DOCSLIB.ORG

DECLINE of the Mughal Empire

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
DECLINE of the Mughal Empire Class: 8 A,B &C HISTORY 17th July 2020 Chapter 5 DECLINE OF THE Mughal Empire The transition from the Medieval to the Modern Period began with the decline of the Mughal Empire in the first half of the 18th Century. This was followed by the East India Company’s territorial conquests and the beginning of the political domination of India in the middle of 18th Century. The Modern Period in India is generally regarded as having begun in the mid- 18th century. During the first half of the 18th Century the great Mughal Empire decayed and disintegrated. The Mughal Emperors lost their power and glory and their vast empire finally shrank to a few square miles around Delhi. The unity and stability had already been shaken during Aurangzeb’s long reign of about 50 years. The death of Aurangzeb, the last of the great Mughals, was followed by a war of succession among his three sons. Bahadur Shah eventually ascended the throne in 1707 at the age of 65. He became the first in a line of emperors referred to as the Later Mughals. THE LIST OF THE LATER MUGHALS (1707- 1857) 1) Bahadur Shah (1707-12) 2) Jahandar Shah (1712-13) 3) Farrukhshiyar ( 1713-19) 4) Muhammad Shah (1719-48) 5) Ahmad Shah (1748-54) 6) Alamgir II (1754-59) 7) Shah Alam II (1759-1806) 8) Akbar II ( 1806-37) 9) Bahadur Shah Zafar (1737_1857) THE REASONS FOR THE DECLINE OF THE MUGHAL EMPIRE 1) Politics in the Mughal Court; 2) Jagirdari Crisis; 3) Weak Military organization and Administration; 4) Wars of succession; 5) Aurangzeb’s policies; 6) Economic bankruptcy 7) Foreign invasions 8) Weak successors. 1) Politics in the Mughal court:- There were four groups of nobles in the Mughal court---Iranis, Turanis, Afghans and Hindustanis. Iranis hailed from Persia, the Turanis from Tranoxiana, and the Afghans came from the mountainous border regions across river Indus. The Mughal court was a house sharply divided from within. This resulted in a constant struggle for power among these groups. Their mutual jealousies and rivalries caused great harm to the Mughal administration and undermined the prestige and authority of the Mughal emperor. 2) Jagidari crisis:- In addition to the competition for political power and influence there was a scramble for the best and most profitable jagirs among the rival nobles. The Mughal officers were given jagirs as payment for their services. Towards the end of the 17th century, there were very few jagirs left. To satisfy the demands of the newly recruited officers, crown lands were converted to jagir lands and given to the nobles. This led to the loss of revenue for the royal treasury and further decline in the power of the emperor. 3) Weak military organization and administration:- The Mansabdari system introduced by Akbar began to break down towards the ned of the 17th century. Under this system, mansabdars had to maintain a fixed number of troops. They were given jagirs as a payment for doing so. Latee, an increase in the number of masabs and a shortage of jagirs led to corruption and inefficiency in the system. The mansabdars did not maintain their quota of troops and adopted corrupt methods. This led to a decline of the military strength of the Mughal empire. The Mughal army failed to keep pace with the tomes. Mughal rulers did not a navy and made no effort to establish one. Their equipment and techniques of warfare were obsolete and ineffective. Nothing was done to reform, modernize and strengthen the army. 4) Wars of succession:- The death of a Mughal ruler was generally followed by wars of succession among rival claimants to the throne. These civil wars proved very costly and destructive. They drained the resources of the empire, caused frequent political upheavals and made the empire unstable and weak. 5) Aurangzeb’s Policies Aurangzeb was not very successful as an emperor. His policy of religious intolerance shook the foundations of the empire and resulted in the following:- The costly, long-drawn and ruinous Deccan campaign Numerous wars with the Sikhs, the Marathas, the Jats and the Rajputs. Loss of the support of the loyal Rajputs who had earlier contributed greatly to stability of the Mughal Empire but now became bitter foes. 6) Economic bankruptcy:- A major cause of the disintegration of the Muhhal Empire was its economic bankruptcy. The enormous sums of money spent by Shah Jahan on magnificent monuments like the Taj Mahal had drained the royal treasury. Aurangzeb’s Deccan campaign was a financial disaster that ruined the empire and made its collapse inevitable. 7) Foreign Invasions:- The invasions of Nadir Shah, the ruler of Persia (Iran), and Ahmad Shah Abdali, the ruler of of Afghanistan, shattered the power and prestige of the Mughals. Nadir Shah looted and plundered Delhi and carried away valuable treasures, including Kohinoor Diamond and the Peacock Throne.Ahmad Shah repeatedly plundered northern India. 8) Weak successors:- Aurangzeb was succeeded by pleasure loving, weak and inefficient rulers. They were puppets in the hands of powerful nobles who controlled the administration. The provincial governors took advantage of the weak center and set up independent kingdoms in the Mughal provinces. This led to the break-up and collapse of the empire. The hope of the revival of the Mughal empire ended when the British decided to challenge the authority of the Mughals. They took full advantage of its weakness and began to pursue their plan of establishing control over India. Bahadur Shah Zafar the last Mughal emperor was defeated in 1857 Revolt and was exiled to Rangoon where he died. The Mughal Empire came to an inglorious end. EXERCISES:- A. Fill in the blanks:- 1) During the first half of the 18th century, the great Mughal empire decayed and disintegrated. 2) The Mughal emperors who ruled India after the death of Aurangzeb are known as the Later Mughals. 3) There were four groups of nobles in the Mughal court. 4) Nadir Shah plundered Delhi. He carried away immense treasures including the Kohinoor Diamond and the Peacock Throne. 5) Ahmad Shah Abdali, the ruler of Afghanistan, repeatedly attacked the Mughal Empire. 6) The last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, was defeated in the Revolt of 1857 and exiled by the British. B. Match the following:- A B 1) Bahadur Shah a) first of the Later Mughals. 2) Akbar b) mansabdari system. 3) Shah Jahan c) financial crisis. 4) Kohinoor Diamond d) Nadir Shah. 5) Bahadur Shah Zafar e) exiled to Rangoon by the British. C. Choose the correct answer:- 1) Aurangzeb/ Akbar/ Shah Jahan followed the policy of religious tolerance. 2) The military campaign in the Deccan led by Shah Jahan/ Aurangzeb/ Akbar ruined the Mughal financially. 3) The invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali, the ruler of Afghanistan/Persia/ Iraq shattered the power and prestige of the Mughal Empire. 4) The Mughal Empire lasted for over 3/ 5/6 centuries. 5) The British ruled over India for 100 years/ nearly 200 years/ 300 years. D. State whether the following are true or false:- 1) Bahadur Shah ascended the throne after the death of Aurangzeb. True 2) The Mughal Court was united and stable. False 3) The Mughal officers were given jagirs as payments for their services. True 4) The Mughal rulers did not have a navy. True 5) The successors of Aurangzeb were very strong and efficient. False E. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences:- 1) When did the transition from the Medieval to modern Period begin in India? The transition from the Medieval to the Modern Period began with the decline of the Mughal empire in the first half of the 18th century. 2) Name the first and last emperors in the line of the Later Mughals. Bahadur Shah was the first and Bahadur Shah Zafar was the last Mughal emperors in the line of the Later Mughals. 3) Name the four rival groups of nobles in the Mughal court. Iranis, Turanis, Afghans and Hindustanis were the four rival groups of nobles in the Mughal court. 4) Mention any two reasons for the failure of the Mansabdari system. Following were the two reasons for the failure of the Mansabdari system:- i) An increase in the number of mansabs and a shortage of jagirs led to corruption and inefficiency in the system. ii) The mansabdars did not maintain their quota of troops and adopted corrupt methods. 5) What was the economic impact of the Mughal wars of succession? The Mughal wars of succession drained the resources of the empire, caused frequent political upheavals and made the empire unstable and weak. 6) How did Aurangzeb’s religious policy affect the relationship between the Mughals and the Rajputs? Aurangzeb’s religious intolerance led to the loss of support of the loyal Rajputs who had earlier contributed greatly to the stability of the Mughal empire but n0w became bitter foes. 7) What led to the drain on royal treasury during Shah Jahan’s reign? The enormous sums of money spent by Shah Jahan on magnificent monuments like the Taj Mahal had drained the royal treasury. 8) Which Mughal emperor assumed the leadership of the Revolt of 1857? What happened to him after the Revolt? Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last of the Mughals, assumed leadership of the rebels in the Revolt of 1857 against the British. He was defeated and Exiled to Rangoon where he died. F. Answer the following questions in brief:- 1) Several factors were responsible for the decline of the Mughal empire. In this context answer the following questions: a) How did the court politics undermine the authority and prestige of the Mughal empire? There were four groups of nobles in the Mughal court- Iranis, Turanis, Afghans and Hindustanis all originated from different regions.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 1357 America As Media-Persia, II
    #1357 America as Media-Persia, II – The Peacock Throne, part 4, The Conquering of the Mogul Empire by Persia’s Nader Shah in 1739, and the taking of the Peacock Throne from India to Iran The Peacock Throne is plundered from India and taken to Iran. The Peacock Throne upon which the Mogul emperors sat was seized along with other plunder when the Iranian conqueror Nader Shah invaded the Mogul Empire in 1738, capturing Delhi, India, in 1739. The throne was brought back to Iran. Here is how Wikipedia details Nader Shah’s invasion of India: In 1738, Nader Shah conquered Kandahar. In the same year he occupied Ghazni, Kabul, and Lahore. He then advanced deeper into India, crossing the river Indus before the end of the year. He defeated the Mughal (Mogul) army of Muhammad Shah within the span of one month at the Battle of Karnal and triumphantly entered Delhi where he had the Khutba read in his name, February 24, 1739. In the rioting that followed, more than 30,000 civilians were killed by the Persian troops, forcing Muhammad Shah to beg for mercy. In response, Nader Shah agreed to withdraw, but Muhammad Shah paid the consequence, handing over the keys to his royal treasury and losing even the Peacock Throne to the Persian emperor. Although the number of civilian casualties was great, Indian historians agree that it was the only way to avoid the spread of riot and the loss of India to the Persians. The Peacock Throne thereafter served as a symbol of Persian imperial might.
    [Show full text]
  • 2-Min Feb 2021 Week 1
    2-Minute Series A compilation of foundational topics prerequisite for Civil Services For the 1st Week of February 2021 Visit our website www.sleepyclasses.com or our YouTube channel for entire GS Course FREE of cost Also Available: Prelims Crash Course || Prelims Test Series T.me/SleepyClasses Table of Contents 1. Geography ...............................................................................................................1 1.1.Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems ......................................................1 1.2.World Food Price Index: FAO ..............................................................................................2 2. History ......................................................................................................................3 2.1.The Red Fort ............................................................................................................................3 3. Polity .........................................................................................................................6 3.1.Speaker Lok Sabha .................................................................................................................6 4. Environment ...........................................................................................................8 4.1.State of Global Air 2020 ......................................................................................................8 Note: The YouTube links for all the topics are embedded in the name of the Topic itself
    [Show full text]
  • International Journal of Education and Science Research Review ISSN 2348-6457 April- 2017, Volume-4, Issue-2 Email- [email protected]
    International Journal of Education and Science Research Review ISSN 2348-6457 www.ijesrr.org April- 2017, Volume-4, Issue-2 Email- [email protected] KHUSHWANT SINGH’S NARRATION OF PERIOD OF LATER MUGHALS IN ‘DELHI’ Prof. Vikas Sharma Principal D.A.V. (P.G.) College, Bulandshahr ABSTRACT: Khushwant Singh's Delhi is a novel of immaculate narration about a city which stands as a testimonial to various cultural, political, social, psychological and geographical weathering and has survived to be an important city of the world. The present paper discusses the period of later Mughals. The paper highlights the sad downfall of one of the greatest empires of the human civilization at the hands of great Persian warrior, Nadir Shah and subsequent stripping and plundering which haunted the city of Delhi. The focus holds importance because it talks about Delhi which earned the affluence and fame during the span of centuries, but required only day to be left bleeding, wounded and impoverished, in fact an experience worth mentioning in every historical record. Khushwant Singh's novel Delhi powerfully presents the Post-Aurangzeb period of the Mughals. It mainly surveys the decline and fall of the Mughal Empire, along with other psychological and political facts of that phase, such as 'the fear in Aurangzeb about the disintegration of the empire after his death', the exploits and execution of the Sikh warrior, Banda Bairagi, and his followers, etc, etc. The novel, successfully, paints the life and rise of Nadir Shah, his motivation to invade India, the pre-occupation of the then Mughal emperor, Mohammed Shah Rangeela with wine and women, his utter indifference and impolitic advances to the warning of Nadir Shah, the chaotic state of faltering Mughal's empire, the dissidence and treachery of the nobles, march of Nadir Shah to Delhi; the unstrategic and foolish resistance put up by Mohammed Shah, his inevitable defeat at the hands of Nadir Shah and finally Nadir Shah's triumphant march to Delhi.
    [Show full text]
  • The Mughal Empire
    Chapter 5 8 THE MUGHAL EMPIRE ike the Ottomans, the Mughals carried the dilemma of post-Abbasid L politics outside the Arid Zone and resolved it. Unlike the Ottomans, the Mughals did not expand the frontiers of Muslim political power, ex- cept on some fringes. They established a new polity ruled by an estab- lished dynasty in territory that Muslims already ruled. The dynastic setting and the environment—physical, social, and cultural—requires careful explanation in order to make the Mughal success comprehensible. This section describes the multiple contexts in which the Mughal Empire developed and then summarizes the most important characteristics of the Mughal polity. Historians have traditionally identified Babur as the founder of the Mughal Empire and considered his invasion of northern India in 1526 as the beginning of Mughal history. Both the identification and date are mis- leading. Babur’s grandson, Akbar, established the patterns and institutions that defined the Mughal Empire; the prehistory of the empire dates back to Babur’s great-great-grandfather Timur’s invasion of north India in 1398. Because Timur remained in Hindustan (literally, “the land of Hin- dus”; the Persian word for northern India) only a short time and his troops sacked Delhi thoroughly, historians have traditionally treated his incur- sion as a raid rather than an attempt at conquest. Timur, however, did not attempt to establish direct Timurid rule in most of the areas he conquered; 201 202 5 – THE MUGHAL EMPIRE he generally left established dynasties in place or established surrogates of his own. His policy in Hindustan was the same; he apparently left one Khizr Khan as his governor in Delhi.
    [Show full text]
  • An Overview on Koh-I-Noor Diamond
    International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.3, Issue-2(5), February, 2016 Impact Factor: 3.075; Email: [email protected] Padmavathi, CH, Lecturer and Head, Dept. of in history, Ideal Degree College, Kakinada, AP diamond which was never bought or sold, but changed many hands. Koh-i-noor has The diamond is more than just left a trail that speaks of greed, power, aesthetically beautiful—it’s an enduring murder, mayhem and unhappiness. symbol of love, romance, and commitment. The stone’s name is derived from the Greek word adamas, which translates to “unconquerable.” This The following timeline & history of the symbolic meaning lends itself well to the Kohinoor details important historical diamond’s historic commemoration of events and dates: eternal love. The earliest diamonds were There were many found in India in 4th century BC, dynasties who owned the Kohinoor although the youngest of these deposits diamond including the Slave dynasty were formed 900 million years ago. A (1206-90), the Khilji dynasty (1290-1320), majority of these early stones were the Tughlaq dynasty (1320-1413), the transported along the network of trade Sayyid dynasty (1414-51), and the Lodi routes that connected India and China, dynasty (1451-1526)These were all brief commonly known as the Silk Road. The reigns ending with war and violence Kohinoor is one of the oldest and most famous diamonds in the world. There was In 1306 the Rajah of Malwa was a period when Indian diamonds were very forced to give the diamond to the rulers famous the world over.
    [Show full text]
  • BAEN BOOKS TEACHER's GUIDE to 1637: the PEACOCK THRONE Contents: • Recommended Reading Levels • Plot Summaries • Charac
    BAEN BOOKS TEACHER’S GUIDE TO 1637: THE PEACOCK THRONE Contents: • Recommended reading levels • Plot summaries • Character sketches • Suggestions for Introductory projects • Suggestions for Contiguous projects that can be utilized throughout reading • Guides to each part and chapter, including: o Prepare to read… o Vocabulary o Focus questions/initiating activities o Quiz/reading comprehension questions: multiple-choice/short-answer questions (answers provided, but answers may also vary in expression) o Discussion or short-essay questions: higher-order open-ended questions that might be utilized for quizzes, tests, class discussion, or essay prompts o Suggested activities/inquiry-based exploration 1 RECOMMENDED READING LEVELS: 1637: The Peacock Throne is appropriate for a young adult to adult audience. Classroom use of the book is most suitable for upper middle school to high school students. BACKGROUND (PRECEDING NOVEL 1636: MISSION TO THE MUGHALS): …After carving a free state for itself in war-torn 17th-century Europe, citizens of the 21st-century town of Grantville, West Virginia go on a quest for the making of medicines that have yet to be invented in 17th-century Europe. The United States of Europe, the new nation formed by an alliance between Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus and the West Virginians hurled back in time by a cosmic accident—the Ring of Fire—is beset by enemies on all sides. The U.S.E. needs a reliable source of opiates for those wounded in action, as well as other goods not available in Europe. The Prime Minister of the U.S.E., Mike Stearns, sends a mission to the Mughal Empire of India with the aim of securing a trade deal with the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan.
    [Show full text]
  • The Peacock Throne, Part 3, Shah Jahan of the Mogul Dynasty in India Was the Builder of the Taj Mahal and the Original Peacock Throne
    #1356 America as Media-Persia, II – The Peacock Throne, part 3, Shah Jahan of the Mogul Dynasty in India was the builder of the Taj Mahal and the original Peacock Throne Shah Jahan and the Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan, the fifth Mogul emperor in India (1628-1657), built the world’s most famous monument and one of the most beautiful and costly tombs in the world, the Taj Mahal. He ordered it built in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during the hot summer night of June 17, 1631. Her real name had been Arjumand Banu Begun. But history calls her the lady of the Taj. The Moguls gave her the royal title Mumtaz Mahal, “Exalted One of the Palace.” She became the single most important woman in the years of the Mogul Dynasty in India. It took about 20,000 workers twenty years to construct the Taj Mahal. A dome covers the center of the building. The bodies of Shah Jahan and his wife lie in a vault below. Shah Jahan Mumtaz Mahal The Peacock Throne. Meanwhile, by 1634, Shah Jahan had emptied the royal treasury to buy jewels and complete his “Peacock Throne.” The name comes from the shape of the throne, which had the figures of two peacocks standing behind it, their tails being expanded and the whole inlaid with sapphires, rubies, emeralds, pearls, and other precious stones of appropriate colors. #1356 America as Media-Persia, II – The Peacock Throne, part 3, Shah Jahan of the Mogul Dynasty in India was Page 1 of 2 the builder of the Taj Mahal and the original Peacock Throne Shah Jahan had the famous Koh-i-noor diamond placed in his throne.
    [Show full text]
  • The Object on Stage Imaging the Moghul Court in 18Th Century Dresden
    Originalveröffentlichung in: Großmann, G. Ulrich ; Krutisch, Petra (Hrsgg.): The challenge of the object = Die Herausforderung des Objekts. 33rd congress of the International Committee of the History of Art, Nuremberg, 15th - 20th July 2012; CIHA 2012, Nürnberg 2013, S. 543-547 (Wissenschaftlicher Beiband zum Anzeiger des Germanischen Nationalmuseums ; 32,2) Missing Links: Object Manipulation In (Post)Colonial Context/Missing Links: Veranderungen am Objekt im (post-)kolonialen Kontext 07 Hannah Baader The Object on Stage Imaging the Moghul Court in 18th Century Dresden Tavernier described a large diamond placed on the front side of the Barbur,i. the founder of the Mughal dynasty and author of his own so-called Peacock Throne;3 this jewel is repeatedly identified with biography, the »Baburnama,« proudly tells his readers of the world’s the Koh-i-Noor. largest diamond, which, he explains, he owned at least briefly, When Nadir Shah plundered Delhi and Agra in 1736, he looted the having gained it through military force with his son’s help. He richly adorned Peacock’s Throne - the throne of the Mughuls - and estimates its value as half the daily living expenses of the entire brought it to Persia. The first mention we find of the name »Koh-i- Noor,« ((mountain of light,«in the sources is in reference to a newly worldThe population.'diamond Barbur describes here was already identified with captured stone, as part of the booty.4 Nadir Shah was murdered; the so-called Koh-i-Noor looted by the Persian Nadir Shah in the later, as a quid pro quo for military support, the stone made its way 18th century.
    [Show full text]
  • Battle of Karnal - [February 24, 1739] This Day in History
    Battle of Karnal - [February 24, 1739] This Day in History This article gives a brief introduction of Nader Shah, an Emperor of the Persian Empire.It gives details on the expanse of the territory ruled by him and his military expedition to India, his fight against the Mughal Empire, and the massive defeat the Mughals had to face in the hands of a smaller but tactically brilliant Persian Army in the Battle of Karnal. This defeat of Mughals also led to wide-scale destruction and looting of Delhi by the Persian Army. Aspirants would find this article very helpful while preparing for the IAS Exam. Battle of Karnal - Background 1. Nader Shah was the Shahanshah of the Persian Empire. He belonged to the Afsharid dynasty. He was an ingenious military man who created a vast 1. Nader Shah was the Shahanshah of the Persian Empire. He belonged to the Afsharid dynasty. He was an ingenious military man who created a vast empire out of his sheer tactics and brilliant military reformations. 2. During its zenith, Shah’s empire stretched from the Black Sea to the Persian Gulf and included the modern-day countries of Georgia, Oman, Armenia, Pakistan, etc. 3. He was constantly engaged in battles with the warlords in Afghanistan. Many of them who were defeated by Shah had taken asylum in the border areas with the Mughal Empire. Shah had requested the governors of northern India under the Mughals to turn over the escaped Afghan chieftains to him. This was largely ignored by the Mughals and Shah used this as a pretext to go to war.
    [Show full text]
  • Is Emblematic of the Mughal Art Promoted by Shah Jahan. Builder Of
    This equestrian portrait of Shah Jahan (reigned 1628–1658) is emblematic of the Mughal art promoted by Shah Jahan. Builder of the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan here is shown in a rich and heroic light, symbolized by the ring of light, his clothing and weaponry, and the horse's exquisite appointments. 1 | Chapter 27 Islamic Empires • Formation of the Islamic Empires o The Ottoman Empire o The Safavid Empire o The Mughal Empire • Imperial Islamic Society o The Dynastic State o Agriculture and Trade o Religious Affairs in the Islamic Empires o Cultural Patronage of the Islamic Emperors • The Empires in Transition o The Deterioration of Imperial Leadership o Economic and Military Decline o Cultural Conservatism EYEWITNESS: Shah Jahan's Monument to Love and Allah In 1635 Shah Jahan, the emperor of Mughal India, took his seat on the Peacock Throne. Seven years in the making, the Peacock Throne is probably the most spectacular seat on which any human being has rested. Shah Jahan ordered the throne encrusted with ten million rupees' worth of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and pearls. Atop the throne itself stood a magnificent, golden-bodied peacock with a huge ruby and a fifty-carat, pear-shaped pearl on its breast and a brilliant elevated tail fashioned of blue sapphires and other colored gems. Yet, for all its splendor, the Peacock Throne ranks a distant second among Shah Jahan's artistic projects: pride of place goes to the incomparable Taj Mahal. Built over a period of eighteen years as a tomb for Shah Jahan's beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth in 1631, the Taj Mahal is a graceful and elegant monument both to the departed empress and to Shah Jahan's Islamic faith.
    [Show full text]
  • Koh-I-Noor “Mountain of Light”
    International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Impact Factor (2012): 3.358 Koh-I-Noor “Mountain of Light” Satwinder Kaur Assistant Professor in History, Swift Technical Campus, Ghaggar Sarai, Rajpura, Punjab, India Abstract: Kohinoor diamond one of the largest diamonds in the world. The current name of the diamond, Koh-I-Noor is in Persian and means “Mountain of Light”. The Kohinoor diamond was first mentioned in 1306 when it was taken from a Rajah of Malwa, whose family had held the diamond for centuries. It was described as weighing 186 carats and was an oval cut white diamond - the shape and size of a small hen's egg. The name Kohinoor was first used by Nadir Shah in 1739. There is a so-called curse on the Kohinoor that affects males who wear it (but females are unaffected). Since being in the possession of Queen Victoria, only women wore the diamond. In 1526 the Mogul ruler Babur mentions the diamond in his writings, Baburnama.The diamond was gifted to him by the sultan Ibrahim Lodhi. He was the one who described the diamond’s value equal to half-day production costs of the world. In 1849, after the conquest of the Punjab by the British forces, the properties of the Sikh Empire were confiscated. The Koh-I-Noor was transfer to the treasury of the British East India Company in Lahore. The Properties of Sikh empire were taken as war compensations. Even one line of the Treaty of Lahore was dedicated to the fate of the Koh-i-noor.
    [Show full text]
  • 2018-2019 National History Bowl Round 9
    NHBB C-Set Bowl 2018-2019 Bowl Round 9 Bowl Round 9 First Quarter (1) The namesake ship of the Mataafa storm was wrecked in this body of water in 1905. Large cobblestone pits built by a pre-Ojibwa people around this body of water are named after a river that flows into it, the Pukaskwa. All 29 crewmembers were killed in a shipwreck on this lake involving a freighter carrying iron ore. Thunder Bay is the largest city that lies along this lake, which also contains Duluth, Minnesota. The SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank in, for ten points, what largest of the Great Lakes? ANSWER: Lake Superior (2) This ruler's actions sparked Donatist opposition to the \traditors." This leader solidified his rule by defeating Carinus at the Battle of the Margus. Causanius led a revolt in Britannia during this ruler's reign, causing Maximian to be elevated to Augustus. This man was the first Roman emperor to abdicate, retiring to his palace at Split. For ten points, name this emperor who organized the Tetrarchy and conducted the last Christian persecutions. ANSWER: Diocletian (or Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus Augustus, but do not prompt on partial names thereof; accept Diocles) (3) This man replaced John Carver as governor, and his successor Edward Winslow co-wrote Mourt's Relation with him. During this man's leadership, the Nemasket Raid was launched by Myles Standish. Samoset contacted the English during this man's leadership, thus establishing relations with Massasoit. This Puritan leader documented the landing at Cape Cod and his signing of the Mayflower Compact.
    [Show full text]