Maharashtra Board Textbook Solutions for Standard Seven

Chapter 12 - Progression of the Empire

1. Answer in one word.

 

(1) She took the charge of the Indore administration. 

Ans: Ahilyabai Holkar

 

(2) The most capable and brave man in Bhosale family of Nagpur. 

Ans: Raghuji Bhosale.

 

(3) He reinstated the Emperor on the throne of Delhi.

Ans: Mahadji Shinde

 

(4) He managed the politics in South.

Ans: Nana Phadanavis.

 

2. Arrange chronologically.

 

(1) The battle of Ashti.

(2) Maratha dominance over Odisha.

(3) The British flew the Union Jack in Pune.

 

Ans: 

1) Maratha dominance over Odisha.

2) The British flew the Union Jack in Pune.

3) The battle of Ashti.

 

3. Write briefly.

 

(1) The work done by Ahilyabai Holkar.

Ans :

a) Punyashloka Ahilyabai Holkar was the wife of Khanderao, who was Malharrao’s son.

b) After the death of Khanderao Holkar, Ahilyabai assumed the reins of the Indore administration.

c) She was a capable, astute, and excellent administrator.

d) She made new laws for agricultural cess, revenue collection, etc., and put the affairs of the state in order.

e) She strove to bring more land under cultivation by digging wells for farmers, promoting trade and industry, and building lakes and tanks.

f) She built temples, ghats, maths, dharmashalas, and drinking water facilities at all important places of pilgrimage in the four quarters of India.

g) She looked into judicial matters personally and dispensed justice.

h) She ruled ably for twenty-eight years and enhanced Maratha prestige in the North.

 

(2) The valour shown by Mahadji Shinde.

Ans:

a) Mahadji Shinde was a brave general and an astute statesman.

b) Mahadji was instrumental in re-establishing Maratha supremacy and prestige in North India after the Maratha defeat at Panipat.

c) He realised that the guerrilla tactics of the Marathas would not be suitable for the warfare in the plains of the North.

d) He trained his army and modernised his artillery under the guidance of a French military expert, de Boigne.

e) With the help of this trained army, he subdued the Rohillas, the Jats, the Rajputs, and the Bundellas.

f) Mahadji Shinde defeated the British and reinstated the Emperor on the throne.

g) Mahadaji managed the difficult affairs with strong determination and looked after the Delhi affairs from 1784 CE to 1794 CE.

 

(3) The Maratha rule in Gujarat.

Ans:

a) Khanderao Dabhade and his son Trimbakrao laid the foundation of Maratha power in Gujarat.

b) After the death of Khanderao, his wife Umabai routed the Mughal Sardar of Ahmedabad.

c) She conquered the fort there.

d) Later, the Gaikwads made Vadodara in Gujarat the seat of their power.

 

4. Discuss the reasons behind the end of Maratha rule.

Ans:

a) After the deaths of Mahadji Shinde and Nana Phadanavis, Maratha power began to wane.

b) At the time, Bajirao II, the son of Raghunathrao, was the Peshwa.

c) He was unable to unite the Maratha sardars, and the internal strife among the sardars weakened their power.

d) During the reign of Bajirao II, the Maratha influence in the North and South waned further, and the British replaced the Marathas.

As a result, the Maratha rule came to an end.