The Great Maratha Empire in One Audio Note | Complete History for SSC, UPSC & State PSC

🎧 The Great Maratha Empire: Complete Audio Notes for Competitive Exams Revise the history of the Great Maratha Empire in an easy, crisp, and high-yield audio format. This session covers essential historical timelines, major rulers, key battles, administrative structures (Ashtapradhan), revenue systems (Chauth & Sardeshmukhi), and exam-targeted facts curated specifically for UPSC, SSC CGL/CHSL, State PSC, RRB, and other government competitive examinations. 📌 Topics Covered: ⏱️ Chapter Timestamps & Topic Breakdown 00:00 — Introduction & Overview of the Maratha Empire Origin story of a 16-year-old leader capturing hill forts and scaling into an empire (1674–1818) . Summary of the primary historical sources used, including Modi script administrative records . 01:30 — Early Life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj & Geographical Strategy Birth at Shivneri Fort (1630), influence of parents Jijabai & Shahaji Bhonsle, and spiritual teacher Samarth Ramdas . Capture of Torana Fort (Prachandgad) at age 16 . Strategic importance of the Sahyadri mountain range and dense forests for regional defense . 03:15 — Warfare Tactics: Ganimi Kawa (Guerrilla Warfare) Asymmetric warfare tactics, surprise ambushes, and targeted strikes on enemy supply lines . 04:45 — Battle of Pratapgad (1659) & Encounter with Afzal Khan Bijapur General Afzal Khan's plot and Shivaji's defense using concealed body armor and Wagh Nakh (Tiger Claws) . Exploitation of Pratapgad's terrain to neutralize heavy enemy artillery . 06:30 — Night Attack on Shaista Khan (1660s) & Sack of Surat (1664) Infiltration into Lal Mahal in Pune disguised as a wedding procession, severing Shaista Khan's fingers . Psychological impact of the raid and the subsequent financial raid on the Mughal port city of Surat . 08:15 — Treaty of Purandar (1665) & Agra Escape (1666) Pressure from Mughal commander Raja Jai Singh I, forcing the surrender of 30 out of 35 forts . Shivaji's imprisonment by Aurangzeb in Agra, his escape hidden in sweet baskets, and re-conquest of lost territories . 10:00 — Battle of Salher (1672) & Coronation at Raigad (1674) Open-field victory over Mughals under commanders Prataprao Gujar and Moropant Pingle at Salher . Grand coronation at Raigad Fort (1674) assuming the title of Chhatrapati . 11:45 — Administration: Ashtapradhan Council & Revenue System Establishment of the Ashtapradhan (8-minister cabinet including Peshwa, Amatya, Mantri, Sachiv, Sumant, Senapati, Pandit Rao, Nyayadhish) . Economic tools: Chauth (25% protection tax) and Sardeshmukhi (10% additional hereditary tax) . 13:40 — Era of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj (1680–1689) Shivaji's death (1680) and Sambhaji taking the throne in 1681 . Military raids on Burhanpur, fights with the Portuguese in Goa, granting asylum to Mughal Prince Akbar, and eventual martyrdom at the hands of Aurangzeb . 15:30 — Resistance under Rajaram & Maharani Tarabai Chhatrapati Rajaram shifting capital to Satara and creating the Pratinidhi (9th minister post) . Maharani Tarabai's regency for Shivaji II and her strategy of exhausting Mughal forces by destroying their supply lines and economy . 17:45 — Release of Shahu (1707), Battle of Khed & Shift to Peshwa Rule Release of Shahu by Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah I, leading to the Battle of Khed (1707) against Tarabai . Balaji Vishwanath becoming the first hereditary Peshwa and centralizing power in Pune . 19:30 — The Maratha Confederacy Expansion into a 5-house confederacy: Peshwas (Pune), Scindias (Gwalior), Holkars (Indore), Gaekwads (Baroda), and Bhonsles (Nagpur) . 21:15 — Third Battle of Panipat (1761) Confrontation between Sadashivrao Bhau and Ahmad Shah Abdali . Tactical failures: reliance on heavy artillery, cut-off supply lines, and lack of local support . 23:30 — Anglo-Maratha Wars & Annexation (1775–1818) First War (1775–1782): Raghunath Rao's pact with the British leading to Treaties of Surat, Purandar, Wadgaon, and Salbai . Second War (1803–1805): Baji Rao II signing the Treaty of Bassein (Subsidiary Alliance) . Third War (1817–1818): Pindari War, Treaty of Mandasor, and formal abolition of the Peshwaship . 26:00 — Conclusion & Historical Lessons Summary on how internal division brought down the empire, followed by a historical reflection on Panipat and British colonization 🔔 Subscribe to Eduphotons for daily high-yield audio notes, smart study frameworks, and complete exam revision. 👍 Like, Share, and Save to your revision playlist! #MarathaEmpire #GovtExams #UPSCPreparation #SSCCGL #AudioNotes #IndianHistory #Eduphotons #StatePSC #HistoryRevision #competitiveexams