VIDEO NOTES VOCABULARY FLASHCARDS: DECLINE OF MUGHAL EMPIRE, BRITISH RAJ, AND LANGUAGE MOVEMENTS

A focused set of vocabulary flashcards pulled from the lecture notes, covering the decline of the Mughal Empire, the rise of British power in India, major battles, administrative reforms, and language/religious reform movements.

Mughal Empire

Muslim-ruled empire that covered a vast part of the Indian subcontinent, established in 1526 by Babur and gradually declined after Aurangzeb.

Babur

Founder of the Mughal Empire who ascended the throne in 1526 after defeating Ibrahim Lodi at Panipat.

Aurangzeb

Mughal emperor who strengthened the empire but later policies and overexpansion contributed to its decline; reigned until 1707.

Decline of the Mughal Empire

Gradual collapse beginning after Aurangzeb’s death, taking about 150 years and culminating in British ascendancy.

Expansion policy

Mughal policy of territorial growth which stretched the empire from Afghanistan to Assam and from Kashmir to Mysore.

Weak administration

Post-Aurangzeb period when succession and governance became unmanageable due to size and administrative challenges.

Succession dispute

Frequent power struggles after a ruler’s death due to lack of a formal succession law.

Mansabdars

Administrative and military officials who collected taxes and administered districts; often corrupt.

Jizya

Tax imposed on non-Muslims under Aurangzeb to secure rights and protection for Muslims.

Religious policies of Aurangzeb

Efforts to Islamicize governance, including temple destruction and forced conversions in some cases.

No naval force

Mughal military lacked a navy, unlike European powers such as Britain.

Weak army

Declining military capability due to financial strain, internal conflict, and outdated weaponry.

Marathas

Powerful Hindu confederacy that became a major threat to Mughal rule and controlled parts of northern and eastern India.

Nadir Shah

Persian invader who plundered much of India in 1738 and took the Kohinoor diamond and Peacock Throne.

Ahmad Shah Abdali (Abdali)

Afghan ruler who invaded India in 1761, defeating the Marathas at Panipat and repeatedly challenging Mughal authority.

Arrival of the British

British East India Company’s emergence in India as a trading power that later took political control.

East India Company (EIC)

Trading company established by Britain that governed large parts of India and laid the groundwork for imperial rule.

Bases of EIC in India

Three main bases: Madras, Calcutta, and Bombay.

Plassey (Battle of Plassey)

1757 battle in which Robert Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah, enabling British control of Bengal.

Robert Clive

British commander whose victory at Plassey and later at Buxar expanded EIC power.

Siraj-ud-Daulah

Nawab of Bengal defeated at Plassey; his rule marked the beginning of British dominance in Bengal.

Mir Jafar

Nawab who defected to the British at Plassey, helping Clive secure victory and Bengal as a British interest.

Buxar (Battle of Buxar)

1764 battle where British defeated Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daulah, and Shah Alam II, solidifying British political power.

Hector Munro

British general who defeated Mir Qasim at Buxar.

Shah Alam II

Mughal emperor who was defeated and later subdued by the British following Buxar.

Bahadur Shah Zafar

Last Mughal emperor; exiled to Rangoon after the 1857 revolt; symbol of Mughal decline.

Queen Victoria Empress of India

1877 title reflecting British sovereignty over India following the 1857 revolt.

Vernacular Press Act (1878)

Legislation restricting Indian-language newspapers from criticizing the government.

Arms Act (1878)

Law restricting Indians from owning weapons to curb uprisings and resistance.

Pitts’s India Act (1784)

Act placing the East India Company under Crown control with a Board of Control and a Governor-General.

Permanent Settlement (1793)

Settlement fixing land revenue (zamindars’ dues) in Bengal to secure Crown revenue.

Subsidiary Alliances

British policy whereby Indian rulers retained local control but accepted British protection and a resident; troops were stationed to enforce supremacy.

Doctrine of Lapse (1852)

Policy annexing a princely state if the ruler died without a male heir.

Industrial Revolution

British industrial expansion that created demand for Indian raw materials and accessible markets for British goods.

Macauley (Education Reforms)

English-education advocate who promoted Western schooling in India; influenced policy to anglicize administration.

English Education Act (1835)

British policy to promote English-language education and Western curriculum in India.

Anglicization of administration

Policy shift to use English in government and higher courts, weakening local languages and elites.

Urdu

National language of Pakistan; a form of Hindustani with Persian/Arabic influence; widely used in Mughal era and later promoted as a unifying language.

Two Nation Theory

Idea that Muslims and Hindus are two distinct nations, justifying a separate Muslim homeland; advanced by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan.

Aligarh Movement

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s movement to promote Western-style education for Muslims via the Aligarh Muslim University.

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan

Muslim reformer who encouraged Western education, proposed two-nation theory, and sought better British–Muslim relations.

Hindi-Urdu Controversy (1867-68)

Debate over language policy; Hindus favored Hindi, Muslims favored Urdu, contributing to the two-nation idea.

Congress (1885)

Political organization established during the British era; later a major platform for Indian national politics.

Aligarh Muslim University (origin)

Institution founded as part of the Aligarh Movement to provide Western and Islamic education.

Shah Waliullah

Islamic reformer who revived Islamic education, translated holy texts into Persian, and authored numerous fiqh and hadith works.

Syed Ahmed Shaheed Barailvi

Fundamentalist reformer who led the jihad movement against Sikh and British influence; movement ultimately failed due to disorganization and funding issues.

Haji Shariatullah

Leader of the Faraizi movement aimed at reforming Islam and reviving religious practices in Bengal.

Faraizi Movement

Islamic reform movement led by Haji Shariatullah emphasizing obligatory duties and revival of Islamic practices.

Sindhi language

Ancient language of Sindh; promoted post-1947 with Sindhi literature boards and academies.

Punjabi language

Language of the Punjab; rich literary tradition; promoted and studied in post-1947 Pakistan.

Pashto language

Language of the NWFP and parts of Balochistan with historical literary periods and post-1947 promotion.

Balochi language

Language of Balochistan with limited historical literature; promoted through media and literary associations after 1947.

Urdu as national language of Pakistan

Official language promoted for unity and administration; chosen for its historical role in the region.

Regional languages promotion

Policy to promote languages like Sindhi, Punjabi, Pashto, and Balochi to preserve regional identities and unity.

Impact of railways

Rail networks built by the British to improve transport for troops, trade, and administration.

Sindh annexation (1843)

British annexation of Sindh after provoking local rulers; part of consolidation of British control.

Punjab annexation (1849)

British annexation of Punjab after conflicts with the Sikh state.

Maratha decline

Marathas’ decline due to fragmentation and external pressures, enabling British expansion.

Mir Jafar defection

Key betrayal at Plassey that allowed British victory and increased East India Company influence.

Treaty of Friendship (between Ranjit Singh and British)

Alliance with Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh that facilitated British expansion into Punjab.

Consolidation of British rule in India

Series of political and military moves (Plassey, Buxar, annexations, alliances) leading to direct Crown rule.