Pakistan Studies: Key Historical Events from 1700-1900

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Understanding the decline of the Mughal Empire and the rise of British control in India requires a close look at the key historical events between the early 18th and late 19th centuries. From the death of Aurangzeb in 1707 to the establishment of the Durand Line in 1893, this period was marked by significant battles, invasions, and political changes that reshaped the Indian subcontinent. In this note guide, we shall explore these pivotal events, highlighting their impact on the subcontinent's transition from Mughal to British rule.

  

Understanding the decline of the Mughal Empire and the rise of British control in India requires a close look at the key historical events between the early 18th and late 19th centuries. From the death of Aurangzeb in 1707 to the establishment of the Durand Line in 1893, this period was marked by significant battles, invasions, and political changes that reshaped the Indian subcontinent. In this note guide, we shall explore these pivotal events, highlighting their impact on the subcontinent's transition from Mughal to British rule.

 

Pakistan Studies: Key Historical Events from 1700-1900

Events from 1700-1800:

Date

Events

1707

Aurangzeb dies, leaving a vast but weakened empire extending from Kashmir to Karnataka and from Ghazni to Chittagong

1719

Muhammad Shah becomes emperor, facing internal opposition

1737

Marathas defeat the Mughal army, signalling the decline of Mughal power

1738

Persian leader Nadir Shah invaded the Mughal Empire, defeating Muhammad Shah at Karnal

1739

Nadir Shah captures Delhi, taking territories west of the Indus and leaving with significant loot

1747

Afghan general Ahmed Shah Durrani attacks Kabul, Peshawar, and Lahore

1756

Siraj-ud-Dawlah, the Nawab of Bengal, attacks the EIC base in Calcutta

1757

Battle of Plassey

1761

Ahmed Shah Durrani defeats the Marathas at the Battle of Panipat

1764

Battle of Buxar

1773

Act of Parliament

1782

Governor-General Warren Hastings signs a treaty ending the First Maratha War

1784

Pitt’s India Act

1799

Governor-General Wellesley invades Mysore, killing Tipu Sultan. Nawabs of Oudh were defeated and forced to grant large areas to the British

 

Events from 1800-1900:

Date

Events 

1803

British enter Delhi, forcing Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II to accept rule under ‘British protection’

1809

Ranjit Singh signs a treaty of perpetual friendship with the British

1818

Marathas defeated by British, forced to accept British control

1822

Bengali freedom fighter Titu Mir goes to pilgrimage in Mecca

1827

Titu Mir returns to Bengal, proclaims himself king, builds bamboo fort at Narkela, defeats British forces but dies after 5 days of fighting

1833

Charter Act allows Indians to be part of civil service, but little changes in practice

1834

English replaces Persian as the official language

1835

Education in India decided to be in English

1839

Ranjit Singh dies

1841

British forces in Afghanistan killed

1843

Annexation of Sindh 

Jan 1846

Battle of Aliwal resulted in the Treaty of Lahore

1848-9:

Second Sikh War, Sikhs were defeated, and on March 30, 1849, Punjab and North West Frontier became part of the British empire

1852

Governor-General Dalhousie applies the Doctrine of Lapse, annexing Satara, Nagpur, and Jhansi

1856

Nawab of Oudh dies, and despite natural heirs, the British declare him unfit, taking control of Oudh

1857

During the War of Independence, Bahadur Shah, the last Mughal emperor, is expelled, and the British take full control

1875

Aligarh Movement founded by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan

1893

Durand Line was established, fixing the border between India and Afghanistan based on natural geography

 

Conclusion

Each event, from the battles that weakened the Mughals to the strategic moves by the British East India Company, played a crucial role in shaping modern India's history (as well as the IGCSE and O Level Pakistan Studies syllabus). By understanding these key moments, we gain a deeper insight into the complex historical processes that led to the British Raj and the lasting impact it has had on the Indian subcontinent. If you are still struggling, explore the Out-Class Pakistan Studies - History Course and clear all your concepts!

 

Most Common Repeated Questions:

Unlock the secrets to acing your CAIE IGCSE/O Level exams with a sneak peek into the most frequently asked questions that have graced the past papers!

Why were the British able to replace the Mughals as the dominant force in the Sub-continent by 1850? (7) [Oct/Nov 2004, 2006, 2010] [May/June 2015]

Why did the British Government take control of the affairs of the East India Company in the early nineteenth century? (7) [May/June 2004, 2009]

Explain why the East India Company became involved in the Indian sub-continent during the seventeenth century. (7) [May/June 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2016] [Oct/Nov 2012]

Were the weak and greedy characteristics of Aurangzeb’s successors the most important reasons for the collapse of the Mughal Empire? Explain your answer. (14) [Oct/Nov 2005, 2009] [May/June 2006, 2007]

‘Indian resistance to British attempts to take control of lands in the sub-continent in the hundred years before 1850 was totally unsuccessful.’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer. (14) [May/June 2006, 2011] [Oct/Nov 2010, 2012, 2016]

Explain why the successors of Aurangzeb failed to prevent the decline of the Mughal Empire. (7) [Oct/Nov 2008, 2010 2012, 2013] [May/June 2017]

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