Class 8 Social Science
India and the World – Book 1
Chapter 3: The Rise of the MarathasDifferent Learner Friendly Notes | The Maratha Confederacy — India's Last Indigenous Empire | Not a textbook replacement

What is Inside

Section 1 — Classroom Notes

Big Idea: The Marathas rose from the Deccan hills in the 17th century, defeated the Mughals, and built the last great indigenous empire of India — showing how geography, guerrilla tactics, and a unifying leader can transform ordinary farmers into a continental power.

Origins of the Maratha Power

Shivaji Bhonsle (1630–1680) — Founding the Swaraj

Shivaji's Early Life: Born 1630 at Shivneri Fort near Pune. His father Shahaji was a nobleman serving the Adil Shah of Bijapur. His mother Jijabai nurtured his ambitions with stories of Hindu heroes.

Administration under Shivaji

Ashtapradhan (Council of 8 Ministers):
Peshwa (Prime Minister) | Senapati (Commander-in-Chief) | Amatya (Finance) | Mantri (Chronicles/Intelligence) | Sachiv (Correspondence) | Panditrao (Religious) | Nyayadhish (Justice) | Sumant (Foreign Affairs)

After Shivaji — The Peshwa Period

The Three Battles of Panipat

1761 — Third Battle of Panipat: Maratha forces led by Vishwasrao and Bhau Saheb fought the Afghan army of Ahmad Shah Abdali (Durrani). A devastating Maratha defeat — thousands of soldiers and civilians died. The Marathas never fully recovered their northern reach.

Anglo-Maratha Wars and Decline

Maratha Legacy

Section 2 — Easy Illustrations

Shivaji's Timeline — Key Events 1630 Born Shivneri 1646 Captured Torna Fort 1659 Battle of Pratapgad 1664 Surat Raid 1674 Coronation — Chhatrapati 1680 Shivaji dies Age 16 at first capture Mughal humiliation Swaraj declared

Key milestones in Shivaji's life and the founding of the Maratha state

Ashtapradhan — Shivaji's Eight Ministers Chhatrapati Supreme Sovereign Ashtapradhan — Council of Eight Peshwa Prime Minister Senapati Commander-in-Chief Amatya Finance Minister +4 more Justice, Foreign, Religious… Each minister had a clearly defined role — Shivaji avoided one-man rule over any department

Shivaji's Ashtapradhan — a council of 8 ministers divided by function

Ganimi Kava — Guerrilla Warfare Principles Surprise Attack at dawn or in bad weather when enemy least expects Key advantage Mobility Light cavalry, no heavy baggage — could outrun any Mughal army Speed = survival Terrain Use hill forts, ghats, and forests — enemy cannot deploy heavy artillery Geography as weapon Retreat Never fight when outnumbered — withdraw, regroup, attack again Preserve your force

Four principles of Ganimi Kava — Maratha guerrilla warfare

Section 3 — Worked Examples

Q1: Why is the Battle of Pratapgad (1659) so significant?

1
Afzal Khan was Bijapur's most feared general, sent to crush Shivaji. He came with 10,000 troops vs Shivaji's 2,000.
2
Shivaji lured him into private "peace talks" in the dense forest below the fort. Both agreed to come with only a bodyguard.
3
When Khan tried to squeeze-stab Shivaji in an embrace, Shivaji used the baghnakh (hidden tiger claws) and killed him. His pre-positioned troops then ambushed and routed Bijapur's army.
Answer: Pratapgad demonstrated Shivaji's intelligence over brute force — he turned an apparent weakness (smaller army) into a decisive win through preparation, terrain knowledge, and tactical thinking.

Q2: How did Shivaji's administrative reforms differ from Mughal administration?

1
Mughals: jagirdar system — mansabdars got land for services, creating locally powerful nobles who could become rivals.
2
Shivaji: all soldiers paid directly from treasury — no local land power base; loyalty to the state not to a noble.
3
Shivaji also had an Ashtapradhan (8-minister council) — distributed decision-making rather than concentrating it.
Answer: Shivaji's system was more centralised-yet-distributed — no powerful intermediaries could challenge state authority, while eight ministers kept checks on each other.

Q3: What caused the Maratha defeat at the Third Battle of Panipat (1761)?

1
Over-extension: Maratha armies had marched from Maharashtra to Punjab — massive supply line, civilian camp followers slow the army.
2
Ahmad Shah Abdali had experienced Afghan cavalry and controlled local supply. He also gained support of Rohillas and Nawab of Oudh.
3
Internal divisions: Maratha commanders argued about strategy. Northern Indian powers did not support the Marathas — resentment of Maratha tax collection (chauth/sardeshmukhi).
Answer: Panipat showed that even a powerful empire can be defeated by over-extension, divided command, and lack of local allies — lessons in strategic planning.

Q4: Why did the Peshwas become more powerful than the Chhatrapatis?

1
After Sambhaji's death (1689), several weak Chhatrapatis followed.
2
Peshwas were able administrators from the Brahmin class — they handled day-to-day military and financial decisions.
3
Baji Rao I was an exceptional military genius — his personal battlefield success gave Peshwas prestige and military authority that overshadowed the nominal king.
Answer: A combination of weak kings, capable ministers, and Baji Rao I's brilliant generalship shifted real power to the Peshwas — a common pattern where competent ministers outshine hereditary rulers.

Q5: What is the significance of Shivaji building a navy?

1
The Deccan coast was dominated by the Portuguese (Goa) and the Siddi of Janjira (an African seafaring community employed by Mughals).
2
Without naval power, Maratha coastline could be attacked from the sea — defeating all land-based forts.
3
Shivaji built a fleet with local commanders — unprecedented for a Deccan land power.
Answer: Shivaji understood that complete territorial control required sea control — making him the first indigenous Deccan ruler to combine land and naval strategy, a vision centuries ahead of his time.

Section 4 — Cheat Sheet

TermMeaningContext
SwarajSelf-rule / Independent sovereigntyShivaji's goal — rule by Marathas for Marathas
Hindavi SwarajSelf-rule for the people of HindustanBroader inclusive nationalist concept
Ganimi KavaGuerrilla warfare tacticsCore Maratha military strategy
AshtapradhanCouncil of 8 ministersShivaji's administrative system
PeshwaPrime Minister; eventually real rulersBrahmin administrators who took control after weak Chhatrapatis
ChhatrapatiSovereign king ("lord of the umbrella")Shivaji's royal title after 1674 coronation
Chauth1/4 of revenue from territories not under direct ruleMaratha taxation of neighbouring regions
SardeshmukhiExtra 10% tax as hereditary rights of MarathasCombined with chauth made Maratha expansion profitable
BaghnakhTiger claws — concealed metal weaponUsed by Shivaji to kill Afzal Khan
Maratha ConfederacyLeague of Maratha chiefs under PeshwaHolkar, Scindia, Bhonsle, Gaekwad
PhaseLeaderPeriodKey Achievement
FoundingShivaji1646–1680Built Swaraj, navy, Ashtapradhan
SurvivalSambhaji → Rajaram1680–1707Survived Aurangzeb's 25-year war
ExpansionBaji Rao I (Peshwa)1720–1740Never lost a battle; empire to Bengal
Panipat CrisisVishwasrao + Bhau1761Massive defeat; lost northern India
British WarsPeshwas1775–1818Three Anglo-Maratha Wars; final defeat

Section 5 — Take-Home Handout

Key Points to Remember

  • Shivaji born 1630; captured Torna Fort at 16; declared Chhatrapati 1674 at Raigad
  • Ganimi Kava: surprise + mobility + terrain + retreat = guerrilla warfare
  • Ashtapradhan: 8-minister council; Peshwa at head; soldiers paid from treasury (no jagirs)
  • Battle of Pratapgad 1659: killed Afzal Khan; showed intelligence over force
  • Shivaji's navy: first Deccan power to have one; countered Portuguese and Siddi
  • Baji Rao I (Peshwa): never lost a battle; expanded from Deccan to Bengal/Punjab
  • Third Battle of Panipat 1761: Maratha defeat; over-extension + divided command
  • Three Anglo-Maratha Wars (1775, 1803, 1817): British dismantled Maratha power step by step

Practice Questions

1. What is Ganimi Kava and what are its four key principles?

2. What was the Ashtapradhan? Why was it better than a single minister system?

3. Why did Shivaji build a navy? What threats did it counter?

4. What were the causes of the Maratha defeat at Panipat (1761)?

5. How did Shivaji's approach to religious communities help him build a wider support base?

Answer Hints

Q1: Ganimi Kava — Maratha guerrilla warfare: (1) Surprise attacks. (2) Speed and mobility (light cavalry). (3) Use terrain advantage (hills, forests). (4) Strategic retreat — preserve the force, never lose men needlessly.
Q2: Eight ministers each handling a specific portfolio (Prime Minister, Commander, Finance, Justice, Foreign Affairs, Correspondence, Religious Affairs, Chronicles). Distributed decision-making — no single minister had too much power. Accountability through clear roles.
Q3: Coastal Maharashtra was threatened by the Portuguese at Goa and the Siddi (African seafarers employed by Mughals) at Janjira. Without a navy, even the strongest hill forts could be bypassed by sea. Shivaji understood this and built the first Deccan naval fleet.
Q4: (1) Over-extended supply lines from Maharashtra to Punjab. (2) Civilian camp followers slowed the army. (3) Ahmad Shah Abdali had local supply and allied support from Rohillas and Nawab of Oudh. (4) Divided Maratha command. (5) Northern kingdoms resented chauth/sardeshmukhi taxation and did not support Marathas.
Q5: Shivaji instructed that mosques and Qurans must be protected; no women — Muslim or Hindu — should be harmed or dishonoured. This won respect and loyalty from Muslims in his army and territories. He fought against Mughal authority, not against Muslims.

Section 6 — Revision Flashcards

and see the answer

What does "Chhatrapati" mean and who first used it?
Chhatrapati means "Lord of the Umbrella" — a symbol of sovereignty. Shivaji took this title at his coronation at Raigad Fort in 1674.
What was Ganimi Kava?
The Maratha art of guerrilla warfare — using surprise attacks, speed, terrain (hills/forests), and strategic retreat to defeat larger armies without fighting pitched battles.
At what age did Shivaji first capture a fort?
Shivaji captured Torna Fort in 1646 — he was only 16 years old.
Who was Afzal Khan and what happened at Pratapgad?
Afzal Khan was Bijapur's general sent to crush Shivaji. At Pratapgad (1659), when Khan tried to stab Shivaji in an embrace, Shivaji killed him with baghnakh (tiger claws). Maratha forces then routed the Bijapur army.
What was chauth?
A tax of one-quarter (1/4) of the revenue that Marathas collected from territories not under their direct rule. Along with sardeshmukhi (extra 10%), it funded Maratha expansion.
Who was Baji Rao I and why is he famous?
The greatest Peshwa (1720–1740) who never lost a battle. He expanded Maratha territory from the Deccan to Bengal, Punjab, and Rajasthan — often described as one of the greatest cavalry commanders in history.
What happened at the Third Battle of Panipat (1761)?
Maratha forces were decisively defeated by Ahmad Shah Abdali's Afghan army. Thousands died, including military commanders. The Marathas never fully recovered their control over northern India.
How many Anglo-Maratha Wars were there? Who finally won?
Three wars: 1775–82 (drawn), 1803–05 (British won north India), 1817–18 (British won decisively). The British dismantled the Maratha Confederacy and took control of most of India.
What was Shivaji's attitude towards Muslims and Islam?
Shivaji protected mosques and Qurans; forbade harming Muslim women. He had Muslim soldiers and officers. He fought against Mughal political authority — not against Muslims or Islam.
How did Shivaji's navy differ from other Deccan rulers?
He was the FIRST Deccan ruler to build a systematic naval fleet — to counter Portuguese control and Siddi piracy. His navy protected the Konkan coast and allowed amphibious military operations.

Section 7 — Mind Map

Shivaji 1630–1680 Torna 1646 → Chhatrapati 1674 Baghnakh, Navy, Ashtapradhan Ganimi Kava Surprise + Speed Terrain + Retreat Guerrilla warfare Administration Ashtapradhan No jagirs; cash pay 350 hill forts Peshwas Brahmin Prime Ministers Baji Rao I — never lost Shaniwarwada, Pune Panipat 1761 vs Ahmad Shah Abdali Over-extension; defeat Turning point British Wars 3 Anglo-Maratha Wars 1775, 1803, 1817 End of Maratha power Rise of the Marathas Chapter 3

Mind map: Chapter 3 — The Rise of the Marathas

Based on NCERT "India and the World: Land and the People" (Class 8, 2024). Educational reference only.