coastal regions effectively.

Key Confrontations and Victories :

(i) Defeat of Afzal Khan:

• The Bijapur Sultanate sent its experienced general Afzal Khan to defeat Shivaji.
• During a personal meeting, Shivaji killed him using a hidden weapon called the wagh nakh (tiger’s claw).
• After this, Shivaji’s troops attacked and defeated the confused Bijapur army.

(ii) Raid on Shaista Khan:

• Shaista Khan, a Mughal general, took control of Shivaji’s land for three years.
• In a bold night attack, Shivaji and a small group of soldiers entered his camp and attacked him.
• Shaista Khan was forced to flee Maharashtra in shame.

(iii) Sacking of Surat:

• To punish the Mughals for their attacks, Shivaji raided the rich Mughal port city of Surat twice.
• He gained treasure worth about one crore rupees.
• These raids were even mentioned in the London Gazette.
• Shivaji, however, made sure that temples and the homes of good citizens were not harmed.

(iv) Confrontation with Aurangzeb:

• After losing to Mughal general Jai Singh, Shivaji signed a peace treaty and went to meet Emperor Aurangzeb at Agra.
• Feeling insulted there, he walked out and was placed under house arrest.
• Shivaji and his son Sambhaji later escaped cleverly by hiding inside large fruit baskets.
• Aurangzeb could never capture Shivaji again after this daring escape.

Maratha Administration :

Shivaji’s idea of Swarajya (self-rule) also meant creating a fair and efficient government that was very different from the unfair feudal systems of that time.

Civilian and Judicial Systems :

(i) Centralized Administration: Shivaji ended the old system where posts and lands (jagirs) were passed down in families. Instead, he made sure all government officials were paid salaries directly from the state treasury.

(ii) Official Accountability: To stop officials from becoming too powerful or disloyal, he regularly transferred them to different regions.

(iii) Social Welfare: Shivaji cared deeply for his soldiers and their families. He gave pensions to the widows of soldiers who died in battle and offered jobs in the army to their sons.

(iv) Fair Justice System:

• The Maratha courts were known for being quick, fair, and humane—they rarely gave the death penalty.

• Local justice was handled by the Panchayat (a group of respected community members).
• If someone was unhappy with a decision, they could appeal to higher Maratha officials.
• In cities like Pune and Indore, a Kotwal (police officer) looked after law and order.

Revenue and Trade :

(i) Taxation:

• The Marathas levied two primary taxes from territories not directly under their control: chauth (25% of revenue) and sardeshmukhi (an additional 10%).
• In return, they offered protection to these provinces and refrained from interfering in their internal affairs.

(ii) Trade Promotion:

• Shivaji actively encouraged trade, including maritime foreign trade.
• He and his officials owned ships that sailed to distant ports such as Mocha (Yemen), Muscat (Oman), and Malacca (Malaysia), carrying cargo like gold and textiles.
• Infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and a network of river ferries in regions like Odisha was constructed and maintained to support inland commerce.

Cultural Revival :

A major goal of Swarajya was to revive Indian culture, language, and traditions, moving away from the Persian-influenced styles (Perso-Islamic court culture) of earlier rulers.

(i) Language and Identity:

• Shivaji promoted Sanskrit and Marathi for official use.
• His royal seal was written in Sanskrit.
• He also ordered the creation of the Rajya-Vyavahara-Kosha, a book that replaced Persian words with Sanskrit ones, helping preserve Indian language and identity.

(ii) Religious Policy:

• Shivaji was a devoted Hindu but respected all religions.
• He rebuilt temples destroyed by invaders, supported religious institutions, and ensured that people of all faiths—including Muslim soldiers in his army—were treated fairly and protected.

(iii) Support for Arts and Learning:

• After Shivaji, Maratha rulers continued to encourage art and culture.
• The Bhonsles of Nagpur revived the worship of Jagannath at Puri.
• In Thanjavur, King Serfoji II became a great patron of learning and culture.
• He supported Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam dance, started a medical research center called Dhanwantari Mahal, and founded India’s first printing press run by Indians.

(iv) Inspiring Leaders:

• The Maratha era saw strong women leaders.
• Queen Tarabai bravely led Maratha armies in the north after her husband Rajaram’s death.
• Ahilyabai Holkar ruled Indore wisely for thirty years, building temples like Kashi Vishwanath and Somnath and promoting the famous Maheshwar handloom industry.

The Marathas after Shivaji :

After Shivaji’s death in 1680, the Maratha state went through tough times but later grew stronger and larger than ever.

Transition and Expansion :

• Shivaji’s son, Sambhaji, was captured and killed by Aurangzeb, who also took control of the Maratha capital, Raigad.
• Sambhaji’s brother Rajaram escaped to Gingee in Tamil Nadu, where the struggle continued.
• After Rajaram’s death, his wife Queen Tarabai bravely led the Maratha forces, attacking Mughal territories and laying the foundation for a Maratha empire that spread across India.

The Age of the Peshwas :

As the wars went on, power shifted from the king to the Peshwas (prime ministers). The Peshwas became the real leaders of the Maratha Empire.

• Bajirao I and his son Nanasaheb Peshwa expanded Maratha rule across most of India.
• The empire reached its greatest size, stretching even to Lahore, Attock, and Peshawar.
• Later, Mahadji Shinde recaptured Delhi in 1771, and the Marathas ruled there for nearly 30 years.

Decline and Fall :

• The Marathas faced a major defeat at the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761 against the Afghans.
• But under Peshwa Madhavrao I, they quickly recovered and regained much of their power.
• By the late 1700s, the Marathas became the main rivals of the British East India Company.
• They fought three wars with the British (1775–1818). However, due to internal divisions among Maratha chiefs and the better weapons and organization of the British, the Maratha Empire finally fell in 1818. This ended the last great Indian empire and cleared the path for British rule in India.
• As historians say, “The British took India from the Marathas more than from the Mughals or any other power.”

The Enduring Legacy

The Maratha Empire had a lasting impact on Indian history.

• They were the first Indian power to challenge and defeat the Mughal rule, creating the largest Indian empire before the British came.
• The Marathas introduced new methods of administration and warfare and helped revive Indian traditions and culture.
• Most importantly, their dream of Swarājya (self-rule) and their success in fighting a powerful empire gave Indians great confidence. This spirit later inspired many people in India’s struggle for freedom.

Establishment of Maratha Rule in Thanjavur :

• Maratha rule in Thanjavur began when Ekoji (Venkoji), half-brother of Shivaji Maharaj, conquered Thanjavur in the late 17th century.
• This marked the beginning of Maratha power in southern India (present-day Tamil Nadu).

Cultural Significance and Syncretic Culture :

• The Thanjavur Marathas promoted a blend of cultures — Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu.
• Patronage of Arts: Rulers were great supporters of literature, drama, and music; many were poets and playwrights themselves.
• Multilingual Environment: Free interaction between Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu cultures.
• Traditional Arts: The Thanjavur painting style (with gold foil and bright colors) flourished under their rule.
• Dance: The classical dance form Bharatanatyam developed and gained royal support during this period.

Notable Contributions of Serfoji II :

• Medicine and Welfare: Founded Dhanwantari Mahal, a medical center offering free treatment using Indian and Western medicine.
• Literature and Language: Master of several Indian and European languages. Wrote a Marathi play “Devendra Kuravanji” (included world geography). Promoted Marathi and Sanskrit, commissioned Rājya-Vyavahāra-Koṣha to replace Persian words with Sanskrit ones.
• Music: Supported the growth of modern Carnatic music; patronized many musicians.
• Printing: Started India’s first printing press run by an Indian ruler.
• Historical Documentation: Commissioned the history of the Bhonsle family to be inscribed on the walls of Brihadishwara Temple, one of India’s largest inscriptions.

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