Name: Sikhs' Struggle for Independence
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 4 min 51 s
Description: Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the Sikhs stood their ground against the Mughals. Let's see how they seized their independence from Mughal rule.

Question

Akbar defeated the Rajput kings but did not humiliate them. He took them as equal partners. Aurangzeb humiliated Shivaji, the Maratha chief, when he came to his court. What was the result of these two contrasting policies on the Mughal Empire? Which one strengthened the empire and which one weakened it?

Accepted Answer

Akbar defeated the Rajput Kings but did not embarrrass them. He took them as equal partners. Because of the kindness shown, several rulers joined the Mughals at that point, voluntarily. They also wedded their daughters into Mughal families and received high positions.

This policy strengthened the Mughal empire. However, Maharana Pratap did not ever concile with Akbar.

Shivaji went to the Mughal court at Agra. Aurangzeb offended him by making him sit with mansabdars of low rank. Shivaji tried to leave the court but was put under house-arrest. In $1670$ , Shivaji renewed hostilities with the Mughals.

He raided Surat again and captured a huge loot. He also recaptured some forts surrendered earlier. This policy weakened the Mughal empire.

Important Questions on Political Formations in the Eighteenth Century

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