Class 8 Social Science Chapter 3 The Rise of the Marathas Notes & Solutions | 2026-27

📘 Class 8 Social Science – Chapter 3

⚔️ The Rise of the Marathas | Amresh Academy

📍 Page 61

1. Who were the Marathas? How did they manage to become the largest pan-Indian power before the British took over?

👉 Answer:

🟠 The Marathas were people from the Deccan region (present-day Maharashtra) who spoke Marathi.

👉 They became powerful because:

👑 Strong leadership of Shivaji
⚔️ Use of guerrilla warfare (quick surprise attacks)
🏰 Control of forts
🚢 Strong navy

👉 After Shivaji:

🧑‍💼 Peshwas expanded the empire
🌍 Marathas controlled large parts of India

👉 ✔️ Thus, they became the strongest Indian power before the British

2. What were some features of their governance?

👉 Answer:

👉 Main features:

🏛️ Centralised administration
👥 Council of ministers (Ashtapradhan)
💰 Officials were paid (no hereditary system)
⚖️ Justice through village panchayats

👉 Other features:

🛣️ Roads and trade development
⚔️ Strong army and navy
💰 Taxes: Chauth and Sardeshmukhi

👉 ✔️ Government was efficient and well organised

3. What impact did the Maratha Empire leave in Indian history?

👉 Answer:

👉 Impact:

⚔️ Challenged Mughal power
🇮🇳 Established Indian rule (self-rule idea)
🎨 Promoted culture and traditions
🏰 Built strong administration

👉 ✔️ Inspired future freedom movements

📍 Page 65

1. If you could time-travel and meet Shivaji, what three questions would you ask him and why?

👉 Answer:

👉 I would ask:

1. 🏃 How did you escape from Agra?

2. 🌍 What inspired your idea of Swarajya?

3. 🤝 How did you unite people?

👉 ✔️ These questions help understand his leadership and bravery

📍 Page 80

1. Have you heard of the dance form Bharatnatyam’? Did you know that this dance form has a deep connection with the Marathas? Can you find out what this connection was?

👉 Answer:

💃 Bharatanatyam is a classical dance of Tamil Nadu

👉 Connection with Marathas:

👑 Maratha rulers of Thanjavur supported arts
🎶 They promoted music and dance
🎭 Helped develop modern Bharatanatyam

👉 ✔️ Their support helped preserve Indian culture

📍 Page 82 – Questions and Activities

1. Analyse how geography (particularly mountains and coastlines) guided Maratha military strategy and state formation.

👉 Answer:

👉 Geography helped Marathas:

⛰️ Mountains (Western Ghats) gave natural protection
🏰 Hill forts were strong defence points
🌊 Coastline helped build navy

👉 ✔️ This helped them fight stronger enemies

2. Imagine you are creating a short biography of a Maratha leader for younger students. Choose one personality (Kanhoji Angre, Bajirao I, Mahadji Shinde, Ahilyabai Holkar or Tarabai) and write 3-4 paragraphs highlighting what makes them inspirational. Include at least one challenge they overcame.

👉 Answer (Ahilyabai Holkar):

👑 Ahilyabai Holkar was a brave and wise queen of the Maratha Empire. She became ruler after the death of her husband and son, showing great courage.

👉 She improved people’s lives by building roads, wells and temples.

👉 One major challenge was rebuilding the Kashi Vishwanath temple, which she completed successfully.

👉 ✔️ She is remembered as a kind and strong ruler

3. If you could visit one Maratha fort today (such as Raigad, Sindhudurg, Gingee, or Pratapgad), which would you choose and why? Research its history, architecture and strategic importance. Present your findings as a digital presentation or a poster in class.

👉 Answer:

🏰 I would visit Raigad Fort

👉 Importance:

👑 Capital of Shivaji
🎉 Place of coronation

👉 Features:

⛰️ Built on a high hill
🏛️ Strong and secure

👉 ✔️ It shows Maratha strength

4. The chapter states, “The British took India from the Marathas more than from the Mughals or any other power.” What do you think this means? What evidence from the chapter supports this idea?

👉 Answer:

👉 Meaning:

Marathas were the strongest power in India
British defeated them to gain control

👉 Evidence:

⚔️ Anglo-Maratha Wars
🏛️ Marathas controlled Delhi

👉 ✔️ British replaced Marathas as rulers

5. Compare how Shivaji and later Marathas treated religious places and people of different faiths. What evidence from the chapter shows their approach to religious diversity?

👉 Answer:

👉 Shivaji:

🛕 Protected temples
🤝 Respected all religions

👉 Later Marathas:

🏗️ Rebuilt temples
⚠️ Some harsh actions in later period

👉 ✔️ Overall they were tolerant

6. The chapter describes how forts were ‘the core of the state’ for Marathas. Why were they so important? How did they help the Marathas survive against larger enemies?

👉 Answer:

👉 Importance of forts:

🏰 Strong defence
📦 Stored food and weapons
⚔️ Military base

👉 Help:

🐯 Guerrilla attacks
🔄 Safe place during wars

👉 ✔️ Helped defeat bigger armies

7. You have been appointed as the chief designer for Maratha coins. Design a coin that represents Maratha achievements and values. Explain the symbols you chose.

👉 Answer:

👉 Coin design:

🪙 Shivaji’s seal → power
🏰 Fort → strength
🚩 Flag → bravery
🐯 Wagh nakh → strategy
🚢 Ship → navy

👉 ✔️ Shows Maratha greatness

8. After this introduction to the Maratha period, what do you think was their most important contribution to Indian history? Write a paragraph supporting your opinion with examples from the chapter. Then share and discuss your ideas with classmates.

👉 Answer:

👉 Most important contribution:

⚔️ Challenging Mughal rule
🇮🇳 Promoting self-rule

👉 Examples:

Shivaji’s Swarajya
Strong forts and army

👉 ✔️ Inspired Indian independence

⚡ Very Short Answer Questions

1. Who founded the Maratha kingdom?

👉 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

2. When was Shivaji born?

👉 1630

3. What was Shivaji’s vision for his kingdom?

👉 Swarajya

4. Which weapon did Shivaji use to kill Afzal Khan?

👉 Wagh nakh

5. In which city did Shivaji conduct a daring raid on Shaista Khan’s camp?

👉 Pune

6. Which wealthy Mughal port city did Shivaji sack?

👉 Surat

7. Where was Shivaji coronated in 1674?

👉 Raigad

8. What was the name of Shivaji’s conquest of the South?

👉 Dakshina-digvijaya

9. Who became Chhatrapati after Shivaji’s death?

👉 Sambhaji

10. Who was Rajaram’s queen who led Maratha expansion northward?

👉 Tarabai

11. What was the title for the Maratha prime minister?

👉 Peshwa

12. Who was instrumental in the pan-Indian expansion of the Marathas?

👉 Bajirao I

13. Which general recaptured Delhi for the Marathas in 1771?

👉 Mahadji Shinde

14. What was the name of the tax levied by Marathas at 25 percent?

👉 Chauth

15. Who was the Maratha naval commander who resisted Europeans?

👉 Kanhoji Angre

✏️ Short Answer Questions

(All SAME — simplified)

1. Who were the Marathas and how did they rise to power?

👉 Marathas were people of Maharashtra. Under Shivaji, they united and formed Swarajya.

2. Describe Shivaji’s early military campaigns and his vision of Swarajya.

👉 He captured forts and aimed for independent rule.

3. What was the significance of Shivaji’s establishment of a navy?

👉 It protected coastal areas and trade.

4. How did Shivaji use guerrilla warfare to his advantage?

👉 Surprise attacks using terrain knowledge.

5. Explain Shivaji’s daring escape from Agra.

👉 Escaped hidden in baskets.

6. What was the role of the Peshwas in the Maratha Empire after Shivaji?

👉 They expanded the empire.

7. How did the British eventually gain control over India from the Marathas?

👉 Through Anglo-Maratha wars.

8. Describe the key features of Shivaji’s civilian administration.

👉 Centralised system with paid officials.

9. What were ‘chauth’ and ‘sardeshmukhi’ and their purpose?

👉 Taxes for protection.

10. Highlight the cultural contributions of the Marathas.

👉 Promoted language, temples and culture.

📝 Long Answer Questions

1. Discuss Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s vision for his kingdom how his military strategies helped achieve it.

👉 Swarajya + forts + navy + guerrilla warfare

2. Describe the contributions of prominent Maratha women to the empire’s expansion cultural revival.

👉 Tarabai (expansion), Ahilyabai (development)

3. Detail the key administrative principles implemented by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in his kingdom.

👉 Centralised system + ministers + salaries

4. Outline the revenue collection methods the military administration of the Maratha Empire.

👉 Chauth + Sardeshmukhi + army + navy

5. Summarize the overall impact legacy of the Maratha Empire on Indian history.

👉 Challenged Mughals + inspired independence

Class 8 Social Science Chapter 3 The Rise of the Marathas Notes & Solutions | 2026-27 | Amresh Academy

Amresh Academy

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