Maharashtra State Board Class 12 History Solutions Chapter 4 Colonialism and the Marathas
1A. Choose the correct alternative and rewrite the statement.
1B. Find the incorrect pair from group ‘B’ and write the corrected one.
Group ‘A’ | Group ‘B’ |
(a) Cosme da Guarda | Portuguese historian |
(b) Gonsalo Martez | Portuguese emissary |
(c) Francois Martin | Chief of the Dutch factory |
(d) Henry Revington | British Officer |
(c) Francois Martin – Governor General of Pondicherry
2A. Write the names of historical places/persons/events.
Question 1
Maharashtra Board Solution
The first Europeans to arrive in India-
Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:
Portuguese
Question 2
Maharashtra Board Solution
The place where the Portuguese stored their ammunition-
Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:
Panvel
Question 3
Maharashtra Board Solution
They honoured Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with tributes for ensuring the safety of their factories and issuing trade permits-
Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:
The Dutch
Question 4
Maharashtra Board Solution
The British agent at Jaitapur-
Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:
Velaji
2B. Choose the correct reason from those given below and complete the sentence.
Question 1
Maharashtra Board Solution
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj levied octroi on the salt trade to __________ (a) oppose the Portuguese (b) stop the British trade of salt (c) raise funds for Swarajya (d) oppose the colonialists
Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:
(b) stop the British trade of salt
3. State your opinion.
Question 1
Maharashtra Board Solution
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj built a naval force.
Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had foreseen the ulterior motives of the foreigners and their ways of infiltration. He built strategies to arrest their advances in India. He took immediate measures by creating a strong naval force. He levied octroi on British trade salt as a measure to protect the local salt trade. Thus, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj adopted a strong policy against the European colonizers.
Question 2
Maharashtra Board Solution
Maratha’s policies were anti-colonial.
Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had foreseen the ulterior motives of the Europeans and their ways of infiltration. So, he built strategies to arrest their advances in India. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj adopted a very strong policy against the European colonisers by levying octroi on the British salt trade etc. The Marathas were the only Indian rulers to adopt a policy of resistance against the European colonisers.
4. Answer the following questions in detail.
Question 1
Maharashtra Board Solution
Write about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s policies regarding the European traders as seen in his Adnyapatra.
Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:
The strategy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj against the Europeans is clearly seen in Adnyapatra. The following were his policies:
Question 2
Maharashtra Board Solution
Explain Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s resolute policy of safeguarding Maratha sovereignty.
Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj took several steps to safeguard the Maratha empire.
Question 3
Maharashtra Board Solution
Why did the strongest Maratha rule come to an end?
Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:
There were several reasons for the downfall of the Maratha empire: (i) Internal weakness of the Maratha Empire: The empire of the Marathas was not well knit. It was a confederacy of the Maratha chiefs who were in conflict with one another. The nominal unity of the Marathas remained only up to the period of the rule of Madhav Rao I.
(ii) Lack of Political Foresight: The Marathas lacked wisdom and farsightedness. They failed to achieve the political unity of India and therefore failed to utilise the resources of the country either for the benefit of the people or for meeting the challenge of a foreign foe. (iii) Incapable Leadership: All capable Maratha chiefs died by the end of the eighteenth century. After that the leadership of the Marathas was taken over by Bajirao II, Daulatrao Scindia, Yashwant Rao Holkar, and Nana Phadnavis. The Marathas thus lacked leadership. (iv) Military weakness of the Marathas: The Marathas were militarily weak compared to the English as they had left their traditional method of guerrilla warfare and adopted European methods which they failed to perfect. (v) Diplomacy of the English: The English were more diplomatic than the Marathas. The quarrels among the Marathas provided a good opportunity for the English to take advantage. Besides, the English had their eyes on the politics of the entire India. 5. Observe the map on textbook page 29 and answer the questions based on it.
Question 1
Maharashtra Board Solution
Where were the Dutch colonies on the west coast of India?
Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:
On the west coast of India, there were warehouses at Vengurla in Konkan and at Photo Novo (Parangi Pettai) and Tegna Pattam (Devanapattinam) in Karnataka.
Question 2
Maharashtra Board Solution
Where did the French establish their colonies on the east coast of India?
Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:
The French had their colony in Pondicherry (Puducherry) on the east coast.
Question 3
Maharashtra Board Solution
Whose warehouses were at Agra and Allahabad?
Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:
This warehouse is not mentioned on the map. This area was ruled by the Mughals.
Project (Textbook Page No. 33)
Question 1
Maharashtra Board Solution
Collect information about the colonies established by the European colonialists in various countries with the help of internet.
Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:
The European colonialists had their colonies in the following countries. (A) Africa:
(B) Asia: (C) North America: (D) South America: |
