Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813

Front Cover
Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd, 2005 M01 1 - 739 pages
In the present volume, the author gives an analytical and critical account of the political history of early modern India from A D 1707 to 1813. The study begins with the death of Aurangzeb, the last imperial ruler of the Mughal Dynasty, and carries the story of political and military developments through the eighteenth century, which comprises `an epoch of transition' from the medieval to the modern period of Indian history. The narrative shatters the contention of contemporary European writers that it was `the dark age' of Indian history, characterized by `political anarchy and misgovernment', until the British brought it under their sway. The main thesis of the author is that the political developments of the period were marked by two distinct phases; the first phase, which lasted from 1707 to 1760, saw the rapid disintegration of the Mughal power and its replacement by the Maratha hegemony. Delhi became the hub of Maratha activities from 1752 and fell under their complete control by 1760. The Afghan invader, Ahmad Shah Abdali, gave a serious blow to the Maratha power in the third battle of Panipat (1761), albeit, their Afghan and Mughal adversaries were also ruined within a decade. On the other hand, the Marathas effected phenomenal revival of their power under their fourth Peshwa Madhav Rao (1761-72). Meanwhile, the English traders turned colonialists, after consolidating their hold along the Indian seacoasts and conquest of `Carnatic' and Bengal, challenged the Maratha hegemony. The second phase of developments was thus marked by the struggle for supremacy between these two powers almost exclusively. Nevertheless, for full 31 years after 1772, the Marathas were in absolute control of Delhi, and wielded imperial powers as de facto as well as de jure rulers of the country in the name of the phantom Mughal emperor until they were dislodged from there in 1803. The Marathas were defeated but not yet out by the year 1813. The author makes a judicious use of the contemporary English and Marathi sources and liberally utilizes the intensive researches done by modern historians to portray a compact picture of their findings in an extensive treatment of the subject matter in the form of a text book for the benefit of the degree students of colleges and universities. Historical facts have been reorganized and reinterpreted through clear and illuminating expositions, refreshing characterization of historic personalities, and objective assessment of events and movements. Together with maps, a select bibliography, glossary and an elaborate index, the volume makes a rich contribution to the advancement of modern historical literature.
 

Contents

Decline of the Mughal Empire
1
Bahadur Shah 170712 The Weak Successors of Bahadur Shah
31
Rise of the Marathas 16801713
41
The Homeland of the Marathas The Successors of Shivaji 1680
59
CHAPTERIII
66
CHAPTERIV
80
The Expansion of Maratha Power under Baji Rao I
87
Days of Baji Rao I 173940
124
Abdali Marathas and Panipat
246
of Abdali 175759 The Change of Maratha Guards in the North
263
The Advent of Europeans
320
in India The Dutch in India The British East India Company The
362
The Revival of Maratha Power 176172
445
Maratha Administration under the Peshwas
470
Administration Finance and Revenue System Law and Justice
505
Act of 1773 Warren Hastings as the Governor General of Bengal
546

CHAPTERV
130
the Mughal Dynasty The Nizamshahi Dynasty of Hyderabad
164
Power under Balaji Baji
189
CHAPTER VII
222
The British Struggle for Supremacy 17981805
566
CHAPTER XV
585
The Blueprints of British India 180613
653
Copyright

Common terms and phrases

About the author (2005)

J. L. Mehta is the author of the three-volume Advanced Study in History of Medieval India.

Bibliographic information